# data[].attributes.body
reaching out to highly vulnerable young people

adapted communication

inclusive selection process

other

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adapted methodologies and instruments used for inclusive preparation

specific instruments for specific groups

specific professionals involved

selection and preparation of leaders.

other

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cooperation between Sending and Hosting Organisations.

working with other partners locally.

other.

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adapted activities during the mobility.

adapted practicalities during the mobility for specific groups.

specific support mechanisms in place during the mobility.

safeguarding methodologies.

other.

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engaging young people in other activities after the mobility

specific support for young people after the mobility

keeping in touch with the young people after the mobility

other

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Talking to youth workers or other professionals that know the young people and can propose who should participate. After we identified who are the young people that would benefit from the YE we talked to them directly and invited them to join. Explaining to them how a YE looks like, what are the costs (if any), how we will support them throughout the project ... If needed we talk to the parents also and explain that this is an educational opportunity, answer all their questions etc. (whatever they need to hear, to convince them).

Organisations: Zavod Nefiks, Mladinski EPI center Piran, Zavod Modri december

Profile of young people: 13 - 17 y.o. facing social/economical obstacles, learning difficulties, autism ...

Project: several projects between 2016 and 2023.

Topics: active citizenship, employability, mental health

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1) Preparation meetings where we discuss the program of the exchange in detail and all the steps of the travel (especially if travelling with a plane, we go though all the details from how we will get to the airport, check-in, security, boarding...). If possible we show fotos of the accomodation.

2) Especially working with young people with autism/Aspergers we provide them with a very detailed schedule and stick to it. If there are any changes, we inform the participants as soon as possible and explain why there are changes and what will be the adjusted plan.

3) Always have 2 youth leaders per group + extra accompanying persons if participants have autism/Aspergers or other specific needs.

4) We try to do youth leader pairs where one is very experienced and the other one is learning so in time we have several highly competent youth leaders. It also helps if the young youth leaders first participate in at least one exchange and then become youth leaders. Because it's difficult to explain the dynamics of a YE if you haven't experienced it before.

Organisations: Zavod Nefiks, Mladinski EPI center Piran, Zavod Modri december

Profile of young people: 13 - 17 y.o. facing social/economical obstacles, learning difficulties, autism ...

Project: several projects between 2016 and 2023. In 2023 we did a project "I have autism, so what" where we included 11 young people with autism.

Topics: active citizenship, employability, mental health

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Organised by Zavod Modri december and supported by Zavod Nefiks.

The exchange took place in August 2023 in Slovenia.

We included 12 young people from Slovenia and Latvia (due to some last minute cancellations, 10 young people participated in the exchange itself).

The age of participants ranged from 13 to 25. Most of them were 18+.

The project had 2 activities:

1) preparation meeting (1 youth leader + 1 participant from each conuntry & facilitator)

2) youth exchange (10 participants, 2 youth leaders, 4 accompanying persons, 1 facilitator, 1 cook)

The detailed schedule of the exchange was prepared by the facilitator in advance and reviewed and adapted by the youth leaders and participants in the preparation meeting. Participants suggested their own workshops and activities (to share with others their interests and passions).

Before the exchange we created a padlet with the detailed schedule, information about acommodation, travel, what to pack ... All participants and staff were asked to upload a foto and short presentation so we could start getting to know each other before the exchange.

During the week we followed the schedule. Because of bad weather we had to adapt 2 sessions, so we communicated that clearly with all the participants as soon as we saw that the changes must be done and explained why these changes are happening.

One of the group rules was that we will not use mobile phones during activities, so we provided a box for the phones and participants were able to ask the facilitator for the time, when they wanted to know how much time is still left in the session.

If the participants weren't able to follow the activity or there was too much noise or any other distracting element they were allowed to go outside and one of the staff went with them. Some participants finished the activities individualy with the youth worker, outside the group or just observed the activity from a distance. We encouraged but didn't force active participation.

We were also very mindful of the icebreakers and energisers that we proposed, so there wasn't much physical contact or loud noises.

The whole schedule was adapted, so that there was enough time to rest and relax. We had 2 hours of free time after lunch and almost no activities after dinner. The participants were able to use the common room to play games or hang out, but except for 2 cultural nights and the farewell party (that were limited to 1 hour) we didn't plan any evening activites for the whole group. Also we decided in the group that mobile phones are alowed only until 23h and after that everyone needs to go to sleep.

