Static-Stage

10

Sustainable Development Goal

Reduced

inequalities

"Make it equal!" CEPCA, the Celestical Echoes Choir from Cameroon and ESG Erlangen chose music to raise awareness and reduce inequalities.

16

Sustainable Development Goal

Peace,

justice

and strong

institutions

On the TRACES project, participants from Togo and Germany searched for traces of the colonial era and incorporated their findings into two plays. They worked together on a reappraisal of history and towards SDG 16, “Peace, justice and strong institutions”.

6

Sustainable Development Goal

Clean water

and sanitation

During their project on the right to water, the girls from the German scout association St George and their peers from Association des Guides du Rwanda learned all about water consumption and resources.

Teams up! programme

What is Teams up! Youth Exchange for Sustainable Development?

The AGYO’s Teams up! programme promotes international extracurricular youth exchanges and related accompanying and model projects. It enables youth groups from Germany and African countries to work together on a project. In these projects, the young participants focus on one of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Why Teams up!?

  1. Active partnership – in the spirit of the 2030 Agenda
  2. Strengthening the commitment of young people to development policy
  3. Intercultural exchange at eye level
  4. Expansion of global partnerships

YOUTH EXCHANGE: STEP BY STEP

01 GET INFORMED

Our website and our funding guideline contain all relevant information about the aims and objectives of Teams up! Youth Exchange for Sustainable Development. If you are unsure whether your organisation or project fulfils the criteria, get in touch – we’ll be happy to advise you!

02 SET UP A PARTNERSHIP

Do you already have a partner organisation in an African country? Partner organisations must have non-profit status and their aims and activities should correspond to yours. A partnership is a prerequisite for receiving project funding.

03 DEVELOP A PROJECT IDEA

Join forces with your partner to develop a concept for your planned youth group exchange. What does it aim to achieve? Decide together which of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) your project should focus on.

04 GET APPROVED

Before you submit your project, your organisation needs to be evaluated and approved by Engagement Global’s Central Programme Service. Amongst other things, your non-profit status and creditworthiness are assessed. Organisations that have already been approved by Engagement Global in connection with another programme undergo a shorter evaluation.

05 SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

Please submit your application on time, both electronically and by mail, to Engagement Global. Any necessary amendments to the application can be done electronically. We are happy to advise you on the application process.

06 WAIT FOR FEEDBACK

Your application is submitted for approval to the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) together with a letter of opinion by Engagement Global. Should approval be granted, we issue what is known as a on-lending agreement – and you’re all set!

NEWS

17 GOALS – PROJECT OVERVIEW

All Teams up! exchange projects focus on one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Our project overview offers more detailed information on the projects we have funded so far. Maybe you’ll be inspired to create your own project!

END POVERTY IN ALL ITS FORMS EVERYWHERE

What does poverty mean – and how does it relate to global inequalities? How can we work to eradicate poverty? These are the questions that young people seek to answer in exchange projects on SDG 1.


click here for the project descriptions

END HUNGER, ACHIEVE FOOD SECURITY AND IMPROVED NUTRITION AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

In projects that focus on SDG 2, participants examine the challenges and solutions associated with global food security. Their work focuses on responsible consumption, sustainable production and local food production.


click here for the project descriptions

ENSURE HEALTHY LIVES AND PROMOTE WELL-BEING FOR ALL AT ALL AGES

Projects on SDG 3 may include workshops, seminars, excursions or exhibitions. What are the differences and similarities between countries’ healthcare systems? What are the current challenges?

