My Solidarity project, me and my community: how participants, young people and communities can benefit from ESC Solidarity projects

The Italian National Agency for Erasmus+|Youth and European Solidarity Corps (ESC) will organise an international meeting addressed to former participants in Solidarity projects, to reflect on what type of impact has been generated through this experience.

The ESC Programme not only focuses on supporting the personal development of young people, but also targets the communities as beneficiaries through activities implemented by young people and youth organisations, such as Solidarity projects.

Understanding impact might be very complicated, and much more can be defining at personal, group/organisational and community levels.

The individual level: it refers to the impact on the Solidarity projects participants. It includes the development of participants’ competencies, experiences, and connections with others.

The organisation level: it refers to the impact on the groups and organisations involved in Solidarity projects. It includes things like developing organisational processes and structures, creating new projects, and developing partnerships with other stakeholders.

The community level: it refers to the impact on the wider community created by Solidarity projects and group activation. It includes aspects such as the impact on young people or other community members who are not participants but are in some way influenced by the Solidarity project’s work, as well as wider impacts on a community such as changes in self-perception, community bonds or inclusion.

They are usually not tangible, but we can approach them in terms of change: change in personal attitude or competences, change in organisational culture and project implementation, change in community actors and challenges.

The activity will foster the ability of former young participants to analyse the impact and potential follow-up of shaping, participating, and implementing a Solidarity project, using non formal learning methodologies as a tool for personal development, mutual understanding and communication and active participation.

The objectives of the meeting:

• To reflect on the concept of impact and change through a Solidarity project, on its potential and relevance;
• To reflect on participant own role in the project, in the group and towards the local communities;
• To reflect on the value of European Solidarity Corps projects as a tool for youth/group/community empowerment;  
• To find alternative ways to reflect on how to talk about impact and Solidarity projects.
• The methodology is the result of the principles of non-formal and experiential learning, enriched through collective and peer learning and enhanced with the use of user-friendly, interactive, digital and online learning and collaborating tools.