Alcohol was not allowed (even though most of the participants were 18+) and smoking was discouraged. These rules were proposed by the participants at the preparation meeting.

Each day we had national reflection groups where participants reflected on the day, what they learned ... and they could share any concerns, ideas ... After the reflection groups there was a leaders meeting where we exchanged important things and decided if anything needs to be adapted in the following days or if some of the participants need extra assistance.

In general there were more rules than usual. But they were set for the wellbeing of individual participants and the group as a whole. Because a clear structure is very important for people with autism.

But it helps also neurotypical participants to feel safe in a new environment that is an international youth exchange. So what we learned in this project can be used in other projects aswell, regardless if the participants have autism or not.

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After participating in a youth exchange we did an evaluation and 2 participants (17 y. o.) said that they would like to organize an exchange in their hometown. So we started planning the project, searching for partners and eventually applied for Erasmus+ funding. We followed the "Cherry on the cake" manual.

The project was approved and implemented in 2018.

The results can be found here: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/projects/search/details/2018-1-SI02-KA105-014559

Organisation: Mladinski EPI center Piran

Topic: fighting intergenerational stereotypes and prejudice

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From 2015 to today I have been involved in a partnership with organisations from France and Germany. Together we organized 7 youth exchanges and are planning our 9th project for summer 2024. The projects are financed by OFAJ/DFJW, a similar program to Erasmus + but on the level of French-German colaboration.

Our partnership is based on building a strong personal relationship between the youth workers involved.

The first project was planned and implemented by the French organisation, but all the following projects were planned by all 3-4 partners together, from choosing the topic, to planning the activities and sharing all the responsabilites. Before each exchange we have a preparation meeting (discuss all the details, create the schedule, divide tasks ...) and after each exchange we do an evaluation meeting and prepare proposals for next year (topic, dates, accomodation, activities).

We know each others strenghts and weaknesses well, so we can use that knowledge to our advantage.

We also invite youth workers that are inexperienced with YE to our team so they can learn and later prepare their own projects.

We don't talk about sending and hosting organisations. All organisations are equal partners and contribute to the program. Each year one of the partners just takes a bit bigger role with logistics (providing acoomodation and food).

Organisation: Zavod Nefiks / UNESCO klub Piran / Mladinski EPI center Piran

Partners: Asociacion Roudel (France), MJC Saint Jean / MJC Saint Sulpice (France), Jugendclub Blechkiste (Germany)

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Open Cafe: A Dynamic Platform for Community Engagement and Project Dissemination

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Open Cafe: A Dynamic Platform for Community Engagement and Project Dissemination

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A good case example of how to promote youth opportunities and disseminate the results of an ongoing project is through a community meeting. INPRO has been hosting its weekly local event called Open Cafe since 2016. It is a two-hour meeting that takes place every Wednesday at 6 PM in our city. The format is based on non-formal methods hosted in the English language by our ESC volunteers. Participation is free of charge, and there is no need for a reservation. Through this event, we create a community around our organization, meet new locals and internationals, promote our opportunities, and encourage people who have just come back from an exchange or a training course to share their experiences and inspire others. It is also an opportunity for groups that we host within our ongoing programs to participate in local events and meet locals. Every week, at least 30 people participate, but it often exceeds 50 or even 70 participants!

The aim of Open Café is also to promote an open and integrated society and enable young people from Rzeszów, both those born in the city and those who have moved here from other countries, to meet and get to know each other.

More info:

https://www.facebook.com/goinpro.org/posts/pfbid02SPjjFEHDHYKFqWkfGSgk8NyJHMjm4AGfbQkNv5ja6x25g1ttrVDbzyozoZCoxLTAl

https://www.goinpro.org/en/open-cafe/

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Open Café Watch This Video Play Now We invite you to Open Café! Every Wednesday at 6:00 pm, we meet at Urban Lab Rzeszów, where international volunteers working in INPRO ...

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Asking participants about their needs and preferences is always a good idea.

