Keys For Success for Inclusion Projects

• A Youth in Action project with young people with fewer opportunities should be embedded in a process before and after the actual project and not remain an isolated event. The Youth in Action programme could be used for different steps in a young person's pathway.
• When preparing and implementing inclusion projects, particular emphasis needs to be put on the analysis of the profile and special needs of the young people and a corresponding tailor-made and supportive approach.
• Inclusion projects should focus on young people's competences and aim at developing their potential, rather than focussing on deficits and problems;
• A solid partnership between the organisations and individual youth workers involved in a project should be established, based on commonly agreed objectives, concepts and methods.
• Projects should possibly be implemented in association with other national, regional or local inclusion programmes and persons and institutions outside the project context (family, school, etc.).
• The step-by-step approach should be stimulated for young people with fewer opportunities, i.e. to start with a youth initiative or youth exchange, then continue with the voluntary service, moving on from a short-term EVS to a long term EVS etc.
• Depending on its aims, inclusion projects could either bring together young people from different backgrounds (socio-economic, educational, cultural, religious, geographical, dis-ability, sexual orientation, gender...) to promote diversity and counter intolerance and discrimination, or target one particular "homogenous" target group (a particular immigrant community, LesBiGay youth, girls only, etc.). The latter approach may be beneficial for working on sensitive topics (identity, personal development, violence, etc.) and shall also be supported when justified.

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