Press-release

The first international mobility was a training course for youth workers. During the 7-days program the youth workers and youth leaders got familiar with non-formal learning processes, learning differences, facilitating groups. They faced the NEETs specifics, difficulties, conceptual framework and opportunities, designed by the EU. They were challenged to critically analyse the role of youth worker in relation with possibilities of improving the activities with NEET young people and learn new non-formal and participative methods that can be used in the work with young people in order to help them integrate in the labor market and in the society. Participants got familiar with design-thinking processes and principles, designed learning activities themselves in order to participate in an active learning and self-development process to develop the competences and put them into practice.

Part of the youth workers, who took part in the first mobility designed and facilitated part of the the learning modules, implemented during the youth exchange in August 2021.

The Youth Exchange itself offered learning opportunity for 46 young people, aged from 16 to 27. They experienced, lived and learned in international context. They were interacting with other young people from other cultures and exchanged ideas on different topics and are eager to do something for their communities and for their peers. They explored the topics of non-formal education, key competences, experiential learning through arts (drama, dancing, theatre, painting) and sports, prepared and delivered workshops within national teams for other young people, explored Veliko Turnovo and challenges of local young people and prepared a learning game. The young people had the opportunity to develop new project ideas and find partners for their implementation. Series of activities happened also on a local level for each of the partner organisations - to motivate and support young people, especially those in NEETs category.

The project included 9 partner organisations from 9 European countries: Curba de Cultura, Romania, Teatro Metaphora, Madeira - Portugal, Legambiente Trani, Italy, Matadero lab, Spain, Drujstvo Lojtra, Slovenia, Young folks, Latvia, EduEra, Slovakia, Seiklejate Vennaskond, Estonia and Sdrujenie Nadejda-CRD, Bulgaria.

Project objectives are:

• To increase the impact and professionalization of Youth leaders in their work with young people in local communities.

• To develop the competencies of 29 Youth leaders to prepare, design and deliver activities aiming at NEET young people and their personal development, career development opportunities, social and communication conflicts.

• To develop a group / network of 48 local young people actively involved in the community life and ready to take the role of leaders to identify, involve and motivate NEET youth.

• To develop a framework for youth NGOs to work together and develop new projects aiming at NEET youth around Europe using NF learning methods and instruments.