Inclusion Newsletter September 04

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Reflections about Quality Inclusion Projects

SALTO and the European Commission co-organised a 'Working Group on Inclusion' in June 2004, as a part of the mid term evaluation of the current YOUTH programme. At this meeting interesting discussions took place on which elements make a 'quality inclusion project'. We would like to share these reflections with you, and maybe you get inspired for your inclusion projects.

(this newsletter presents the ideas raised at the working group and do not necessarily represent SALTO's or the Commission's view)

> WHAT DOES IT TAKE?

What exactly is needed to take into account when organising a YOUTH project involving youngsters with fewer opportunities?

(These elements mainly focus on a (short term) EVS project, but can easily be translated into the frame of a group exchange involving youngsters with fewer opportunities.)

- Partnerships

The basis of a quality project is always to start with a well-established partnership between the involved organisations and other partners. What makes a good and solid partnership between the involved organisations? What is needed to create a solid basis of trust and understanding between a sending and hosting organisation, in order to send or host a young volunteer with special needs? What are the keys of success?

A solid partnership is based on trust, honesty, open communication, awareness of intercultural differences and approaches and the common aim of creating opportunities for the youngster with fewer opportunities.

If the organisations decide to consolidate their partnership, an adequate description of the organisations’ partnership as well as joint activities is needed. For everyone involved it must be clear beforehand who takes which responsibilities to guarantee quality support for the youngster with fewer opportunities in all phases of the project.

In a broader sense, project partners but also other relevant partners of the local context (family, school, municipality etc.) should agree - potentially in a signed written document – on their commitment and respective responsibilities before, during and after the project.

Regular communication and compatibility among partners concerning the aims, objectives, approaches and methods of inclusion; Do all of them have the same understanding on inclusion and how to deal with it?

Joint activities (e.g. Advance Planning Visit) shall prepare the ground for the partnership and the project itself. Sharing some history together, before the short term EVS project starts, stimulates solid partnerships.

- Competence and Experience

When aiming quality inclusion project, pedagogical competence and possibly inclusion experience of the involved partner organisations - mentioning past or current appropriate training – is a key element to guarantee a quality personal support of the youngster and to work in a professional and structured way towards the aimed impact of the project. Sending and hosting organisations need to be competent and being skilled in handling obstacles of young people with fewer opportunities. In other words: being competent in risk management is an element when working towards quality projects.

- Tailormade Projects

A project within the YOUTH programme is not a goal on itself. It is a tool to help young people reach their long-term goals. The pedagogical frame of the YOUTH programme must be translated into a personalized project in order to respond to their specific needs and how it can help them reach specific goals. Therefore, a quality inclusion project should aim an impact on the personal and professional pathway of the young person.

To ensure a tailor-made project the hosting organisation is able to provide a personal support for the vulnerable youngster, a clear analysis of the profile and the specific needs of the young people involved must be communicated on forehand between the hosting and sending organisation.

To work towards a quality tailor-made project also means a high degree of flexibility towards the young vulnerable volunteer, in order to provide the best response to her/his specific needs.

- Understanding & Participation

For the youngster himself, it is crucial to understand clearly the aims and objectives of, not only the project, but also the framework of the EVS (or other) project. It must be obvious the youngster is actively involved in “creating” the project, defining his own aims and objectives, etcetera. Accordingly, the youngster himself is involved into the preparation meeting (= advanced planning visit) with the hosting organisation.

- Thorough Preparation

Linguistic (and intercultural) preparation and support should be provided. To increase an open communication and a safe environment, mentally and physically, for and with the volunteer, some basic knowledge of a common language is vital.

- Follow-Up

A quality follow-up phase is crucial in the personal pathway: the experience of the project must be translated into the normal daily life again. In order to guarantee this impact, all organisations involved have to mention the needed steps for the follow-up phase of the project such as possible links with local, regional or national inclusion programme etc.

The learning potential and achievements have to be identified in order to define and clarify the different steps to be taken by the volunteer to reach the goals in his personal pathway. But also during the follow-up phase, and back to “normal life”, the clearer the achievements are, the clearer the added value of this project for the volunteer himself.

Possibly the results of the project have to be made visible and shared with others. The local community (e.g. parents, family, friends, school, neighbourhood, …) is also an important player in the game. They are an equal part of the project, together with the volunteer and the involved organisations in aiming a quality project. Therefore, sharing results of the project is an important step, not only after the project, but also during the project phase.

- Support

A supportive approach to promoters and young people with fewer opportunities from the National Agencies in all phases before, during and after the project, is another key element when working towards a quality inclusion project.

A national agency is not only a decisive & administrative body. In order to make inclusion really work in the YOUTH programme, support and training for the involved actors is necessary in order to work towards quality projects, e.g. exchange of experience between several hosting or sending organisations.

The YOUTH programme offers a unique & pedagogical frame to make inclusion work in daily life. Therefore early and regular contact from and with the national agency increases the quality outcome of a project.

- Exchange Best Practice!

Communication of information and best practice exchange between different networks/partnerships at different levels. National agencies can play a role in supporting national and European networks to spread information and use their expertise and experience.

IF YOU HAVE Inclusion experiences that you would like to share with other inclusion workers in Europe OR questions to which you think SALTO could provide an answer > send it to and we can take it up in (one of the next Inclusion Newsletters)

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Newsletter by Ann Hendriks & Tony Geudens
SALTO Inclusion -