An example of this was last summer, where in an youth exchange with minors (14-17 years old) we had two transgender boys. The bedrooms were shared and we asked them if they preferred to share rooms with boys or girls. Each of them chose a different option, as they were at different points in their transition and felt more comfortable in different contexts.

Organization: Las Niñas del Tul

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It is essential to support them in sharing their experience with other young people (especially with fewer opportunities). Knowing first-hand examples of participation is the best way to get other people to join the program. That is why we support the organization of meetings with different formats (snacks and conversation, workshops on the topic of exchange, talks in educational centers...) in which young participants share their experiences among peers.

We also invite these young people to share their experiences when we have organization fairs, events to disseminate European programs, etc.

Organization: Las Niñas del Tul

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Good practice on:"Professional Development Activity: “Activating Youth Workers in Social Inclusion"

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Good practice on:"Professional Development Activity: “Activating Youth Workers in Social Inclusion"

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Development of social skills, team spirit and positive behavior of youth workers.

Raising awareness among youth workers for young people with fewer opportunities to be socially included.

International cooperation between experienced-non-experienced organizations.

Laying the foundations for the creation of an international network for Erasmus+ integration

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People who play the role of leaders must have sufficient knowledge about their group, not so much on a personal level (which is also highly recommended) but on a social level. Working with blind people is not the same as working with young people from the LGTBIQ+ community.

They should know what needs their group has, how to deal with them, what extra support they may need...

Organization: Las Niñas del Tul

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A youth exchange is a valuable learning experience. But if they don't reflect on it, they lose a lot of the possible potential.

That is why we provide extra support in this reflection. Depending on the work done on this during the exchange we adapt subsequent actions. It is essential that they analyze what they have learned and reflect it, make it explicit (the Youthpass and its competencies are very useful). If they do not know what they have learned, it will be difficult for them to use that learning.

An important step is to think about how to use these learnings in their daily life.

Organization: Las Niñas del Tul

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Five Days, Five Locations: INPRO's Innovative Approach

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Five Days, Five Locations: INPRO's Innovative Approach

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INPRO's approach to organizing international projects exemplifies the effective engagement of local stakeholders. Headquartered in Rzeszów, where it hosts regular local events and maintains strong local connections, INPRO has cultivated a deep understanding of the city and its resources. This enables INPRO to design exchange programs that utilize a variety of locations throughout the city, adding significant value to the overall experience. Each day, participants have the opportunity to engage in activities at different youth-friendly venues, such as the Urban Lab, the Podkarpackie Center of Innovation, the Photo Gallery, and cultural centers, all of which actively support INPRO's initiatives. Every program also incorporates participation in local events, providing participants with a unique opportunity to interact with Rzeszów's residents and gain insights into the city's culture and lifestyle. This immersive approach fosters the development of competencies, social skills, and a deeper understanding of Polish culture. A prime example of INPRO's commitment to local engagement is its recent youth exchange "Focused on Diversity" held in September 2023, which focused on photography as a tool for connecting people.

https://www.goinpro.org/en/focus-on-diversity/

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by INPRO

"The whole point of taking pictures is so that you don't have to explain things with words", Elliot Erwitt.

In a world overflowing with all types of diversity, we can not underestimate the power that photography has in connecting people. Poland, Hungary, and Georgia, this was the country composition of the participants, aged 16 to 23, who took part in a five-day training course titled "Focus on Diversity: Uniting Cultures through Photography."

Lighting, framing, angles, and composition are some of the technical aspects that work as the basis of photography and that were discussed in the program. Additionally, it's crucial to acknowledge that photography goes beyond these technicalities; photography carries a responsibility in an ethical dimension, a responsibility that started to get explored in a workshop titled Photography & Contemporary Problems, and that continued throughout the rest of the program.

No matter the topic, a program lives and dies on its participants, on their openness to learn, interact, and connect. Despite their cultural differences and age gaps, they shared ideas and perspectives embodying youth exchanges' values. This unity not only enhanced the learning experience but also emphasized the program's core message: that photography can meld minds and hearts, fostering connections that defy boundaries.

Rzeszów's peaceful atmosphere and friendly hospitality made the whole experience hundreds of times better. Its charming streets and ambience made it perfect for relaxation during free time, making it an ideal setting for exploring photography and culture.

