European Craftsmen Exchange

The European Craftsmen's Exchange is a scheme offered by two East German organisations - Arbeitskreis Denkmalpflege (East German Network for Preservation of Monuments) and the Open Houses Network - since 1996.
In 1999 the European Craftsmen's Exchange was recognised as an official scheme by the national German authorities and since 2000 the exchange has been running regularly.

The Aim

The aim of the European Craftsmen Exchange is to provide young craftsmen and trainees the opportunity to work in another European country.
Young craftsmen and trainees wishing to work abroad face difficulties: schemes open to students (Erasmus etc.) are not open to them, other schemes are less aimed at concrete projects with concrete results (for example EVS), or are only short-term schemes (exchanges of groups of young craftsmen) – and for nearly all other existing schemes, knowledge of the host country's language (or of English) is a prerequisite. This in effect excludes most of those potentially interested.
Open Houses Network therefore thought it necessary to develop a scheme which gives young craftsmen and trainees similar chances to those open to students for a mid- or long-term stay in another European country.
It is well known that young craftsmen and trainees are not as mobile as students and academically educated people; to go abroad is for them in comparison a much more special experience. A relatively high number of young craftsmen and trainees are also put off by the fear of being negatively compared to students also present on the schemes.
However, because of their different professional background, students often have a greater knowledge of non-profit organisations, the "third sector", community work etc. If we wish to bring these concepts to the attention of society as a whole, it follows that it is also necessary to bring craftsmen and trainees – and especially young ones – in contact with these fields.
For these reasons the Eastern German Network for Preservation of Monuments and the Open Houses Network have developed a scheme which

does not demand knowledge of the host country's language or of another international language
applies only to projects with a clear non-profit orientation, if possible, to projects with greater "third-sector" or community-working activities
is especially aimed at young craftsmen and trainees wanting to carry out concrete activities with concrete results
also takes on unemployed young people
offers participants the opportunity to meet young craftsmen and trainees from the host country and from other European countries
encourages young people from different fields (for example bricklayers and carpenters etc.) to share their experiences
brings young people into contact with older craftsmen
brings participant's knowledge of European cultural heritage and special techniques of preservation of monuments
offers young craftsmen and trainees opportunities to get in contact with students and other academically educated young people
offer the participants (depending on their profession) additional qualifications in special courses.

Structure

Open Houses Network is the host organisation and is responsible for administrative matters, finances, insurance, seminars and supervision.
Arbeitskreis Denkmalpflege (Eastern German Network for Preservation of Monuments) is responsible for the work and the professional supervision.
The participants can apply directly or via a sending organisation in their country.

Participants

The project is open to young craftsmen from European countries, whether or not currently in employment.
In exceptional cases it may be possible to be taken onto the scheme without having completed professional training. Having reached a middle-stage in one's professional education is however a minimum requirement.
People without a professional qualification, but with professional experience of a minimum of four years in a particular field, may also be accepted.
Age limit is from 18 to 35, for participants from some countries from 18 to 27.
Open Houses Network recommends the project to those aged between 20 and 30 years.

Professions

In 2007 and 2008 Open Houses Network is looking for carpenters, joiners, roofers, bricklayers and stone-masons. Other professions on special request.

Dates

The European Craftsmen Exchange will take place in 2008.

In each course young craftsmen from different European countries will work together. For any one course, there is a maximum of five people from any one country.
The introduction seminar will take place in the first week of every course.
The second week of every course will overlap with the last week of the previous one. During this week, participants of both courses will work together.
Open Houses Network recommends taking part for the course's full duration (three months). When this is not possible, a special agreement may be reached with the host organisation before arrival. In all cases, the participant should be present for the introduction seminar.

Project Places

Next year in summer, the project will again take place in the Renaissance castle of Oberau near Meissen, 25 kilometres from Dresden, Saxony's regional centre.
The joiners' project will take place in Oberau castle and the joiners' and restorers' workshop near Weimar in Thuringia.
Open Houses Network also trys to give participants the possibility to work on another important historical monument in Eastern Germany (Lohra Castle, Ollendorf Castle etc.). Where and how long they are going to work depends among other factors, on group progress and the qualification of the participants.
All monuments on which work will be carried out are under the care of non-profit organisations and will be used in the future for non-profit projects if not already done like that. Each monument will at least partly be used for (regional) cultural purposes, for youth cultural projects and for international youth exchange.
All the monuments have been officially declared by the German state as monuments worthy of the highest level of preservation.
Whether the additional professional seminar will take place depends on the professional profiles of the participants and on the opportunities available.

Introduction Seminar

The introduction seminar includes:

information about every-day-life in Germany
information about handicrafts, professional education etc. in Germany
cultural-historical information about Germany as the host country (short historical description, cultural identity in Germany, recent German history, Eastern/Western Germany, Germany in Europe etc.)
opportunities to ask questions and to discuss
a two-day-language seminar as an introduction to the host country's language.
a one-day seminar dedicated to intercultural learning.

The seminar will be translated into / organised in the native language(s) of the participants.

The Practical Professional Work

The practical work will last around 10 weeks - there are in total 13 project weeks, of which 1 week for the introduction seminar, 1 week for the additional professional seminar and a 1 week vacation.
The participants will work together with German craftsmen and German trainees on the restoration of Oberau castle and other monuments.
The process is both one of working and one of learning, a process which participants can use to broaden their knowledge, to come into contact with historical techniques and to gain experience in other fields of manual work. Interdisciplinary work plays an important role.
Work is from Monday to Friday 8 hours a day.

Additional Professional Seminar

Open Houses Network trys to give the participants the possibility to take part in an additional professional seminar.
These seminars will be especially organised by Arbeitskreis Denkmalpflege, depending on the professional capacities of participants, and on the number of participants sharing the same profession.
Because of the different backgrounds of those taking part and because Open Houses Network will only be able to accurately assess their level of knowledge after arrival, the additional professional seminar can not be guaranteed in every case.
Arbeitskreis Denkmalpflege and the Open Houses Network also run other projects, for example European Heritage Campuses, Summer Academies, Planning workshops for University students etc. Those on the European Craftsmen's Exchange therefore have the possibility to come into contact with the participants of these projects, to take part in special activities (for example excursions), to exchange their experiences and knowledge. If the timetables allow, the different groups will share their meals.

Vacations

Those taking part for the whole duration of the course have a one week vacation.
This week can be used for travelling (at one's own expense, but the Open Houses Network can help with finding cheap accommodation in East Germany), for taking part in another Arbeitskreis Denkmalpflege project (for example a students' project) or for simply staying put. It is not recommended to use this time to travel home as this would create an imbalance in the group for geographical and financial reasons.
The dates will be fixed with respect to the project's organisation and the wish of the participant(s).

Evaluation Day

At the end of every project, an evaluation day will take place with all participants and all supervisors. This will coincide with the introduction seminar for the next group so that experiences can be directly shared.

Finances

All costs are covered, including food, accommodation, insurance and the seminars.
However travel costs are at the expense of the participants themselves. It may though be possible to get some money towards them if coming through the structure of a sending organisation.
Participants receive 30 € pocket money a week, around 125 € a month. This applies to all those taking part, whether from Eastern or Western Europe, and the money is paid at the beginning of every month.

Certificate

Participants will receive a certificate signed by the association "Handwerker in der Denkmalpflege" (Craftsmen in Preservation of Monuments), the all-German organisation of craftsmen working in the fields of heritage and conservation.