Mentoring in Youth Initiatives - MIYI

This KA210-YOU project (lump sum: € 60 000) aims to prepare youth organisations to better involve young people on local and international level in social actions, addressing social and environmental challenges and develop their own initiatives. For this, we need to raise and maintain their motivation and engagement, which can be challenging in our accelerated world. In this project, we build on the experience of the applicant in supporting youth initiatives (mainly in Erasmus+ youth exchanges and ESC solidarity projects) and we aim to systematise, extend and complement this knowledge and experience at international level. During this process, we work together with youth directly to meet their needs and expectations as closely as possible. A seminar will be organised together with youth workers and young people to exchange experiences and brainstorm about youth mentoring, to raise awareness on youth-led actions and social engagement. As a result, 3 “thinkaton” events will be organised for young people, with young people and a handbook will be developed with a practical toolkit on youth initiatives.

Project objectives
To systematise, expand and complement existing youth mentoring knowledge and experiences of the participating youth organisations by international exchange.
To promote the involvement of young people in the development of youth work, taking their needs into account.
To develop practical, easy-to-use materials that help youth mentoring in social actions.
To involve young people with disadvantaged backgrounds better in youth-led projects and initiatives.

Expected results
Experience exchange among 3 youth organisations regarding youth initiatives.
Making European programmes more popular among young people, especially among disadvantaged.
Capacity building among youth organisations to improve the quality of local youth work in the participating countries.
Participative local youth programmes are better adapted to young people's needs.

Project activities
A1: MIYI Handbook & Toolkit
The Handbook will contain useful information on youth initiatives opportunities in the EU and beyond, practical information on a youth project’s lifetime and afterlife and quality management, dissemination and follow-up, training and workshop exercises for youth workers on how to raise and maintain interest in young people for youth-led projects.
A2: MIYI Ambassador’s Seminar
The seminar will gather 2 youth workers and 4 young people from each country for 3 days to raise awareness on youth initiatives and build on the multiplier effect.
A3: MIYI Thinkathons
“Thinkathon” events for young people, implemented by the Ambassadors, aim to raise interest of (disadvantaged) young people on youth initiatives, educate them on their opportunities and lay down the bases of new youth projects.

We are seeking for two partner organisations only from EU countries. Ideally, a newcomer NGO or youth centre and a more experienced organisation that is familiar with the Erasmus+ programme already (especially with youth exchanges) but did not work with European Solidarity Corps solidarity projects yet. Most importantly, partners should be active on local level, working with young people! Please send us your PIF and short introduction including your motivation to be part of this initative.