Exchange2Change
Kicking Off Connections

Jugendliche des Austauschprogramm St.Pauli Fußballcamp stehen vor einem Fußball-Tor. © Selim Sudheimer

Connecting through Football and Culture

Exchange2Change Kicking Off Connections is an exchange programme for young people, aged between 14 and 17 during the exchange phase, who live in the United Kingdom or Germany. As part of a group, exchangers connect through playing football and collaboratively develop a creative project, partly virtual and partly during stays in Mönchengladbach (North Rhine-Westphalia) and London (United Kingdom).
The programme is funded by the Friends of the Goethe-Institut UK and the Auswärtiges Amt.

Applications are now open!

Exchange2Change Kicking Off Connections will take place from 7-17 June 2026. Applications and letters of recommendation must be submitted by 1 April 2026.

Apply now

Who is eligible to apply?

We welcome applications from young people who are between 14 and 17 years old at the time of the exchange.
The programme is directed at young people who do not learn German and have had no or only minimal contact with Germany as of yet.
You should be prepared to get involved in a group process and, if necessary, establish contact with a youth centre/an alternative learning facility.
You should also have an interest in football and media creation.
You will need a letter of recommendation from a teacher/social worker/mentor or community organiser.

So, please start your application process early to not miss out!

Why participate?

With the exchange programme Exchange2Change Kicking Off Connections

you will be able to gain first work experience in artistic fields and in digital media creation.
you will meet young football enthusiasts from a different country and will be able to start a new collaborative project with them. You will make friends for life.
you can embrace your passion for football, let your creativity run wild and will gain a first taste of German language and culture. Selected participants will also have the opportunity to take part in a free German course at the Goethe-Institut.

If your application is successful, the Goethe-Institut London, with the kind support of the Auswärtiges Amt and the Friends of the Goethe-Institut United Kingdom, will cover all costs for participation in the exchange.

Important information

Here, we relay some additional information about the following details.

What is “Exchange2Change”?

Alumni, organisers, and the sponsoring “Friends of the Goethe-Institut United Kingdom” talk about the exchange programme and share what it means to them.

Eine Gruppe Jugendlicher bei einem Kreativworkshop