Programme: Erasmus+
Key Action: Learning Mobility of individuals
Project Title: “NFE – opportunity for social inclusion”
Project Identifier: 2014-3-HR01-KA105-012475
Topics: Inclusion – equity; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses
Results Platform Project Card: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/projects/search/details/2014-3-HR01-KA105-012475
Coordinating organisation and country: Udruga “Ostvarenje” / Association “Realization”, HR
Participating Countries: HR, TR, RO, PL, IT, ES, MK, BG, CY, EE, SI
Funded by: Agencija za mobilnost i programme Europske Unije (AMPEU), the Croatian National Agency for the Erasmus+ programme
Project duration: 15/01/2015 – 14/08/2015
Project Summary:
In our organisations, we work with youngsters with difficult socio-economic background and with fewer opportunities (due to their families? social, economic situation or national/ethnic background). It has been challenging for our youth workers to ensure participation frame of those participants that would ensure their personal and professional development. This training course was designed for those youth workers who have had basic competences in using NFE and working with inclusion, but needed to fine tune their competences in order to ensure quality development of every participant of theirs during the NFE activities they lead. The training course was developed for youth workers and trainers willing to plan, prepare and lead NFE and experiential learning activities for social inclusion.
The core activity of the project was – 8 days long training course. It was organised in the youth hostel in Zadar, from 7th till 15th May 2015. Project gathered 31 participants, trainers and staff from 14 organisations and 11 countries (Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Poland, Slovenia, Italy, Cyprus, Estonia, Romania, Spain, Turkey and Bulgaria).
Objectives of the project were:
- To achieve common understanding of NFE and inclusion;
- To share experiences about inclusion/exclusion realities in our countries/communities;
- To discuss and understand how EU social inclusion policies influence our countries being members of EU or having (potential) candidate status to EU;
- To explore the needs of socially excluded groups and of exclusive society in order to be able to improve situations towards more inclusive society;
- To explore NFE opportunities for different individuals;
- To explore and encourage the usage of the experiential learning in NFE activities for inclusion;
- To develop and implement NFE activities to implement in local communities;
- To analyse the implemented practices and to recommend how best to use experiential learning for inclusion in our youth work;
- To learn how we can use the Erasmus+ Youth in Action programme for inclusion in society and to develop mutual projects.
The training course was based on the pedagogical understanding of the Council of Europe and the European Commission Partnership Programme and our own experience and expertise in youth NFE work for inclusion. As the training materials we used SALTO booklets, T-kits, Compass, etc. The training course followed the non-formal education approach, principles and methods and was based on participants’ experience and exchange.
All partners were involved in preparation, implementation and evaluation and follow-up phase and activities during the training course, while the preparation team of trainers, facilitators and staff were comprised of experienced youth trainers from applicant (Realization) and from partner organisation from FYR Macedonia (CID).
Project had biggest impact on direct beneficiaries-participants who furthered develop their skills in defining, planning, preparing and leading quality inclusion NFE activities / training courses of other youth workers and youngsters within their local centres and activities and European level projects. Also, there important impact was on participating / partner organisations who received trained people to improve own work with NFE for inclusion and became more capable and better equipped for developing of new local and European inclusion projects and partnerships.
As a potential longer term benefit, we expect increase in number of young people contributing to quality inclusive society, through increased quality of non-formal education activities in communities.
*Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.