Inclusion through Solidarity

Aims & objectives

Due to the current situation, Erasmus+ and European
Solidarity Corps programs potential when combined, and our specific expertise, we generated a capacity-sharing space and built quality standards of international volunteering projects as
an efficient response to the unemployment crisis.
Hence, during 9 days mobility and throughout the project period, we aimed to:
1. Empower 29 youth workers in managing quality ESC projects by exchanging experiences and good practices, good management of the project, inclusion
strategies, analyzing characteristics and jointly finding solutions.

2. Develop a common understanding for 29 participants on how to properly design an ESC projects with focus on quality, based on the inclusion needs of NEET youth;

3. Improve the organizational capacity of 9 NGOs for developing inclusion projects, by promoting ESC program as a solution to youth unemployment.

4. Build stronger synergies and lasting partnerships among 9 NGOs from EU and EaP and develop future projects, share specific results, good practices and
successful strategies used among NGOs in the EU and the region EaP.

Target group & international/intercultural composition of the group & team

The training involved 29 youth workers aged 18+ from the partners NGOs' staff (volunteers, social workers, educators, counselors, trainers and other related staff implementing non-formal activities), who are actively involved in the NEETs' inclusion process, interested in the topic of solidarity and who are motivated to use ESC tool in their mission, from: Romania, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Italy, Spain, Greece, Armenia, Georgia and Ukraine.

Training methods used & main activities

Our daily program was divided in 4 - 1:30 hours sessions, 1 hours reflection/evaluation and inter-cultural evenings. In terms of NFE methods (indoor-outdoor), we have used in a holistic approach:
- Energisers before each session;
- Plenary inputs by trainers/experts;
- Guest speakers/study visits - opportunity to listen and observe how ‘others do it’;
- Presentations of participants;
- Digital content creation sessions (videos, posters, e-guide);
- Topic-related board games;
- Team-building, ice-breaking activities;
- One-to-one, group work based on discussion, debates, brainstorming, sharing ideas;
- Learning by doing - especially when testing the tools and undertaking practical exercises;
- Role-play, world-café, forum theater;
- Study cases, problem solving scenarios;
- Cultural awareness activities;
- Open spaces sessions where participants choose their topics of interests;
- Thematic board games;
- Daily reflection/evaluations of the learning process.

Outcomes of the activity

Projects' official page - www.facebook.com/TCInclusionThroughSolidarity

Your tasks and responsibilities within the team

I was the trainer.

I worked on this training for 9 days as a full time trainer.