ESC: LEAP - Local Empowerment, Action & Purpose

Stichting Cherry International is a foundation active in the northeastern part of The Netherlands originated in the village of Nieuw-Weerdinge. Our aim is to bring Europe to rural areas and bring persons from rural areas in contact with Europe through exchanges, trainings and in the future international volunteering projects. Cherry is organising small scale local activities with youngsters, like volunteering in the youth club of Nieuw-Weerdinge, organising children and youth activities and coaching & guiding youngsters in their study choices, career choices and assistance in difficulties they might be facing in life such as 'being stuck in life', problems at school, homework counseling, bullying and family issues. We involve youngsters in the organisation and implementation of our international projects, every year we organise 2 to 3 international youth exchanges in the school holiday period, youngsters arrange all the practical facilities as well as giving assistance in the facilitation of the programme. We aim to have at least one international exchange per year abroad in order to give youngsters a taste of Europe. Our methods are non-formal learning and learning by doing. It means that people learn spontaneously by participating in activities, being faced with particular situations/issues for which they need to find a solution, as individuals or as a group. Our aim is to organise (international) projects throughout Europe in order to include disadvantaged youngsters, mainly those from rural areas, this in order to make them more aware of themselves and the world around them. Our vision is to give people the chance to discover their potential in order to create a better world.