The Erasmus+ Youth Exchange “I want (you)th” hosted by Associazione No Borders, gathered 25 young people aged 14-18 years old and 7 youth leaders from 5 countries – Italy, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Spain and Albania. The project about volunteering, active participation and opportunities for and by young people took place in the scenic Ostello Parco Monte Barro in Galbiate, Italy from 18th to 26th September.

During 7 days of non formal education activities the participants had an opportunity to:

• learn about active participation, involvement, the difference between volunteering and activism, as well as different volunteering opportunities in local, national and European levels, such as European Solidarity corps international volunteering activities, Erasmus+ and others. 
• increase transversal skills, especially various soft skills related to communication, problem solving, time and resource management etc. 
• reflect on the personal contribution they make and can make to society through volunteering and social dialogue and the possible use of social media for raising awareness of and tackling social issues.

This was achieved by the experience of living in a multicultural community, self managed activities and non-formal education activities, like role-plays, discussions, trying out volunteering in practise with association Legambiente Lecco, participants sharing their own experiences (half of the group had previous experience volunteering while others did not), listening to good practise examples for involvement of young people in volunteering activities in Human library, sharing their culture through dances, quizzes and food in intercultural nights and self-organizing activities in the free time.

The results

As a tangible result of the project in one of the sessions devoted to volunteering practise, after getting to know the general goals and approaches of Legambiente Lecco (the manager of the hostel where the project was hosted), participants created upcycled items useful in the daily life of the hostel and the organization, such as  a sign with the name of the hostel, a birds house, holders for cutlery and pencils and a clothes hanger.

Within the project various artistic tools were used, such as theatrical performances, representing practical volunteering examples, comics creation for active youth participation processes, drawing posters for explanation of European opportunities – Erasmus+ Youth exchanges, European Solidarity corps volunteering activities and solidarity projects and DiscoverEU, as well as photos and videos.

During the mobility activity participants also created ideas for volunteering activities about topics that they care deeply about and find problematic, which they could do when returning back home, for example:

• providing activities of clothes swap every season, as well as informative campaigns focusing on the problem of fast fashion, targeting in particular young people
• organizing conferences in schools and youth centers addressing the problem of fake news and misinformation, raising media literacy of their peers.

Results from impact assessment questionnaire, which was given to all participants on the first and the last day of the exchange showed a visible increase in understanding the differences between volunteering and activism, a smaller, but still significant increase in awareness of the diverse opportunities for volunteering (at a local, national, European and international level), awareness of what are the social issues participants as individuals are mostly interested in and that I would like to address as a volunteer as well as awareness of the impact of volunteering and active participation for the society.

The voices of the participants

But what could better describe the project than the participants themselves – a few days after the project, when asked about their experience, Miriam from Italy shared that “The topic was so useful because now I know how to find opportunities on the specific topics. The thing I liked the most is learning about other people’s experience. The most challenging moments were trying to create a plan that everyone liked with all or most of the ideas that we came up with. The happiest moments were dancing in the auditorium or dancing while we were doing the dishes or even cooking”. 

Mario (Spain) says “I learned a lot about expressing myself although it was more difficult because I used a different language. I also learned that sometimes I need my space and socializing all the time is really tiring. I imagined that the most distant countries would have many differences but I saw that we are really similar in all the aspects. And I learn many things like dances, new words and expressions from the rest of the countries and that’s funny. I went to the project with a small idea about volunteering and activism and I return home with a lot of examples, ways, and ideas to contribute to our planet and society.” 

Kalina (Bulgaria) says: “During the project, I learned that living in a community is hard but not impossible when you work as a group in the activities and outside. I learned that it’s important  to be an active participant in the community you live in not only for your own personal growth but also for  the environment. One of the most challenging things I did was to break loose around the participants and during the activities, but in the end, everything just became easier, and the talk went smoother. Some of the activities were definitely more daring as they were connected with topics most of us weren’t that familiar with. Even though it was hard, the experience I got from it was something you can’t just find anywhere and the friendships you make along the way are the ones that will stay with you for the rest of your life. I got to experience other cultures, and I think that the cultural nights were my favorite. In the end, I can say that the experience I got from the project has definitely made a change in me, and I’ll definitely out for other projects.”

