The Erasmus+ Programme aims at promoting equity and inclusion by facilitating the access to participants with disadvantaged backgrounds and fewer opportunities compared to their peers whenever disadvantage limits or prevents participation in transnational activities for reasons such as:

• disability
• educational difficulties
• economic obstacles
• cultural differences
• health problems
• social obstacles
• geographical obstacles

Vulnerable youth can be a greater educational challenge, but if we learn to respect their experience, strengthen and support their potential, we will see that their background is a value that can be associated with great empathy, creativity, passion, commitment, and intuition.

About the project

The project “Empower Vulnerable Youth: Theater, Creative Writing, and Emotions in Focus” was initiated and submitted by the association “Art of the Box” from Belgium. It consisted of a Training Course, an Advanced Planning Visit, and a Youth Exchange, and it connected 6 partners representing Belgium, Republic of Macedonia, Croatia, Spain, Greece, and Latvia. The project responds to the needs of organizations working with vulnerable youth.

The objectives of the project are: 

– to increase the quality of activities targeting vulnerable youth in partners’ organizations;
– to equip youth workers with new methods and techniques based on theater and creative writing, especially addressing issues such as managing strong emotions, self-confidence, self-awareness and leading to empowerment of vulnerable youth;
– to provide space for sharing and exchanging methods and techniques for work with vulnerable youth between the organizations and work on new project ideas;
 – to provide vulnerable youth with a direct opportunity to take part in an international youth exchange, giving space for personal and professional development and encouraging vulnerable youth to take part in international youth activities;
– to support long term cooperation between the partners under the Erasmus + Programme.

The outcome of this project is a BOOKLET. The aim of the booklet is to provide methods and techniques about creative writing and theater through winch can be handled strong emotions of youngsters especially vulnerable youth.

Partners:

ART OF THE BOX – Belgium
Mladi za marof – Croatia
Media Terra Nea – Greece
Volunteers centre skopje (vcs) – Macedonia
Asociación Mundus – Spain
Talsi region community foundation – Latvia

Related articles:
Find here ideas for ”Outdoor Activities for Inclusion”

L'articolo Learn how to empower vulnerable youth proviene da Youth Networks.

It seems to be an easy, fast, and fun way to improve the quality of life. 

And how to introduce and use good humor in non-formal education and youth work?

About the project “Fa-silly-tators”

In November 2019, 32 participants from 20 countries met in Vienna for a 7-day seminar – „Fa-silly-tators“ – organized by Service Civil International Österreich. By experiencing non-formal education methods the youth workers, trainers, facilitators, project coordinators, and educators reflected on the meaning of humor in their work. During this training, the participants learned and exchanged methods and best practices on how to use humor to empower youth with fewer opportunities and marginalized groups, how to do humor from a feminist/antiracist/queer/etc. lens, when to use humor, and how to deal with conflicts around it. 

Do you think you could improve your work with some good humor?:) You can find and download the manual HERE.

L'articolo Explore HUMOR in non-formal education and youth projects via the manual FA-SILLY-TATORS proviene da Youth Networks.

In a few words, wellbeing is a good or satisfactory condition of existence, it is a state characterized by health, happiness, and prosperity. Wellbeing depends on many factors, from proper nutrition to doing sports. 

There are several ways that can help you to achieve better wellbeing. In general, it is important to stop sometimes and focus on yourself, listen to your body, and mind. 

34 participants from Slovenia, Denmark, Malta, Spain, and the United Kingdom gathered in Kranj in Slovenia for an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange “Let’s G.R.O.W.”. During this project young people were talking about different ways to improve the physical and mental wellbeing.

The outcome of this project is a BOOKLET that covers some of the topics that the participants worked on during the exchange. You can find there topics on healthy nutrition, cooking in nature, using plants as natural cosmetics, properties of medicinal herbs and meditation.

Partners in this project:
Klub študentov Kranj – Slovenia
Youth Opportunities DK – Denmark
Malta UNESCO Youth Association – Malta
Youth.Active.ES – Spain
Erasmus Student Network – UK

Related articles:
Do you want to reconnect with yourself again…? Unlock the emotional connection: Sensory Labyrinth Theatre as a tool for connection
Take control over your emotions! – Emotional Intelligence in Youth Work

L'articolo Some tips on how to boost your wellbeing – Youth Exchange “Let’s G.R.O.W.” proviene da Youth Networks.