2. The period 1992 - 1993

The first Roundabout experience occurred in 1993. 6 organisations were involved twinned by pairs:

• Jong Nederland and KJG
• Chiro and Jubla
• Patro and ODL (Italy)

3. Fimcap Europe General Assembly 1996 - Loreto (I)

The project has been evaluated at the Fimcap Europe General Assembly 1996 in Loreto. The organizations involved concluded that it is a good project to promote European identity. But nevertheless :

• Italy wants to pause for one year.
• JN wants to open up the project (some groups ask why there is the restriction to one country). In the facts, they faced the non interest of their local groups for Germany.
• KJG doesn't see the possibility of involvement the next 2 years, excepted one link with one Maltese parish.
• Chiro wants to continue with Jubla. Jubla doesn't.
• Patro is interested in the project, and is negotiating with CCCCCE.

Decision: Roundabout project organizations will be twinned for the period until the next Fimcap Europe General Assembly. Then will the next evaluation of this project and putting together new partners.

Conclusion: there needs to be a person of the European Bureau who follows this dossier.

One important remark: it seems that there is no big enthusiasm or energy for developing further the project, but exchanges remains the "top priority" of 8 organisations on 10 present in Loreto!

4. The period 1996 - 1999

The exchanges

The EOF work

The roundabout coordinator is elected in 1997 in Austria: Nathalie Van Bever. She will try to collect information from the organisations, and will stay open for helping the organisation at setting up their projects... No success!

The bureau works on a definition of the project, particularly in Sweden, March 1999:

• Twinning 2 organisations or not;
• Duration of the project (1, 2 or 3 years)
• The target groups (15-16 or ...)

The final version is written in September 1999 in the Netherlands and voted at the Fimcap Europe General Assembly 1999 in Malta.

5. Fimcap Europe General Assembly 1999, Dingli (MT)

So, a definition agreeing all organisations is voted.

The Roundabout project is a priority for 14 organisations on 15 present (1 abstention).

Patro approach FDF who is interested but not before their national summer camp 2001.

A Roundabout working group is set up. They work on how facilitating the tasks of the national Roundabout responsible person.

The evolution

From the history related above, we can point out the evolution of the project.

At the origins:

• Several couples of member organisations with an intercultural background
• Bilateral exchanges (the 1st year a local group hosts its partner, the 2nd year visits its partner)
• Several local groups of each member organisations involved in the project
• Target : age groups of 15 - 16

In the reality:

• just one or two active couples of member organisations. The other organisations eventually facilitate exchanges of their local groups on request, with no fixed partner organisation.
• A few exchanges only inside Fimcap Europe
• age groups from 12 - 15 (→ no possibility of EU subventions) to 17 - 18

Statements and questions

• There is a big gap between the Roundabout project on paper and in the reality.
• There is maybe a need for another project closer to the reality. Which background for that project?
• Could this new project coexist with the Roundabout?
• The finances/subventions influence deeply the projects
• What are the success factors for the exchange projects?
• What could be the input of Fimcap Europe?
• The promotion inside the national organisations is not enough developed.
• No support from the national organisation to the roundabout national coordinator.
• How to improve the preparation / the communication?