More thoughts about the project can be seen also in this video, created by the participants on the last day of the project activity.

L'articolo “I want (you)th”. An Erasmus+ youth exchange to create opportunities for youth proviene da Youth Networks.

The venue is situated in the Regional Park of Monte Barro in a picturesque zone – which we wanted, with this occasion, to promote and present its beauty on an international scale.

Legambiente Lecco

Legambiente Lecco is a non-profit organization, that is active in the field of environmental protection, with the main aim of promoting and developing sustainable and well-balanced with the environment lifestyles, whereof man is an integral part – goal that fit like a glove with the main objectives of the mobility:

• Increasing awareness of the environmental impact of human activities.
• Raising awareness about waste and food waste through practical upcycling workshops, utilizing items like newspaper, plastic bottles, glass, tetrapak, clothes, and herbs. 
• Sharing of best practices in waste reduction and recycling among European countries.
• Providing young people with a multicultural learning experience.

The Youth Exchange

These objectives were explored, during 6 days of non-formal based activities, by a total of 39 participants (including 8 group leaders & 1 facilitator) from 6 countries – Italy, Romania (Asociația Hair Redivivus), Portugal (Cooperativa de Inovação Educativa para a Transformação Social), Poland (Polish Ochotnicze Hufce Pracy), Hungary (Association Travelnest) & France (Association Hors Pistes), through ice breaking & getting to know each other activities, international evenings, practical workshops on learning skills related to upcycling (newspaper to create paper, glass and tetrapak to create decorations, clothes, plastic bottles to create jewelry, corks), team building activities, practical workshop on the identification of edible plants in the forest close to the hostel, as well as preparing natural sauces out of them, offered by an external expert, practical workshop on the creation of deodorant & charcoal toothpaste, using natural ingredients, discussions, debriefing and reflection groups. Additionally, the participants even visited “Cascina Selvetto” for a workshop on herbs to address food waste issues.

Since the project was designed and organized under the umbrella of Associazione Joint’s strategic accreditation on the inclusion of youngsters with fewer opportunities, the exchange involved 15 such participants (50% of the total number of participants), many of them with a level of English close to zero. This led to structuring the activities as practical as possible, in order to make them as little based on verbal communication. 

More so, the entire schedule was personalized based on participant’s feedback, with sessions organised & facilitated by the group leaders of the different countries, with the support of the facilitator. This division of roles between partners had the aim of empowering the leaders, as all group leaders were given space to structure & manage at least one activity.

Curious to discover more? Here’s the story of the project, captured in pictures.

L'articolo “Upcycling & Sustainable Lifestyles” – an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange proviene da Youth Networks.

From July 26th to 31st, Galbiate (Italy) became a vibrant hub of adventure and cross-cultural exploration, as young participants from Denmark, Finland, Italy, Portugal, Poland, and Spain gathered to create unforgettable memories. 

Uniting for a Common Cause: The Essence and Ambitions

At its core, the Youth Exchange aimed to empower teens aged 14 to 17 by immersing them in the world of outdoor activities and inclusive sports. Together with our partner organizations, we sought to break down barriers, create lifelong connections, and provide a truly transformative experience. 

A Snapshot of Success: Highlights and Milestones

Over six incredible days, we embarked on a journey of growth and adventure. Through it all – learning survival techniques or sharing cultural treasures, we grew individually and collectively. From icebreakers that turned strangers into friends, to traditional and creative games that had us all laughing and learning, every moment was designed to bring us together. Cultural nights allowed us to savor diverse flavors and traditions, deepening our understanding of each other’s backgrounds.

Embracing Physical and Mental Challenges: A Holistic Approach

Our program had something for everyone, catering to both body and mind. From decoding body language to mastering the art of juggling, we tapped into self-expression and personal growth in creative ways. The physical challenges weren’t limited to traditional sports; we introduced inventive twists that encouraged teamwork, strategizing, and yes, plenty of laughter.

