Wilderness School: Developing Key Competences Through Expeditions

Dear All,
Outward Bound Romania (you can find information about our organization at our website: http://outwardbound.ro/en/outward-bound) invites you for partnership in the following Erasmus plus project called Wilderness School (KA1-youth exchange).The application will be submitted by 01.02.2018to Romanian N.A.
General description of the project:
Wilderness School: Developing Key Competences Through Expeditions is a 10 day program in the wild nature of Transylvania, Romania, for 20 young people from 4-5 different European countries in the period: 03-12.08.2018.
Half of the participants are coming from foster homes and the other half would be mainstream youth. Age of participants between 16-20 years. We chose this target group (socially disadvantaged youngsters+ socially not disadvantaged youngster) because the disadvantaged youngsters are often socially excluded, they have low self-confidence and low sense of responsibility. The participants having different background can motivate each other, learn from each other, they will become more tolerant and can find their role in helping efficiently each other. During the whole program all youngsters can develop together their key competences, therefore they will be able to serve better their own communities.

The main goal of the project is to help young people to improve their:
- social/life skills and key competences: they will develop their self-confidence, they will learn to communicate their feelings and ideas assertively without hurting or intimidating others. The "I can do it!" feeling is going to expand even into those fields they previously thought were outside of their comfort zone. Participants will develop their teamwork, their leadership skills and learning to learn skills which will help them to take responsibilities and initiatives more easily on the program and in real life too
- intercultural relationships: participants will learn about each other’s country, about each other’s culture, they will make new friendships, they will learn new language skills, and will have a deeper cultural awareness.
With the help of these developments the youngsters will become more confident, they will find their right place in their communities and will become useful members in the society.
The methods we use on the program is experiential and outdoor education (expeditionary learning). The participants are the creators of their own experiences; because results depend on how deeply they choose to engage themselves. One thing is sure: the youth exchange is going to be one of the biggest experiences of their life!
Period of the youth exchange: 03-12.08.2018
Location: - Outward Bound International Youth Center in Sovata, Romania – base camp (http://outwardbound.ro/en/international-youth-center)
- Ghurghiului Mountains- hiking expedition
- Mures River- canoe expedition

Participants:- 4 young people from each country, aged between 16-20, who want to improve their social/life skills and are able to speak English at least at basic level and half of them living in foster homes
-1 group leader from each country, aged 25+, good English speaker, who can help us with translation and in coordination of the workshops and organize preparatory meetings for the youngsters.

Program:
-Preparation meetings for youngsters before the youth exchange: Each partner will be asked to organize some preparatory meetings where participants will be prepared for the program, traveling, meeting with new people and will prepare the cultural presentation of their country.
-Youth exchange: knowing each other and teambuilding activities, language lessons, cultural presentations, ropes course, 4 days overnight hiking expedition, 2 day overnight canoe expedition, discussions in support groups in order to ensure the processing of the experiences and the transfer of learning.
-3 month after the exchange: the group leaders are going to write a report about the development and positive changes in participant’s real life.

Financial criteria:
-Visa cost, accommodation and food are covered 100% for the entire duration of the exchange.
-100% of the travel cost, till the maximum amount set by the EU, will be transferred for the partner organization after the youth exchange and the partner organization transfer the amount for the participants
-the special equipment for the expedition is assured by Outward Bound Romania

Our expectations:
- The partners must be serious NGO-s with experience in working with disadvantaged youngsters
- The partner have to provide : - 4 participants +1 group leader
-1 project coordinator (he/she doesn’t have to come to the exchange), who helps us in organizing the project

Contact:
KingaVajda
projectmanager
Tel: +40769224283
mail address: kinga@outwardbound.ro

Outward Bound Romania
Tel/fax. 0040-265-250939
www.outwardbound.ro
www.facebook.com/outwardbound.ro