“ACTIVE YOUTH” - TC on active youth participation towards social inclusion

“Active Youth” is a training course based on active participation of youth workers and groups in creative inclusion engaging diverse cultural public into common activities. Our aim is to gain insight on empowering youth civic and social participation through active and creative ways.

Why?

Inclusion and cultural diversity is always a matter of discussion in our modern societies. The need of bringing the gaps between young people from different cultural backgrounds led us to organize multicultural activities.

Our objectives:
- Become aware of significant concepts such as active participation, cultural diversity and social exclusion
- Develop knowledge in intercultural and experiential learning
- Emphasize on arts as learning means and street animation
- Encourage youth participation and involvement in social processes
- Promoting voluntarism
- Develop and enhance skills, competences and knowledge contributing essentially in personal, social and vocational progress
- Consider alternative paths of employment and training opportunities
- Create pro-active attitudes towards social exclusion
- Exchange good practices in working within multicultural and/or youth groups
- Develop strategies, activities and tools in order to improve youth work locally focused on cultural diversity
- Stimulate participants to use alternative methods in order to address issues such as social exclusion
- Establish common approaches and bring forth an open network among participants regarding follow-up projects or future joint initiatives.

How?

The training course follows the context of non-formal education principles and values. Our basic methodological approach is experiential learning and alternative dynamic approaches towards civic, social and intercultural learning. Active participation is required during the whole process.

In specific, work methods and tools are:
- Group work (in a whole group or subgroups)
- Interactive and creative workshops
- Intercultural culinary workshop
- Role playing and simulations
- Team building activities, ice-breaking games, communication exercises
- Outdoor activities, open space methodology
- Street animation - alternative street work
- Social circus and street theatre techniques (clowning, juggling, stilt walking etc.)
- Reflection

Working language is English.

Where?

The TC will be held in Thessaloniki, the second larger city in Greece, a port city placed in the northern part of the country.

When?

Dates: 21 - 28th of June 2014 (including arrival and departure days)
Thessaloniki will be European Youth Capital City in 2014 and many youth events will take place!

Participants

Youth workers or leaders, trainers, project organizers and managers, volunteers dealing with youth intercultural activities considering active participation, alternative approaches, social issues and employability.
All participants should be adults (no age limit).
Participants per partners: 2-3

Costs

There is no participation fee. Accommodation and food costs are included.
Travel costs are reimbursed in 70%.