Cultural Showcases: A Feast for the Senses

Sharing our cultures was a highlight of the exchange. Cultural nights transformed into global feasts of music, dance, and flavors. Denmark, Finland, Italy, Portugal, Poland, and Spain came to life through stories and traditional dishes that sparked conversations and a deeper appreciation for our diversity.

Sporting Challenges: Taking Fun to New Heights

We reinvented the concept of classic sports games that tested our skills and teamwork in exciting ways. Volleyball took on a twist, while dodgeball brought surprises that had us strategizing and laughing in equal measure.

Impactful Adventures: Learning and Giving Back

Beyond the fun, our project also aimed to give back. We cleaned beaches, honed survival skills, and engaged with local communities, experiencing the joy of making a positive impact. Our activities promoted responsibility, teamwork, and an understanding of the world beyond ourselves.

Embracing Memories: The Final Chapter

As our journey came to an end, we celebrated our achievements by summarizing our learnings, sharing them with local Italian kids and putting them into words for the YouthPass, closing the chapters of our emotional diaries, and cherishing the moments that shaped us in heart-warming closing rituals. We left with a sense of fulfillment, carrying with us the memories of this adventure – the laughter, the challenges, and the connections – with us to fuel our journeys ahead.

Voices from the participants 

Samantha from the Italian team shared: “The thing that prompted me to participate was curiosity because I had never participated in a project of this type. I really enjoyed the activities and especially learning about new cultures.”

Nicolo from Italy says: “It was an incredible experience, I wanted to have this experience to improve my English and get to know new cultures, my expectations were absolutely met.”

Lara from Portugal shared her thoughts: “What made me join was meeting new people and improving my English. I loved the experience and would gladly repeat it, the part I liked the most was the international nights.”

Luis from Portugal says: “My personal favorite part was being able to meet other cultures and getting in touch with people very different from me, and being able to identify with them and form friendships. Above all I’ve learnt how a Youth Exchange works, what the Youth Pass is and improved my notions of multiculturalism. I would without a doubt recommend Youth Exchanges to a friend, like my friend did with me.”

A Legacy of Friendship and Adventure

A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who contributed to the Youth Exchange. This journey has shown us that when we come together, share experiences, and celebrate diversity, magic happens.

Stay Tuned for More: The Journey Continues

The “Outdoor Activities and Sport for All” Youth Exchange has left us with memories that fuel our desire for more adventures, more learning, and more global connections. We invite you to keep your spirits high and your hearts open – who knows what incredible journeys await us next?

L'articolo “Outdoor Activities and Sport for All” Youth Exchange: A Journey Worth Sharing proviene da Youth Networks.

But how to do it? The topic is too big, too wide, it may seem unreachable, off limits, unrealistic. It is for these daunting circumstances that this toolkit emerges.

Intercultural Dialogue Through Art

In order to be able to approach intercultural dialogue in a creative and inclusive way, this toolkit can help to: 

• Fostering the debate, among young people, on the topics of cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and intercultural conflict, allowing them to exchange their own personal experiences. 
• Implementing activities, focused on  specific forms of art, addressing the topic of intercultural dialogue. This not only will make the debate more accessible, but will also support the creation of tangible artistic outputs, to be used to make your activities more visible in the local communities. 

The Toolkit

This toolkit contains some of the methodologies and activities implemented during the Erasmus+ Youth Exchange “Intercultural Dialogue Through ART”, implemented in Ligonchio (Italy) on April 27th-May 5th 2023, in the framework of the Erasmus+ accreditation of Associazione Joint. 

We decided to collect here only the methodologies that were designed or adapted specifically for this mobility and that have been successfully tested during the Youth Exchange.

