Young people take part in Paris 2024 Olympic Exchange!

Nantes 2024 Exchange Programme 20-27th July 2024

Cardiff Youth Council and Cardiff Youth Service took part in a cultural exchange programme bringing together young people from twin cities in France, Germany and Wales during July this year.

The week-long exchange, which was funded through the Taith programme with support from International Links (Global) Ltd., was filled with fun activities, excursions into the City of Nantes, tours and visits to historical sites such as the museum of the machines. The group also attended a football match, between Spain and Japan, as part of the Paris Olympic Games 2024. Each evening a cultural exchange took place where countries could share music, pop culture and sport from their respective nations.

The project gave young people from Cardiff an opportunity to take part in intercultural celebrations with other young people from Nantes and other countries. The focus of this exchange was outdoor education activities, active citizenship and health and wellbeing. This is also part of wider milestones for the city this year in celebrating 60 years of twinning between Nantes and Cardiff.

Through the exchange young people have had the opportunities to broaden their horizons, experience new ways of life, bring back lessons to share with people at home, but also to bond as a group of young people from their own nation learning things about themselves and their own abilities. They have built strong friendships and as part of their responsibilities they were to document their trip which they are currently editing to share with other young people in Cardiff very soon!

CYC’s Stuttgart Adventures: Installment drei!

So, it’s time for the third installment of Adventures of CYC in Stuttgart!

We began the day by spending a few hours in Stuttgart’s zoo; where we saw vibrant flamingos, adorably cuddly gorillas, munching fruit bats (who are far from the scary blood sucking stereotypical bat), exotic bird species from tropical areas of the world, and many more.12177735_1067327783300529_1984376527_n 12179076_1067327589967215_318836819_n 12179161_1067327643300543_150747236_n12179242_1067327773300530_1557668953_n

The zoo was highly enjoyable and even for those who weren’t head-over-heels for animals before, I think it’s safe to say that there’s definitely a new found soft spot for at least some these beautiful and majestic creatures. (ft. Stuttgart’s very own Dory and Nemo – safe and sound)

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One of our CYC members, Luke has a new found friendship with this fluffy mammal. Meanwhile, this undying love between Mae and Alaw was rediscovered.

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Our mischievous mob did have to bid farewell to the zoo and move onto the next element of the day; the city tour! This was our opportunity to see and view all the great projects that our counterparts are working on currently. And so it starts…12190507_904995216256811_516770768_o

One thing all touring members did notice was the fantastic amount of artwork around the city. Albeit, graffiti, street art, architectural prowess or just the skyline at dusk. 12193118_904995616256771_832413885_o

Art Throughout Cardiff Collage

All of our members left this inspiring tour with a fresh view on urban life. We had the opportunity to see one of Stuttgart’s many urban rooftop gardens, which now, of course in the midst of autumn, has been turned to a venue available to hire for those parties or gatherings you may wish to host.12185781_503519366474025_24201805_o12016292_904995379590128_2079971825_o12179425_904995346256798_276784724_n

Even this seemingly plain multistory car park holds so much creativity, on the walk up you would just see sneak peaks of each individual artists stamp on their area.

12193156_904995326256800_195727158_o Just along the outskirts of this carpark was one of the projects Jugendrat Stuttgart had been working on for 3 years. Consisting of Dutsch inspired skate ramps which doubled up as a ‘chill zone’, 3G Football pitch and a wall for legal graffiti.

To end our hectically busy, yet highly rewarding day, we wound down and visited a youth centre on the other side of the city and cooked our own meals. After filling up on lots of scrumptious food, games of pool were played while our 2 lovely singer song writers accompanied us with more of their original creations.

Thank you Stuttgart for another wonderful day!