From 15 to 25 August 24 young people from Macedonia, Germany and Bulgaria have met  in Sandanski, for ten days to work together to explore the cycling route "The Iron Curtain Trail" in the section of the cross -border zone of Bulgaria and Macedonia and to learn more about the historical events associated with it. This youth meeting - “Let’s study the History – international Youth on the route “Iron Curtain Trail” enable the young people to learn together about the history of Europe and its importance for the development of the European Union.

Performer of the Youth Exchange is Association "Savremie" from Sandanski, Bulgaria, with partners from Germany - Research association  " Technical and Environmental Youth Centre -Rabutz" e.V. presented by dr. Messerschmidt and Eva-Maria Rothe and from Macedonia - Association Center „Ambrozija“, presented by Jasminka Andonovska Pashaliska.

This project is implemented with the financial support of the program "Youth in Action" of the European Commission, administered in Bulgaria by the National Centre "European Youth Programmes and Initiatives".

The main idea of this project is to meet young people from different nationalities and cultures together, to learn about the history of the Iron Curtain Trail and its influence on the history of Europe, to become familiar with the cycling route "The Iron Curtain Trail" and the opportunities, that it offers, in the region of the cross -border area of Bulgaria and Macedonia.

Within the ten days exchange they collected information in order to give ideas what can be done in this section of the cycling route and exchanged experiences with the German partners, where the route is already built.

Divided into four working groups, the young people have generated ideas for joint actions, related to the construction of several camping and tent camps, construction of bicycle workshops, for all buildings is provided the use of solar collectors and wind generators to ensure the needed electricity; organization of hiking groups to the cycling route and they thought on issues of the waste collecting.

All participants in the international youth exchange received Youthpass certificates, which are recognition by the program "Youth in Action" for their active participation and to acquire knowledge.

"This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.”