The Youth Exchange

The activities aim was to explore the topic of intercultural dialogue, approaching it through different artistic techniques, while in direct contact with nature, in order to find new ways of practicing and promoting intercultural dialogue. The practical approach of the activities allowed us to make the topic and the debate accessible to young people with a low level of English, to young people facing fewer opportunities, as well as to valorise the individual strengths and passions of each participant, in a very diverse group.

Europe is a rich continent, where different cultures, religions, beliefs, nationalities and ideas interact with each other. With this in mind, it is crucial to be able to create culture dialogues.

Therefore, the goals of the YE were:

• Making young people more aware about the topics of cultural diversity and intercultural dialogues 
• Exchanging experiences about intercultural dialogue and discrimination in the involved countries
• Investigating artistic forms to foster intercultural dialogue among young people and local communities 
• Creating tangible artistic outputs to be used during the dissemination events.

With this Toolkit, any interested entity or person will be able to host, deliver and carry successfully activities in these topics and thus, help their local community to become more international and to address issues of the most crucial importance.

L'articolo TOOL: Intercultural Dialogue Through Art proviene da Youth Networks.

Short-term group projects, such as youth exchanges or volunteering teams, are a popular activity format within the EU youth programmes. They provide an excellent opportunity for young people to develop their ownership of learning processes and personal development. 

However, youth workers often face a challenge of improving the quality use of Youthpass in short-term group projects, especially when it comes to facilitating reflection and self-assessment for young people.

To address this issue, Youth and Lifelong Learning Foundation (Hellenic National Agency) organised the training course “LIST: Learning in short-term group projects” to provide youth workers and leaders with the necessary skills to support learning in short-term group projects. The training course will take place from 24-28 April 2023, in Porto Heli, Greece, at the AKS HOTEL.  

Now, let’s explore more details about it. Keep reading!

Overview of the LIST Training Course

The course aims to strengthen the learning dimension of short-term group mobilities involving young people as participants, with a specific focus on the use of Youthpass. It will cover several objectives, including:

• discussing and understanding reflection; 
• creating a learning environment for a diverse target group; 
• reflecting on the competences required to facilitate individual and group learning and design educational programs;

The target group for this training course includes youth workers, leaders, project organisers, and mentors who work with young people in short-term group projects. 

Participants should have a keen interest in supporting the learning processes of young people. The course will make use of participatory group processes, including discussions and exploration of youth work reality and practice, individual and group learning, and the use of tools and methods to facilitate learning.

Applications are open now, and the deadline for submission is 26 March 2023. Selected participants will be informed of their selection on 31 March 2023.

Read more:

Erasmus+ Visual Identity Guidelines

Youthpass Heart Corps: Free Online Course for Youth Workers

L'articolo LIST: Learning in short-term group projects Training Course proviene da Youth Networks.

The BiTriMulti Training Course is a comprehensive program designed to support newcomers in setting up and running quality Youth Exchange projects. The course is aimed at voluntary and professional youth workers, leaders, and project managers who work directly with young people. In this article, we will discuss the Training Course, its objectives, program, and eligibility requirements.

BiTriMulti Training Course Objectives

This Training Course provides an introduction to the Erasmus+ Youth Programme and focuses on the Youth Exchange project type. Through workshops, info sessions, and simulation exercises, participants will learn how to involve young people in planning and running such projects. Moreover, the course offers an individual and group learning experience, based on non-formal learning practices, principles, and quality standards of EU youth programs. Participants will gain the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes to organise a Youth Exchange project and reflect on their learning using a Youthpass.

Program

The BiTriMulti Training Course is a three-day learning-by-doing experience that includes a simulation exercise, workshops, activities to improve group dynamics, and an evaluation. The Network of National Agencies for Erasmus+ is organising the course in Liechtenstein from 1-5 May 2023.

Conclusion

Read more:

TOSCA: Training and Support for Organisations in the European Solidarity Corps

Guidelines for Educators: Promoting Digital Literacy in the Classroom

L'articolo Introduction to Youth Exchange Projects with BiTriMulti Training proviene da Youth Networks.

