As part of a European project to bring different communities closer together, YIE (Youth in Europe) was setup between schools across Europe for that very purpose. To give the students from different EU countries the chance to meet, and work together strengthening the bonds between the European countries. The Purbeck School is the UK representative, along with Hobro Gymnasium, Hobro (Denmark); Lyceum, Patras (Greece); Viareggio Upper Secondary School (Italy); Verona Upper Secondary School (Italy) and Ållebergsgymnasiet, Falköping in Sweden.

In September, the sixth form students of The Purbeck School were asked if we would be interested in entering a competition to do a piece of writing on the millennium, either on the past millennium, or the future of the coming millennium. And the winners (Nick Watkins and Gemma Hopley) would have the opportunity to go to Denmark and attend the Challenges conference.

The main aim of the conference in Hobro was to compile the next edition of the challenges. A magazine which is produced by the students from the participating schools. This issue's theme was 'Energy and Environment on the Threshold of the New Millennium.' The trip started early on Tuesday 9th November, as we drove to Heathrow, where we would first fly to Copenhagen, and then on to Aalborg which wasn't far from the conference in Hobro. From the Purbeck School there were four people attending. Including us, the winners of the competition - Nick Watkins, Gemma Hopley and two teachers, Mr T Broad and Mrs K Pallister. We all stayed with Danish families who were all very warm, kind and generous people. Staying with Danish people, and not in a hotel was great because you have the opportunity to learn so much more about the Danish people, and their life style.

The conference itself was very interesting and rewarding. To begin the weeks events, the headmaster of Hobro Gymnasium, Birger Axen opened the event with a very well read speech in English. A fact which may surprise you is that almost everyone has at least some understanding on English, and a great deal of people can speak our language very well. Luckily for us. Working as journalists we compiled and arranged a set of articles brought to the conference from the involved schools which is to be included into the magazine. All the content can be found on the challenges web site at www.come.to/challenges. Altogether, excluding the teachers the challenges group consisted of three Swedes, four Greeks, eleven Danes, and two English. Unfortunately, the Italian students were unable to attend the conference.

All in all, the Hobro conference was thoroughly enjoyable, interesting and above all fun. We had a chance to visit a different country, see their culture and experience it for our self. The people were some of the nicest we've ever met, and extremely friendly. Student exchanges are great ways to make to friends, and see the world at the same time.