Since its foundation in 2005 European Exchange is cooperating with civil society and human rights organisations in the countries of the Eastern Neighbourhood of the European Union. European Exchange is facilitating educational programmes for leaders and activists of civil society organisations, job shadowing programmes, round table discussions, researches and evaluations on different aspects of the development of civil society and local democracy.

In the week from 21st to 27th February 2010, European Exchange, in cooperation with EUCLID, coordinated an exchange programme which brought four third sector leaders to Berlin. Gorka Espiau from Spain, Magdalena Zawodny-Barabanow from Poland, Tauno Asuja from Estonia and Stefan Stoyanov from Bulgaria all spent a week with host organisations in Berlin, ranging from Spastikerhilfe to Compass Orange.

The programme gave them all the opportunity to find out and exchange ideas about the third sector in a wider European context. In Berlin, they were able to find out about German perspectives on the challenges and issues that third sector leaders all across Europe are faced with. At visits to the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt and the Federal Association for German Foundations, they were also able to learn about the broader civil society landscape here in Germany.

All the participants, and European Exchange, consider the programme a success. It was an interesting, inspiring and enjoyable experience.