On the program's final day, we organised a photo exhibition, marking the culmination of the five-day event. Here, the photos created during the program were displayed, and the atmosphere of the event was positive and vibrant. These pictures had a meaningful impact on people - they evoked emotions and sparked conversations.

As these young participants move forward, they now understand that a single photograph can challenge stereotypes, celebrate diverse cultures, and promote unity. They will continue to capture shared human experiences, whether or not they have a camera in hand.

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Focus on Diversity: Uniting Cultures through Photography | INPRO

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"The whole point of taking pictures is so that you don't have to explain things with words", Elliot Erwitt. In a world overflowing with all types of diversity, we can ...

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Get involved in activities in their country

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Get involved in activities in their country

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In some cases the fears and barriers to participating in an international activity can be overcome with intermediate steps. One option is to involve young people with fewer opportunities in youth exchanges (or other activities) in their own country. This helps them lose fears and acquire competencies that will make their subsequent participation in projects abroad possible.

Organization: Las Niñas del Tul

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Youth work seeks to create a safe, supportive and flexible environment for personal development and offers non-formal and informal learning opportunities, personal advice, guidance and support. Young people, particularly the most disadvantaged not only need to be provided with skills for the labour market but more importantly with life skills and support. These are essential to enable them to deal with the many challenges they will encounter and also the confidence to embrace the opportunities that will arise.

We selected youth workers and leaders who work with disadvantaged groups in their local area and are willing to improve their capacity and skills in social entrepreneurship.

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The main purpose of the training course is to transmit concrete knowledge and methodologies for youth workers about non-formal learning methods as a tool to stimulate entrepreneurial skills and as a concrete tool of entrepreneurial engagement. Also, we would like to transmit values of cohesion and activism to promote cooperation between the promoters, so that they can act as "multipliers" in their countries of origin. We believe that this activity can greatly contribute to the personal development of the project participants. Participants will get the possibility to set socially approved goals (fighting youth unemployment through entrepreneurship) and to obtain methods and contacts that will make possible the reach of these goals.

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We offer the chance to young people to join projects both when we are a hosting organization and when we are a sending organization, focusing on people with fewer opportunities and especially those in the rural areas of Lesser Poland (where we are mostly active). The first way is reaching out to them directly through activities and events in our Youth Centers, which also act as Eurodesk Youth Information points, and the second one is through our social media to let them know of the available opportunities they can avail themselves of.

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We schedule online preparatory meetings for everyone to get to know each other before the actual mobility. The goal is not only to break the ice but give the participants detailed instructions and help on how to deal with the travel and what to expect from the mobility- and also what is expected of them. These meetings are led either by the youth leader (if they are experienced) and monitored by the international project coordinator (who is also an experienced facilitator). Also, the coordinator is available for consultation and help whenever the participants need it, and is in constant touch with them.

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A new initiative that we have started is a group of youth workers and youth leaders in the local region. We intend this to be a group of young people in the age of 18+ from the Lesser Poland region interested in self-development in the direction of leadership - social leadership, inclusive leadership, civic leadership. Not business, not political (in the sense of political parties), but political in the sense of addressing social problems. This group will be offered to meet regularly in Kraków or sometimes in Rabka-Zdrój (once a month/ 2 months) to discuss further developments, attend and give (if you want) workshops, learn from us and each other - about project management, fundraising, educational methodologies, facilitation of learning, social research or other competences we possess or will possess inside if this group.

The main purpose of this Pool will be to offer your skills, awesomeness and leadership potential to other young people! With this initiative, young people get valuable experience and training in facilitating, youth leading and youth working, preparing them to act on that role to help other young people.

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A very simple procedure is to have a WhatsApp chat where the participants, the youth leader and the coordinator are all using for instant, real-time communication, especially for urgent matters. It's also useful for preparation, of course, but it is critical in commmunicating during the project to offer immediate support.

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3-6 months after a mobility is concluded (for the ones we host), we send an email to participants to fill in a quick form about their experience in that particular mobility. This way we can analyze the longer-term impact of the mobility, after the participants have had a chance to reflect on it and process everything they have experienced.