SDG 3 has not been the focus of a project so far. Would your organisation like to work on health and well-being? Submit an application now!


click here for the project descriptions

ENSURE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE QUALITY EDUCATION AND PROMOTE LIFELONG LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL

Education is considered key to development. Projects on SDG 4, Quality Education, may focus on equal opportunities in the education field, which participants can examine through creative film and art projects.


click here for the project descriptions

ACHIEVE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS

SDG 5 projects are all about women’s rights, women’s education and gender issues. Are you interested in working with your participants to empower girls and women? Read on for some ideas and suggestions.


click here for the project descriptions

ENSURE AVAILABILITY AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF WATER AND SANITATION FOR ALL

In projects on SDG 6, young people draw up concepts for the sustainable management of water, a scarce resource. For instance, an existing project involved girl guides from Rwanda and Germany discussing the use of water in their respective home countries and has led to further joint initiatives.


click here for the project descriptions

ENSURE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE, SUSTAINABLE AND MODERN ENERGY FOR ALL

Clean energy is a vital success factor for sustainable development. Projects on SDG 7 may involve workshops, seminars, film and art projects or joint excursions.


click here for the project descriptions

PROMOTE SUSTAINED, INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH, FULL AND PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYMENT AND DECENT WORK FOR ALL

Projects on SDG 8 focus on sustainable economic growth and decent work. For instance, a trilateral project encouraged young people to function as agents of change in these areas.


click here for the project descriptions

BUILD RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE, PROMOTE INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIALISATION AND FOSTER INNOVATION

How do other countries approach innovation and infrastructure? In projects on SDG 9, the participants explore various partner countries’ approaches to these issues, for instance by producing a documentary.


click here for the project descriptions

REDUCE INEQUALITY WITHIN AND AMONG COUNTRIES

Global inequalities are often the result of stereotypes and historical power imbalances. Projects on SDG 10 aim to counteract inequalities through workshops, seminars or music projects, for instance.


click here for the project descriptions

MAKE CITIES AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS INCLUSIVE, SAFE, RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE

In projects on SDG 11, participants debate ways to make cities more liveable through activities such as art and culture projects involving dance or painting, poetry slams, or graffiti workshops.


click here for the project descriptions

ENSURE SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION PATTERNS

How do my consumption patterns impact the environment? How can I avoid producing plastic waste? What solutions exist in the partner countries? These are questions that motivate projects on SDG 12.


click here for the project descriptions

TAKE URGENT ACTION TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS

Climate change is a serious challenge for sustainable development. In projects, workshops and excursions, participants debate SDG 13 and work together to identify possible solutions.


click here for the project descriptions

CONSERVE AND SUSTAINABLY USE THE OCEANS, SEAS AND MARINE RESOURCES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

How can we protect oceans effectively? Projects on SDG 14 cover issues such as marine litter, fishing and energy generation. Participants’ ideas can also be expressed through, e.g., art.


click here for the project descriptions

PROTECT, RESTORE AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE USE OF TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS

Biodiversity and healthy ecosystems are vital to life on Earth. Projects on SDG 15 examine ways to protect global habitats. Workshops on environmental education can help to raise awareness of this issue among all generations.


click here for the project descriptions

PROMOTE PEACEFUL AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

In projects on SDG 16, participants work together for more peaceful coexistence. For instance, they debate discrimination as a global challenge or seek to encourage greater intercultural and international understanding.


click here for the project descriptions

STRENGTHEN THE MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION AND REVITALIZE THE GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Global partnerships are the hallmark of our youth exchanges. Projects on SDG 17 take a theoretical and practical look at questions such as, “What are the SDGs?”, “What makes a strong partnership?”, “What problems still exist?” and “How can they be solved at the global level?” The aim is to promote partnerships between countries and the young participants – so they can work together to make a difference.


click here for the project descriptions

PROJECT REPORTS

13 Climate action

“Green is the new Black” is the first project by the Hamburg-based Future of Ghana Germany (FoGG) organisation to focus on environmental and social sustainability.

5 Gender equality

The project gave participants from the FARU Sports Foundation and Sand für Alle opportunity to find out more about Tanzania and Germany, play volleyball and meet new people -  all while working together on SDG 5, “Gender equality”.

6 Water as a connecting element

What role does water play in agriculture and clothing production? Just one of the thought-provoking questions that a group of girl guides explored on a project on the right to water.

