Benefits of International Cooperation

Municipalities which have focused their inter-national youth projects on young people who neither attend school nor work, notice that the young people get motivated to move on in their lives.

The Swedish National Board for Youth Affairs has conducted the evaluation »Luxury or Necessity« about benefits of international cooperation, and knowledge about which factors lead to successful youth projects.

It shows that international youth projects enrich those involved. Examples of positive results include young people who have gained new insights and youth leaders who have developed in their professional role. Self-confidence is strengthened and social engagement increased.

Young people that have previously taking part in international youth projects explain that they have developed new international networks of contacts which make it easier to get a job abroad.

They have also become more comfortable with using a foreign language. Pupils who have taken part in international projects become more committed and perform better at school.

Breaking destructive behaviour
International experiences are a good way to get young people to break ingrained and sometimes destructive behaviour which they have established in their hometown. Municipalities which have focused their international youth projects on young people who neither attend school nor work, notice that participants’ motivation to move on in their lives increases.

Moreover, the project leaders participate in international projects because of the possibility for the organisation to both attract new and keeping existing competence by providing an exciting working environment as well as the opportunity for development, raising competence and competitiveness. They also see that international youth projects can lead the municipality to look at young people as a resource.

Politicians and civil servants see international projects as an opportunity to attract new businesses, increase inhabitants’ competence, draw new manpower to the municipality, stem the tide of emigration, promote integration and combat racism as well as to advertise the municipality and increase tourism.