Volunteering and solidarity activities with deaf and hard of hearing persons – exploring European project possibilities and building up networks

This Partnership Building Activity addresses project managers and representatives of different kinds of organisations who work with or are interested in working with deaf and hard of hearing young persons in the framework of volunteering and solidarity activities. It offers them space to explore the European Solidarity Corps programme as a tool for empowering and supporting the participation and social inclusion of young people within the programme itself, youth work and society.  

The main aim of the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programme is to enhance the engagement of young people and organisations in accessible and high-quality solidarity activities, primarily volunteering, as a means to strengthen cohesion, solidarity, democracy, European identity and active citizenship in the Union and beyond, addressing societal and humanitarian challenges on the ground.

It therefore supports the following actions: 

• Individual volunteering
• Volunteering teams
• Solidarity projects 

The ESC seeks to promote equal access, inclusion and diversity across all its formats. We have a broad perspective on inclusion and we are convinced that every young person should have the possibility to participate in the ESC.

The Partnership Building Activity (PBA) addresses colleagues from organisations from and for deaf and hard of hearing persons as well as from (international) youth work organisations that are interested in organising or participating in a project with deaf and hard of hearing persons within the European Solidarity Corps.  

It will open space to professionals and organisations to get to know each other’s work and interests find partners and explore ideas for potential common projects for European Solidarity Corps projects and start to develop project ideas. It will also explore the possibility of applying for funds in the European Solidarity Corps. 

The activity will also offer time to get to know good practices, share experiences and discuss concerns, expectations, challenges and needs of the participating organisations and youth workers.

Through the PBA, the participants will: 

• explore aspects of the European Solidarity Corps, its formats and its potential for young people and their organisations; 
• get a better understanding on how to deal with the barriers and challenges deaf / hard of hearing young persons can be facing in the framework of international volunteering and especially in the framework of the different ESC activity formats (language and communication, connecting to peers and colleagues, adequate leisure time activities etc.); 
• get practical tips on conceptualizing and organising accessible, inclusive projects with deaf / hard of hearing young people in ESC and learn about related programme features (for example funding for individual needs); 
• connect, build up a network and lay the foundation for future ESC partnerships; 
• exchange experiences and learn from good practices; 
• start working on concrete ideas for inclusive projects with deaf / hard of hearing persons. 

Target group of the PBA: 

• Representatives and project managers from (international) youth work organisations, 
• Representatives and project managers from organisations from and for deaf and hard of hearing persons, 
• Other public or non-public organisations interested in inclusive international youth work with deaf / hard of hearing young persons. 

The activity is open to a maximum of 20 participants 

• taking part in the national introduction phase (see below), 
• ready to take part in the entire European event.

The base working language is English, supported by International Sign interpretation. In case of individual needs, it is possible to join this event together with an additional accompanying person.

The PBA is a part of a wider process that consist of three phases:  

Phase 1: National introduction phase  

Before participating in the European event, participants will get first basic information from their country’s National Agency for the European Solidarity Corps on the programme. This can happen through a larger national information and/or training event, an online-information session or in other forms. 

Phase 2: European PBA in Berlin   

Phase 3: Counselling and follow up  

All participants/organisations that took part in the PBA will get support by the National Agency for the European Solidarity Corps programme in their country to develop good quality projects and submit an application in the coming deadlines. 

Practicalities: 

This PBA starts on 28th September 2021 at 19:00 CEST with dinner and we expect participants to arrive between 14:00 and 18:30 to the venue. The activity lasts 3 full days and ends at 20:00 with dinner on 1st of October (programme end: 16:00). Participants can decide to leave on 1st of October after dinner or 2nd of October early morning or after breakfast. 

In case you need individual support to be able to participate to this PBA please mention it in your application form. We will do everything in our power to arrange the support that you need. In case  you have questions or you are not sure if things can be arranged, you can contact Hanna Schüßler, schuessler@jfemail.de.  

At the venue Seminaris Campushotel Berlin we will have two large working rooms at our disposal that allow us to comply with the prevailing safety and hygiene concept related to COVID-19.  

Important: Please note that the organising partner JUGEND für Europa will be closely observing the development of the COVID-19 pandemic and reserves the right to cancel the activity in accordance with internal decisions on hosting residential events.

The PBA is organised within the framework of the Strategic Partnership on Inclusion (SPI), a coordinated approach of 17 Erasmus+ Youth and European Solidarity Corps National Agencies (NAs) and the SALTO Inclusion & Diversity Resource Centre. Its aim is to involve more organisations working in relevant fields for inclusion & diversity, as well as to reach out to organisations working with or interested in working with the EU youth programmes in an inclusive way and to increase the participation of young people with fewer opportunities in the Erasmus+ Youth programme and the European Solidarity Corps.