The Tandem Czech-German Youth Exchange Coordination Centers in Pilsen and Regensburg

The Tandem Czech-German Youth Exchange Coordination Centers in Pilsen and Regensburg were established on the basis of a joint statement by the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic and the Federal Minister for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1997. Tandem center in Pilsen belongs in a structure to University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. The team of Tandem consists of 13 employees and usually one German volunteer and one German or Czech intern. The distinction of this roles is described below in this application. The Tandem Czech-German Youth Exchange Coordination Centers have the common goal of supporting the rapprochement and development of comprehensive contacts and friendly relations between young people from the Czech Republic and Germany. They provide counseling services and support state and non-state institutions and organizations of both countries in the implementation and intensification of Czech-German youth exchanges and international cooperation in the field of youth work. The coordination centers operate mainly in the areas of these ACTIVITIES: - providing counseling and support to all those who carry out Czech-German exchanges of children and youth, teachers, pupils and students, - financial support for Czech-German cooperation in the field of work with children and youth, our most important target groups - initiating exchange projects and new forms of cross-border cooperation, - mediation of partnerships, - training of professionals in the field of youth work, - arranging mobility for individuals due to ESC or Erasmus + - creating and distributing information brochures and work materials - submission of recommendations to the Joint Czech-German Council for Cooperation and Youth Exchanges, and to the relevant national ministries. The values of the Coordination Centers of Czech-German Youth Exchanges are based on the value entrenchment of Western European international youth work after the Second World War. The basic elements are, above all: understanding between nations, promoting tolerance, breaking down prejudices and treating neighbors with respect and with the aim of creating a good neighborhood. Since 1989, new opportunities for cooperation between the two countries have been closely linked to the values of European integration. The coordination centers support cross-border contacts between young people from both countries and advocate the implementation of diversity-conscious work in the educational process. The actors for them are young people from both countries, whose civic participation is their own value, as well as the support of democracy and civil society. New opportunities and opportunities for young people from both countries to get closer and getting to know each other should be made available, and thus to advocate for the development of a tolerant and respectful society. Coordination centers promote participation and a strong civil society. Thus, Tandem aims its work on fulfilling values that correspond with the idea of a democratic Europe, where everyone’s voice should be heard. While involving participants with different disadvantages (i.E. with origin from relatively poor border regions, with lower level of education or coming from disadvantaged social groups), Tandem fulfills the values of the European Solidarity Corps, too.