Youth exchange project with name Youth Tolerance Squads and № 2020-3-BG01-KA105-094789 from the Erasmus + program of EU has been successfully completed. It was attended by total of 68 young people aged 14 to 25 with their leaders from Bulgaria, Northern Macedonia, Slovenia and Greece. The Youth exchange was held in the town of Kiten, Bulgaria from August 20 to 29, 2021 at the Balkanika International Sports Center with Bulgarian Association of Taekwon-Do as host and project coordinator. Part of the leaders for the youths from the different countries were as follows: Yavor Tasev for Bulgaria, Konstantinos Gialamas for Greece, Vahid Drapic for Slovenia and Goce Ilievski for Northern Macedonia.

Participants from different countries got acquainted with the culture and customs of all partner countries. The topics and tasks discussed were presented in English - the official language of the project, in which all participants communicated during the many events dedicated to intercultural dialogues and role-play games. Increasing the sense of tolerance and personal development was the main goal of the project, which was implemented at a high level. The Youth exchange addressed and discussed many topics important for young people, some of which were: Inclusion and equality of people with differences (social, ethnic, etc.);

European citizenship, awareness and democracy in the European Union; Ways of implementing intercultural dialogue among young people; European Union and youth policies; European values ​​in the context of shaping the human value system; Social dialogue; Traditions and culture of Bulgaria, Northern Macedonia, Slovenia and Greece. Important element of the project included the key competencies that each participant self-assessed at the beginning and end of the project. Role-playing and sport (mainly Taekwon-Do), which helps to build authority, motivation, self-discovery, finding the right path in life and a high degree of communication in society, also contributed as a key tool for the successful implementation and completion of the Youth Tolerance Squads project.

All participants received Youthpass certificates and from the received feedback it became clear that all young people were satisfied with the conditions provided in Bulgaria and the knowledge gained during the exchange. On the lecture sessions we had as special guests Elvedin Okeric and Niaz Dzaka from Bosnia and Herzegovina who expressed readiness to be included in next Youth exchange activities of the Bulgarian Team.

Bulgarian Taekwon-Do Association would like to express its gratitude to all participants and believes that the achieved goals will be upgraded in the future.

Yavor Tasev

Secretary General

Bulgarian Taekwon-Do Association