LoFT is based around the simple idea that designing and working as a team on a project, enables individuals to find out about one another, breaking down barriers of ethnicity, faith, and other cultural and social divides. Young people between 20 and 25 represent the target constituency for the programme.

Each participating country (Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania and Scotland) will work through a team of 8 young leaders, selected for their potential, but critically also for a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds, and assessed in advance for their fitness to benefit from the programme. This approach will allow project managers to ensure that LoFT addresses the intercultural issues that are most important in their national context. Four teams will participate in year one, with an additional four taking part in year two. LoFT partners will have physical or virtual input into the LT summit in March 08, with a LoFT alumni conference being held concurrently with the March 09 BC Congress.

Teams will be brought together to identify and plan a practical project that they will carry out with the aim of benefiting their city. Sample projects might include converting a piece of waste ground into a public garden, or providing a small library of books for a local orphanage. Through a series of meetings they will agree on a project, and plan and budget for carrying it out. Crucially each team will be given only a small sum to achieve the aims of their community project. This is to ensure that the individuals fall back upon their own resources, including personal skills in communication, networking, negotiating and organization.

While projects are ongoing, the British Council will organise a series of exchange visits between participating countries, to allow teams to see other projects, and work with their counterparts for a short period of time.

The coming together of two Teams to work on a second “Super project” in each location, will allow for increased learning and opportunities for inter cultural dialogue.

Exchange scheme:

Macedonia team goes to Romania
Romanian team goes to Scotland
Scottish team goes to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnian team goes to Macedonia