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The 15' or next working day policy (E4Y)

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The 15' or next working day policy (E4Y)

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It might sound simple, but the most efficient and effective communication is replying to an email (within working hours!), in 15' or the next working day. While life is not the most accommodating in these cases, it can apply to the vast majority of emails and other similar communication. Sometimes, even a simple acknowledgement or "we'll get back at you as soon as possible" is immensely helpful, while ghosting/replying too late often creates a lot of misunderstandings and actual problems. So, it might sound simple, but like all simple things, it's hard :)

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After our mobilities end we usually keep in touch with the participants on the Whatsapp group of the project. They keep on sharing their encounters across Europe and come visit us when they're in Portugal. With this close and fast communication we are able to support them through their professional and personal journey by sharing our knowledge and also get feedback from them. We have found this a good technique to help us improve the quality of our projects whilst we help HVYP on their personal and professional growth.

RED CROSS - Sanguedo

Youth Exchanges, Training Courses and ESC projects.

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To contact and build connections with Youth workers in contact with the young people, they could also come as leader or accompanied person in the YE.

Ye too ponese association.

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Organization: Conexão Jovem

Project Name: Let Them Be Heard

Profile of Vulnerable Young People: Refugees and migrants facing social, economic, and cultural challenges in Europe.

Communication and Outreach:

Used a multilingual approach in promotional materials and outreach, ensuring information was available in languages commonly spoken by the target audience.

Collaborated with local community leaders, refugee support organizations, and cultural mediators to disseminate project information effectively.

Recruitment & Selection of Participants:

Conducted targeted outreach sessions in community centers, refugee camps, and cultural hubs to connect with potential participants.

Employed a peer-to-peer recruitment strategy, involving young people who had previously benefited from similar programs to encourage participation.

Adapted application materials to be accessible and culturally sensitive, providing clear instructions in various languages.

Inclusive Selection Process:

Organized pre-selection workshops that allowed potential participants to experience project activities firsthand, ensuring alignment with their interests and needs.

Implemented a diverse selection committee representing different backgrounds and expertise, fostering a comprehensive evaluation process.

Provided alternative methods for submitting applications, such as video submissions or oral interviews, recognizing the potential literacy challenges faced by some candidates.

Additional Inclusion Practices:

Established a mentorship program pairing experienced participants with newcomers to provide additional support and guidance.

Conducted a pre-project cultural orientation session to promote mutual understanding and respect among participants from various cultural backgrounds.

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Young people come to the YE with a friend or a pair from the same local project. To bring a diverse group of youngsters with different background and needs.

Ye too ponese association.

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Longer preparation phase and in conection with youth workers.

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Longer preparation phase and in conection with youth workers.

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Organize more meetings with the group to tackle different topics. Starting to locate together where we are going, language, history, music, etc... Also how to prepare the luggage, what to bring to a YE and activities to create boundaries with the leaders and the other participants.

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At least 2 leaders and also apply for accompany person if is need it. 

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At least 2 leaders and also apply for accompany person if is need it. 

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To take in account the needs of the group and to have enough support roles in the group and the YE.

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Safe space with the national group where we have opportunity to talk about the day, their feelings, check the group dinamics and also share about any topic ( youtube, silly stories, etc...). To create boundaries within the group and with the leader.

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Leaders/team members knowledge about adolescence life stage and their needs

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Leaders/team members knowledge about adolescence life stage and their needs

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Esential that leaders and team members have at least basic knowledge about adolescence life stage, their needs, brain development, what means when they do what they do,etc... in order to accompain and support them during the experience.

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Involve participants in future activities

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Involve participants in future activities

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Participants have the opportunity to participate and create future activities. YE as an starting point to more projects and activities.

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Agreement document with tasks and benefits

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Agreement document with tasks and benefits

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Something we are starting to implement is to have an written agreement document to send to the partners with the rights, duties and tasks to do if you want to be part of the project. This document will be discussed during the APV or in an online meeting. Then partners can see and know from the start what means to be part of this project.

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Reaching Out to Highly Vulnerable Young People:

1. Community Collaboration: Collaborate with local Roma community leaders and community centers to identify potential participants. Hold informational sessions within the community to discuss the project's goals and benefits.

2. Personalized Outreach: Reach out to Roma families emphasizing the project's positive impact on education and personal development.

