THE FACTS:
It’s an initiative of 3 Key partners: North Macedonia, Italy, and The Netherlands.
Other partners are from Montenegro, Ukraine, Turkey, Belgium, Italy, Albania,
Bosnia, Serbia, Kosovo, Greece and Romania.
There will be 26 places (maximum) on the training.
Each country send 1 female/1 male. Age 21 to 36 years. The first part takes place in North Macedonia – 15 to 22 November 2021.
The second part takes place in Italy 22 – 29 March 2022.
European studies show that there is a worrying division between higher and lower educated young people in Europe. This is also the case within Erasmus+ projects where the amount of young people with higher education that participate is bigger compared to the number of young people with no vocational training.
A growing number of European youths (around 25%) currently have no work and are not involved in any kind of education. In many cases, their problem is a combination of cross-related issues such as unhealthy lifestyle, anti-immigration hate, unemployment, affordable housing, low education, consequences of Covid-19, anti-EU feelings, and criminality. If we, as European societies, do not take care of this group now, their problems might increase during
the coming years, with which the division between privileged and disadvantaged people will continue to exist and in the worst case will even increase. The European Union recognizes that Youth work plays a crucial role in developing young people’s ability to transition successfully to adulthood, in becoming positive European citizens to their local communities and recognising their place in and contribute to the global community. Youth work plays an enormous role in how to deal with the problems of this group of young people.
With organizing “Act on the Spot” we want to highlight the importance of Youth work within the Erasmus+ programme. The first training takes place in North Macedonia and it lasts 6 days plus 2 travel days. The program is an intensive melt pot and makes the participants aware of the many differences there are between groups of youth, the position and role of youth work, the responsibility of youth work and the role model of the youth worker and learn them how to bridge the gaps between the varied groups. In addition, during this part we go deeper into issues such as exploring leadership and observation techniques, exploring various youth work methods: Talent scout and non formal
education and exploring and investigate profile of youth with fewer opportunities. A working visit to local youth centres plus a city tour is on the agenda. The 2nd training takes place in Italy. It lasts 6 days plus 2 travel days. With the
knowledge of ”what is youth work” we search together in the 2 nd training for suitable Erasmus+ activities such as ESC activities and youth exchanges to reach youngsters. European research demonstrates that youth exchanges are very suitable for bringing diverse youth cultures together and to connect them with each other. In addition: we will explore the aims and objectives of the Erasmus+, write and execute various youth exchanges, investigate the benefits of the Youth pass and develop cooperation across Europe and enhance European networking. To optimize learning opportunities, the participants will be supported throughout the entire process by a team of experts. These experts support and take the participants every day of the training a step higher on the ladder of learning during the execution of the entire project. During both training we use the practical examples of the participants, sharing experiences
and games to practice necessary skills for doing youth work. The games are aimed at the creation of attitudes; i.e. learning how to be a youth worker and think and act like one under all circumstances. Next to the games we will work on case studies in which participants can use their knowledge and skills. To achieve the desired objectives and aims of the training we invite participants that work on daily/weekly basis with youths in their organization. Whether in paid or volunteer positions, this is not important for the outcomes of the project. It should be understood that because of the intensity of the project, the continuity in the process of learning and the required performing in practice at a later stage, must have a permanent group of participants that collective go through the entire process. We expect that the training provide the participants with:
a better understanding of local, national and international youth work;
to develop practical, analytical thinking, reasoning and logic skills in working and leading with young people;
good knowledge of the Erasmus+ and the Youth pass;
to increase self-confidence to start with international youth work;
to develop leadership, monitoring and evaluation skill;
to understand what is a youth exchange project – aims and quality criteria;
to improve knowledge of practical arrangement of youth exchanges, different stages and various ways to implement them;
to improve partner finding and networking skills;
to improve skills and search in order to find new ideas and develop them into international (Erasmus+), national, regional and local projects.
Financial information
Almost all expenses will be covered by funding from the EU Erasmus+ Programme. This includes food and ccommodation. Travel expenses (home-to-home) will be reimbursed, based on the Erasmus+ distance
calculator. The participation fee for the entire project is 50€ and will be taken from the reimbursement of the travel cost.
Application and selection of participants
To ensure gender balance each partners will select 1 female and 1 male (age from 21 to 36) that represent the partner during the entire project. Participants are nominated by the partners, after which the participants are selected in consultation with the project developers on the basis of:
the profile of participants as described above;
the rules of the Erasmus+ Programme;
according to the questionnaire;
the experience, expectations and training needs of the applicants;
the partner desire to create Erasmus+ activities such as youth exchanges.
Successful applicants will receive confirmation of their participation. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact:
Peter Keijzer
richterholland@hotmail.com