From 8 to 11 June 2026, an Advance Planning Visit (APV) took place on the island of Oléron, France, in preparation for an upcoming Erasmus+ Youth Exchange that will take place from 16 to 22 August 2026. The youth exchange will bring together high school students from France and North Macedonia and will focus on environmental awareness, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable living through experiential and outdoor learning activities.
The APV gathered four participants: two organisers from France, one of the group leaders from North Macedonia, and one Macedonian high school student who will participate in the youth exchange. The purpose of the visit was to familiarize ourselves with the venue, assess the planned activities, and jointly prepare the programme for the youth exchange.
A significant part of the APV was dedicated to visiting the locations where the youth exchange activities will take place. We visited a traditional mill, which participants will explore to learn about local heritage and sustainable practices. We also visited Port des Salines, where participants will take part in boat activities while learning about the island’s natural environment and salt-marsh ecosystems. Another important site visit was to La Maison Éco-Paysanne, where participants will engage in a treasure hunt designed to introduce them to eco-friendly lifestyles, local architecture, and sustainable development concepts.
During the planning sessions, we reviewed and refined the programme for August. Together, we discussed the objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes of the activities to ensure that they are engaging, educational, and suitable for the participants. The planned programme includes a variety of non-formal educational activities such as land art workshops, sessions focused on creating an ideal ecosystem, discussions and exercises related to biodiversity conservation strategies, and surfing activities that will allow participants to connect with nature while developing teamwork and confidence.
An important part is also the preparation done by the French partners in advance of the youth exchange. They prepared introductory activities to help create a connection between the two groups before the exchange begins. This included research on North Macedonia, where they explored the country’s culture, geography, and environmental context. They also learned basic Macedonian keywords related to the topic of the exchange, such as “ecology,” “environment,” and “pollution,” as well as simple everyday phrases. In addition, they researched Macedonian food and practiced basic greetings in Macedonian, including expressions such as “hello,” “good night,” and “what is your name.” This preparation will help make the youth exchange more welcoming and interactive, and it will make it easier for participants to communicate with each other.
The APV was extremely valuable in ensuring that all organisers and group leaders share a common understanding of the project goals, logistics, and educational approach. Visiting the activity sites firsthand helped us better prepare for the youth exchange and identify opportunities to enhance participants’ learning experiences. In addition, involving a future participant in the planning process provided useful insights into the interests and expectations of the target group.
Overall, the APV successfully achieved its objectives by strengthening cooperation between the partner organisations, finalising the activity programme, and ensuring a well-prepared and meaningful youth exchange in August. The experience provided a clear vision of how the project will contribute to raising awareness about environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and active youth participation.
