What is Erasmus+?

Erasmus+ is the European Union programme for education, training, youth and sport. It runs for seven years, from 2014 to 2020, with organisations invited to apply for funding each year to undertake creative and worthwhile activities.

Erasmus+ aims to modernise education, training and youth work across Europe. It is open to education, training, youth and sport organisations across all sectors of lifelong learning including school education, further and higher education, adult education and the youth sector.

The Erasmus+ programme in the UK falls under the authority of the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS). The programme itself is managed in the UK by the UK National Agency, a partnership between the British Council and Ecorys UK.

Changing lives, opening minds: Erasmus+ will help participants at all stages of their life, from school through to adulthood, to pursue stimulating opportunities for learning. It will help them to gain the valuable life-skills and international experience they need to succeed in today’s world.

It offers pupils, students, young people, adults, professionals, lecturers, youth workers and teachers a unique opportunity to obtain education, training, development and work experience in another European country and beyond, both inside and outside the classroom. Benefits include personal and professional development, the opportunity to broaden cultural horizons, boost confidence, and develop language skills and many more. These are felt not only at an individual level, but also among the education, training and youth support systems of all the participating countries and their wider communities.

What types of programmes does Asfar offer under Erasmus+?

Asfar’s Erasmus+ programmes provide unique opportunities for young people, aged 18 to 30 years old, both from the UK and the Middle East, to participate in Transnational activities including Youth Exchanges, Volunteering, informal Language learning and Cultural exchanges.

Asfar delivers the following types of Erasmus+ programmes:

  • Youth Exchanges
  • Dialogue projects
  • Youth worker training/job shadowing
  • Strategic Partnerships
  • Sport

Each Erasmus+ programme has different aims and objectives, however, all involve opportunities to develop new skills, meet fellow young people from different countries and gain real cultural experiences, beyond the realms of politics and conflict.

What is Asfar’s role?

Asfar’s role is co-ordinator as well as the sending and hosting partner, some projects. The co-ordinator role involves project managing the whole programme.

The sending role, involves Asfar sending groups of participants to another country to participate in a transnational activity i.e. a youth exchange.

The hosting role, involves Asfar hosting an activity in the UK for participants from another country.

In our sending role, this means that the host partner is responsible for local activities, such as planning the time table, accommodation and running the day to day activity. Due to this Asfar can only re-iterate what our host partners has advised us. However, we will try and keep all participants up to date as soon as we receive any information i.e. up to date timetables.

What is the partner’s role?

A partner may be the co-ordinator, hosting or sending partner. With regards to activities abroad, the partner’s role as a hosting partner is the most important both for Asfar and our participants.

They organise the end to end local delivery during a particular activity in a country. This will include:

  • Arranging accommodation
  • Organising meals
  • Planning the timetable
  • Providing guidance on how to get from the airport to the accommodation

Due to this, Asfar can only provide this information to participants, once partners communicate it with us.

However, Asfar is involved in the overall planning and design of the programme and know our partners well and can provide some information to participants on these subjects before the release of the official information guide.

Asfar will provide each UK participant with their own participant guide – travelling abroad, to offer pre-guidance before the official information guide is released.

What are my responsibilities?

Your responsibilities are outlined in the Participant Agreement and participant guide. Ultimately, participating in the activity is your main responsibility.

Furthermore, you are also responsible for your own safety, although there will be a team leader to offer guidance and support.

Self-responsibility is also important in ensuring you act consciously while you are in a foreign country, do not put yourself at risk, as this may not only put you at risk,  but the whole group too.

An example of this would be an activity held in Israel. Trying to access the Gaza Strip could put yourself and others in unnecessary danger.

When abroad, Asfar would recommend you to speak to your team leader or the host partner if there is somewhere that you would like to visit and we will try and make suitable, safe plans which adheres to the laws in the host country.

What costs are covered during a Youth Exchange?

Generally, basic costs are covered during youth exchanges, unless stipulated by Asfar.

A basic cost include:

  • Flights (up to the travel grant)
  • Food
  • Accommodation
  • Learning activities

How do I apply for an Erasmus+ activity?

Asfar only accepts applications from people based in UK.

Occasionally, we may hold an open call for applicants from other countries, however, generally our partners do their own recruitment for their own countries.

To apply visit here.

After completing the application form you will receive information about the latest opportunities and what to do to be considered.

To be eligible, Asfar will confirm your Age, your Location and will ask for a copy of your passport (photograph page will do) to check that it is in date and will not expire over the next 6 months.

How do I arrange my flight

Participants are responsible for arranging their flights to guarantee their place. The costs of travel is refunded, up to the travel grant amount for the youth exchange. You will be advised how much the travel grant is once you apply. The grant generally covers the average market cost for a flight to that country.

The travel grant will be refunded post-youth exchange, upon receiving your travel documents (receipts etc.) and signing the participant declaration.

In certain circumstances, Asfar may purchase your flight for you. More details on this can be found in the Participant Agreement.

Do I need to organise my own Visa?

Where a visa is necessary, Asfar will provide guidance on how to go about applying for it. Most of the countries we visit, do not require a visa, while others now have an online visa application system which are very easy to use.

What should I bring with me?

Asfar’s team recommends participants to bring comfortable casual clothes to wear throughout the week and to remember, to bring clothes suitable for all weathers.

Key items include:

  • Jeans
  • T-shirts
  • Coat or a Rain coat
  • Jumper/Sweaters
  • Trainers/comfortable shoes
  • Hat, gloves and scarf
  • Umbrella

The extras:

  • Towel
  • Rucksack
  • Spending money (see Money & Expenses)
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo and Shower gel
  • Dressing gown

Medicines: don’t forget to bring all of your medicines for the week. Although, partner countries’ have pharmacies, for specialist medicines you will need a prescription from a doctor. This can be very expensive abroad. So bring your medicines from home.

What will I learn during the week?

Each project is different. Your participant guide with provide an overview of what will be the main focus of an activity. However, key themes will include:

Awareness

  • Inter-cultural awareness amongst partner countries
  • Democracy
  • EU and EU Citizenship

Skills

  • Life and Work Skills
  • Employability & Enterprise Skills
  • Cultural skills i.e. language skills
  • Conflict Resolution skills

Will insurance costs be covered?

Participants will be responsible for purchasing their own travel insurance costs, which can be claimed back from their individual travel grant. Travel insurance receipts should be sent to the Co-ordinator to confirm that all participants are insured.

Guidance on where to purchase suitable travel insurance can be found in the participant guide. Generally, we recommend participants to consider more inclusive travel insurance (i.e. that insures electrical items) if you are travelling with belongings that you cannot afford to lose.

European Health Insurance Card

If you go to any EU country, you should get a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Applicants will need their National Insurance number to hand. The EHIC is free of charge and entitles you to reduced-cost, sometimes free, medical treatment that becomes necessary while you’re in a European Economic Area (EEA) country. The EEA consists of the European Union (EU) countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

This is for EU citizens, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The EHIC will only be accepted in EEA countries or in Iceland, Leichtenstein or Norway.

UK citizens should be aware that after 31st December 2020, the EHIC may no longer be valid. Keep up to date on Brexit and Travel here.

Money and Expenses

As an Erasmus+ programme, a lot of the expenses and costs are covered by the EU. However, Asfar will confirm with you if key areas will not be covered, during the run up to the youth exchange trip.

Asfar recommends that you bring with you £15-£20 per day for spending money to cover other costs. At a minimum, Asfar recommends £5 per day at the very least.