German teens tour Black Country in youth exchange

Six young people from Germany got the chance to see hidden gems across Wolverhampton and the Black Country as part of a new exchange programme.

The Way Youth Centre in Wolverhampton teamed up with Gulfhaus Vechta - a youth centre based in Vechta, Germany - to give the children they support the chance to travel.

The first phase, which took place over the Easter holidays, saw a group of 14-16 year-olds stay in the city for 10 days.

Leona Grant, organiser and Youth worker at The Way, said: "One of the highlights of the visit was how quickly the group bonded, despite language and cultural differences."

She added: "The impact has already been clear, with the kids bonding well with each other, growing in confidence and curiosity about the wider world."

During their stay, the teenagers took part in activities including visits to Wolverhampton Art Gallery, a tour of Molineux Stadium, a visit to a local Sikh temple, and a day out at the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley.

During the summer, Wolverhampton teenagers will get the chance to visit Germany for the second phase of the programme.

Grant said the programme "offered a unique opportunity for our young people not only to visit a new country, but to truly immerse themselves in a different culture by building relationships and sharing experiences together".

As well as exploring tourist hotspots across the city, the teenagers also paid a visit to Birmingham and had a day trip to London to see the Natural History Museum, Buckingham Palace, and West Youth Zone.

The aim of the exchange programme was to provide young people with opportunities to build international friendships, broaden their perspectives, experience different cultures, and develop greater global awareness.

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