12 Responsible consumption in Senegal and Germany

Nature enthusiasts from Senegal and Germany learned a great deal about responsible consumption thanks to the opportunity to share their different views.

4 Improving education in Germany and Namibia

On the exchange programme between Suni e.V. and the Light for the Children Foundation, the focus was on enabling participants to find out about education systems and reflect on their own educational work.

FUNDING OPTIONS

Young people become global citizens

In development exchanges, youth groups from Germany and African countries work together on a project that focuses on one of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Over a period of one to two years, the groups meet once in Germany, once in the partner country. These in-person meetings take place between the preparatory, mid-term and follow-up phase and are complemented by digital cooperation.

Improving quality – strengthening structures

Funding is available for accompanying projects with the aim of improving the quality of Teams up! and strengthening project partners and structures. The target groups include youth work, youth education and development cooperation organisations. Funding is available, inter alia, for quality assurance measures or activities to set up partnership-based structures.

Promoting ideas for development-oriented youth work

Model projects are centred around new approaches that are considered particularly relevant for development-oriented, international youth work and that can be transferred to other organisations. They include the development and enhancement of methods and concepts and the setup of structures such as networks or partnerships. Model projects are not subject to any restrictions in terms of age or group size.

Quotes

Our project, which focused on art and culture, encouraged active participation in urban development and more civil society engagement in both countries. This powerful act of community building still connects us all, long after our project ended.

Anne Schmeckies (Each One Teach One e. V. / Hip Hop Education South Africa)

Melanga has not only taught me how you can grow food yourself- it has also helped me how to make a better living in the long run! It also taught me to eat healthier food and I found such great new friends!

Mthokozilsi Hleta (Emoyeni Ministries South Africa)

One of the goals of the project was to gain an awareness of our own position in society. What privileges do I enjoy? Which do I use? Which power structures discriminate against me, and which power structures give voice to my actions and my words?

Valeria Stocker (ASA-FF e. V.)

I’m now able to take care of the waste I generate. I’m able to dispose waste correctly. I’m able to advocate for children’s rights. I’m able to speak on behalf of children. In short, my behaviour has totally changed environment wise and in everything I do.

Bright Chikwanda (terre des hommes)

The exchange made me realise that no matter where in the world we are, we can and have to work together. It was encouraging to see that we all dream of the same things, even though we have different lifestyles and have grown up with different value systems.

Melanie Matzen (terre des hommes)

I am participating in the exchange because I am passionate about making change in the community I am coming from. Being part of the exchange will help me to develop good skills on sustainability and I will be able to share with other young people who are not part of the exchange.

Jacky Shamanga (terre des hommes)

This is about questioning and changing our acquired and often discriminatory patterns of perception, thoughts and actions. It’s a never-ending process which, however, requires us to reflect on our own position and privileges.

Eliana Schüler (ASA-FF e. V.)

I am more conscious of my consumption habits. Now I have a much better understanding of what “sustainability” means, also in my daily life. I question the way I shop and how I conduct myself. I never used to talk about this issue; today, I regularly talk about it with my friends and family.

Lukas Walter (terre des hommes)

By working together the way we do, we’re trying to pursue a vision that involves creating equality between North and South.

Jean Koffi Edem Touglo (Compagnie Artistique Carrefour)

The exchange has enriched me with many new friends, experiences and adventures. It was a great opportunity to exchange our world views and to look beyond our own horizons.

Alba Meier (Power On e. V.)

Youth group exchanges across borders and continents are proven to have a strong impact on the lives of their young participants. They are an effective form of global learning.

Volkmar Liebig, Federal Association of Cultural Youth Education (BKJ)

You might also be interested in

Document Centre

Whether you need an application for a federal grant, a call for funds form or a template interim proof-of-use report, our Document Centre contains all the important forms and documents that you may need in connection with Teams up!

How to I submit an application?

Before a Teams up! project application can be submitted, the German project partner needs to have been approved and the partners have to have designed a project concept.