The Transnational seminar entitled Embrace inclusion and diversity in your Erasmus+ projects was held in Zagreb, Croatia, from 15th to 17th of November 2022.

The three-day event included a series of lectures and panel discussions on the topic of Inclusion and Diversity, as well as sectoral working groups that allowed participants to share ideas and proposals.

To understand what led to this event, we need to take a step back.

The Strategy for Inclusion and Diversity

The European Commission, last October, launched a cross-sectoral strategy for inclusion and diversity, which led to this event.

The new strategy is based on the Erasmus+ Implementation Guidelines and the European Solidarity Corps’ Inclusion and Diversity Strategy. Each national agency developed its own strategy adapted to its national realities.

The agencies were invited to use both the TCAs– in order for the Erasmus+ National Agencies (NAs) to improve the quality and impact of the Erasmus+ programme- and the LTA– a partnership in which several NAs work together to develop a series of activities related to a policy area.

The Romanian National Agency for Erasmus+ has proposed an LTA on Inclusion and Diversity for newcomers in the E&T sectors (science, education and training).

The LTA proposal aimed at helping interested organizations in developing quality short-term (KA1) and small-scale (KA2) projects, both targeting newcomers and less experienced organizations.

The goals of the LTA are as follows:

• to promote Erasmus+ as a tool for inclusion;
• increase the quality of small organizations’ projects;
• provide space and context for networking among participants;

Let’s see now how they structured the event!

Embrace Inclusion and Diversity In Your Erasmus+

Representatives of organizations operating in the VET field did participate in the event, including:

• “Alfredo Panzini” Institute of Higher Education
• TIA TRAINING
• ISIS Brignoli Einaudi Marconi
• “Romolo Zerboni” Institute of Higher Education
• Volontaromagna

In addition, the project SIGNS FOR WORK INCLUSION received a special mention. This project, coordinated by the Italian Social Federation for Disabilities in partnership with CEIPES, has developed an application in sign language, containing dictionaries and short videos for each of the technical terms of the furniture, cooking and tourism sectors.

To read more about the SIGNS FOR WORK INCLUSION, click here

Finally, the event gave the great opportunity to listen to successful experiences and meet expert beneficiaries with whom organisations could interact and exchange doubts, beliefs and strategies.

Read also

Projects Selected for Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education Funding

European Solidarity Corps Programme Guide 2023

Celebrating 35 Years Of Erasmus+ Programme

L'articolo Erasmus+ LTA On Inclusion & Diversity proviene da Youth Networks.

The project aimed at creating communication tools and strategies useful for those youth workers and organisations that want to use social media as tools to actively involve young people – especially those with fewer opportunities – in social and educative activities.

The Youth Exchange and the Training Course in Galbiate

To achieve this goal, we implemented a Youth Exchange and a Training Course. Both the activities took place in Galbiate (Italy), between July and October 2022. The former aimed at analyzing, together with a group of teenagers, the way in which they themselves use social media and the kind of narrations they use. The latter, instead, building on the information collected during the Youth Exchange, aimed at providing youth workers and teachers with tools to create participatory and effective social media campaigns, targeting young people.

The Project

The project addressed 2 main issues:

• Lack of technical knowledge among the youth workers: difficulties to approach platforms such as Tik Tok and Instagram, which are the most used by our target. We wanted, beyond acquiring technical knowledge, to be explained by the young people about how they use these platforms.
• Difficulties with creating content: difficulty to communicate with young people and to create social media content that can be really appealing to them. Therefore, we wanted both to develop general knowledge about social communication and to deepen, with young people, the most popular narrations and content.

