Project Lab: Tandem

Do you have a solid idea and project partners for an activity within Erasmus+ KA1 and KA2? Are you focusing on working with inclusion target groups? Great! Then the Project Lab Tandem might be the perfect opportunity for you!

In three full working days, between 3-5 November, you will have the opportunity to work together on your project, get peer support from like-minded people, take knowledge from workshops, feedback from seasoned NA officers and mentoring and support from experienced trainers. 

During the Project Lab you will have an opportunity to: 

• strengthen new cooperation between partner organizations; 
• develop your project idea into a real project plan; 
• receive support in building a quality application for the Spring round of 2027; 
• plan the precise next steps to submit the application; 
• learn from other participants, exchange ideas and experiences. 

Who can apply?

Participation is only possible for organisations applying jointly with at least one partner organisation based in a different country (please each partner submit separate applications);

At least one of the partner organisations is working with young people with fewer opportunities. Including, but not limited to: lived experience of migration (including refugees), diverse abilities (disabilities), neurodiversity, lgbtiq*, people of colour, people with fewer learning opportunities, people from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. We want you in the room.

Be over 18 years old and have relevant work profile (in a paid or volunteer position) for a youth organisation;

The programme is in English; you should be able to communicate your ideas and work on your project.

Bonus points: if you have participated in an activity of Strategic Partnership on Inclusion in 2021-2026.

Objectives

During the project LAB, we will: 

• offer you space & time to work on your project in a focused way in your pre-existing partner organisation's team;
• provide you with self-directed learning challenges that will guide you through the process;
• offer workshops on topics that help you develop your project and your youth worker competences;
• provide supportive feedback in peer groups, mentoring and problem-solving sessions; 
• give feedback from NAs perspective;
• keep a let's do it vibe: we want you to succeed and will create the atmosphere to keep you motivated.

The Project Lab is NOT: 

• a space for you to find out, if you'd like to work together or what your topic could be; 
• a space to find new partners to develop new ideas;  
• an offer for organisations, which organise only international activities. We would like to support organisations that work with young people with fewer opportunities locally in their day-to-day lives.

Methods and methodology

The Project Lab Tandem will offer you a frame, space and support. Within this structure you will have the opportunity to work in a way that best suits your team. We call this a self-directed approach; you are in charge of your journey.  

If you find yourself in need of more support and structure, we will be there for your with: 

• thematic workshops that support the project planning process 
• support, coaching and feedback sessions 
• advice from NA officers 
• best practices to learn from 

We will use non-formal education principles to learn together. This means that the methods we use are based on: 

• the needs of learners and the learning process 
• voluntary participation 
• inclusive and accessible facilitation  
• working in groups and with peers 
• engaging mind, body and emotions 

What you need to bring:

• a clear project idea;
• your project team (in your partnership at least one organisation needs to work directly with young people with fewer opportunities);
• a first feedback from the young people you are creating the project with/for on the relevance on your project idea;
• the commitment to apply in spring 2027 deadline.

Composition of the team

Vika Matuzaite is a non-formal education trainer, youth worker and supporter as well as a community builder with many years of experience. Creating spaces of any size for genuine dialogue, mutual support, care and empathy building is a driving force. Vika`s work is rooted in human rights education and working with queer youth is one of her focus topics.  

Manina Ott trainer and organisational developer with a focus on diversity and anti-discrimination. Working full time in youth work and non-formal education for more than 12 years, especially on the topics of participation, empowerment and (forced) migration. She loves developing new ideas and transforming them into (project) realities especially in international teams, especially when they are challenging the “normal”. 

Henk Persyn:  Social worker, youth worker, active in the European youth field for more than 25 years. Focus on inclusion projects with youth facing social- economic obstacles and people with a disability.  A lot of experience on developing youth exchanges and in the frame of the European Solidarity Corps,  for and with young people with fewer opportunities. 

Cooperation for Inclusion  

The E+ Youth programmes have been supporting the topics of inclusion and diversity a lot in the past years. The numbers of applications have risen, more participants that face discrimination and marginalization are taking part in the programmes. Still not enough organisations that focus on inclusion and diversity, are self-representing or that work inclusively in their day-to-day youth work are writing applications or granting their projects. There are many reasons for this, one being: it is not easy or particularly accessible. Maybe there is some knowledge that is still missing, the support from experienced colleagues or simply the time to meet in person and really work together. This is why we created the Project Lab Tandem. 

This activity is a part of the Strategic Partnership for Inclusion. The Strategic Partnership for Inclusion is a Strategic National Agency Cooperation: many National Agencies work together to increase the participation of young people with fewer opportunities and support the access of new organisations in the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programmes. 

Accessibility 

You will be accommodated in single rooms. The hotel can cater for vegetarian, vegan, lactose-/gluten free diets. Unfortunately, halal and kosher food will not be possible. The venue is accessible for wheelchair users. Also, if you need to bring a personal assistant or a guide dog with you, or if you need an accessible room, sign language interpretation, or other kind of support, we will try to arrange it for you. After the selection process, we will get back to all the participants regarding their needs during the training course.