Objectives of the project

The objectives of the project were:

• Providing young people with a space where to discuss and confront about the topic of social media;
• Providing young people with theoretical and practical knowledge on digital storytelling, fake news and campaigning;
• Promoting, among young people, social media as tools for social commitment, involving them in the creation of content and campaigns;
• Providing organisations, working with young people, and youth workers with general tools and competences on social media, with a focus on Instagram and Tik Tok, in order to reach young people;
• Creating tools and strategies, useful for organisations and youth workers, in order to reach and involve young people in social and volunteer activities, through social media;
• Promoting among organisations and institution, inside and outside the partnership, the use of social media as a tool for inclusion and involvement;
• Promoting good practices like the active involvement of young people in the creation of the online campaigns of the organisations;
• Offering an opportunity of intercultural learning and the possibility to know new realities and lifestyles;
• Improving the transversal and management competences of the participants, through non-formal education activities and self-management;
• Promoting the Erasmus+ programme and the opportunities offered by the European Commission.

Download the TOOLKIT.

Read also

Project Result | Entrepreneur+ | Future Entrepreneur Board Game is READY!

Project Result | Empathy Matters: Embodying Nonviolent Communication | Training Course

L'articolo Project Result | TikTok… Time for Stories Toolkit proviene da Youth Networks.

It is thought of as a tool for organisations, trainers, educators and teachers who want to make international and local activities with young people on the following topics:

• exploring the body,
• physical and mental health, and
• well-being.

The Youth Exchange “Body&Bodies”

The aim of the project, implemented in Genoa (Italy) on July 5-15 2022, was to improve the relationship between young people and their bodies, guiding them through a process of exploration, awareness and research with the help of various physical disciplines (theatre, dance, circus arts, yoga, play education).

The idea was born from the need for young people to do activities that would differ from their vision of traditional physical activity – at least from what they are proposed at school level. This need was followed by a research, which has shown how the pandemic has affected everyone’s social and personal life, and that a tool to get out of it is to consult the inner connection between body and mind, intended as being aware of ourselves, in order to know how to take care of our own well-being.

Objectives of the Project

The specific objectives of the project were:

• exploring the body as a tool for understanding oneself and the world around oneself;
• gaining confidence in bodies as tools for sociality and communication, particularly after the negative impact given by the Covid-19 pandemic;
• promoting physical and mental well-being, a healthier body image and healthier relationships;
• promote knowledge and practice of new physical disciplines among young people;
• promote a more conscious, respectful and open approach to one’s own and others’ bodies;
• sharing knowledge and experience on the topic with organizations from different European contexts;
• receiving tools and strategies, useful for organizations and youth workers, to promote physical disciplines and healthy lifestyles among young people;
• promote intercultural dialogue and self-management skills among young people and promote the Erasmus program.

Check out the complete toolkit for a wider understanding of the project and of the general flow of the activities!

L'articolo Toolkit | A New Collection of Non Formal Methodologies for Body-Related Activities proviene da Youth Networks.

RuReality | Social Entrepreneurship

The topics of “RuReality” project were sustainable entrepreneurship and rural development.

The main idea that we wanted to convey was encouraging youngsters to repopulate
rural areas creating sustainable business, cooperating with the territory and other enterprises, and participating actively in the social and political life.

We created ideas and considerations on it with the youngsters involved to see how
this could be achievable, therefore stimulating them to develop entrepreneurial ideas following this approach.

Download the output.

Youth Exchange in Ligonchio

The Youth Exchange took place in Ligonchio (Italy), a depopulated area in the Apennines, and involved 37 young people from Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.
During the meeting we implemented workshops on social entrepreneurship, sustainability, visited local social enterprises and, finally, we guided the participants in developing 4 entrepreneurial ideas, to be implemented in the area of Ligonchio.
During the workshops we used several methodologies, mostly inspired to the “Youth@Work” methodology, developed during the Capacity Building project “SEEDS.2” of Associazione Joint.

This short presentation of the activities aims at inspiring all the youth workers and organisations who want to develop projects on similar topics. For more information on the specific methodologies, do not hesitate to contact us.

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Partners:
Associazione di promozione sociale Joint (Italy)
ASOCIACIÓN BRÚJULA INTERCULTURAL (Spain)
Green Association (Bulgaria)
Lag Sava (Croatia)
International Labour Association ILA (Netherlands)

L'articolo Project Result | “RuReality”, Social Entrepreneurship proviene da Youth Networks.