3. Tackling Early School Leaving and Improving Learning: The Roma Communities face unique challenges in accessing education, and the program aims to tackle these obstacles head on. Learning improvement projects are the backbone of this mission, empowering young people with the tools they need for a brighter future.

Adapted Communication:

1. Cultural Sensitivity: Train project representatives on the cultural nuances of the Roma community to ensure respectful and effective communication.

Inclusive Selection Process:

1. Strengths-Based Approach: During recruitment, focus on identifying the strengths, interests, and talents of potential participants rather than traditional academic criteria.

2. Inclusive Interviews: Conduct interviews in a conversational and inclusive manner, considering the unique perspectives and experiences of the Roma community.

3. Community Involvement: Involve members of the Roma community in the selection process to ensure representation and a deep understanding of the community's needs.

Other:

1. Flexible Schedule: Offer flexible scheduling for recruitment activities and workshops to accommodate the diverse lifestyles and commitments within the Roma community.

2. Cultural Liaisons: Appoint cultural liaisons or community ambassadors who can bridge the gap between the project team and the Roma community, providing ongoing support and communication.

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No dia 2 de setembro, a Conexão Jovem organizou a primeira edição do Get Connected, um evento local que reuniu jovens de todo o país!

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Organization: Conexão Jovem

Project Name: O Teatro Anda Comigo

Adapted Activities during the Mobility:

1. Cultural Sensitivity: Tailored theater activities to be culturally sensitive, incorporating Roma traditions, stories, and symbols to make the content relatable.

2. Flexible Program: Designed a flexible curriculum that allows for the incorporation of Roma cultural elements into the theater activities.

3. Participatory Approach: Involved Roma community members in the planning process to ensure activities resonated with their values and interests.

Adapted Practicalities during the Mobility for the Roma Community:

1. Transportation Support: Provided transportation assistance, considering potential challenges faced by the Roma community in accessing the venue.

2. Flexible Scheduling: Adjusted schedules to accommodate potential familial and community commitments, allowing for active participation without hindering daily responsibilities.

Specific Support Mechanisms in Place during the Mobility:

1. Psychological Support: Employed on-site psychologists to provide emotional support, addressing potential trauma or emotional challenges within the Roma community.

2. Peer Support Network: Established a peer support system, where students could share experiences and challenges, fostering a sense of community and understanding.

Safeguarding Methodologies:

1. Community Liaison Officers: Appointed community liaison officers to act as intermediaries between the project organizers and the Roma community, ensuring cultural sensitivity and understanding.

2. Cultural Competency Training: Provided cultural competency training for all staff involved in the project, promoting a respectful and informed approach to interaction.

Other Practices:

1. Parental Involvement: Organized workshops and events specifically for parents, fostering a collaborative relationship between the project and the families, addressing any concerns or misconceptions.

2. Celebration of Achievements: Recognized and celebrated individual and collective achievements, reinforcing a positive attitude towards education and personal development within the Roma community.

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Organization: Conexão Jovem

Project Name: O Teatro Anda Comigo

Actions for Inclusion: Overcoming the exclusion of the Roma community from school involves integrating them into the school, promoting heterogeneity and cultural differences.

The "O Teatro Anda Comigo" project aims to promote citizenship education and combat school dropout among Braga's Roma community, through the creative use of theater techniques, workshops and extracurricular activities. The initiative seeks to develop artistic, social and cognitive skills among the students, while strengthening their connection with the school and the community.

Cooperation Between Orgs: Facilitated regular communication and joint planning between the Roma community, the Municipality of Braga, Fundação la Caixa, BragaHabit (a municipal company dedicated to the rehabilitation of urban buildings and the management of social support for housing) and Human Power Hub (which provides support for the acceleration and incubation of entrepreneurial ideas geared towards social impact).

Local Partnerships: Collaborated with local businesses and services to create inclusive environments.

Other: Conducted community awareness campaigns to foster a supportive atmosphere for participants.

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Life Zone (Estonia) selects the participants:

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Life Zone (Estonia) selects the participants:

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For youth exchanges, we select participants from our target groups only. We have a circle of active young people who are in charge of local activities, and are ready to expand their energy to the international exchanges.

For TCs, PBAs, seminars and other formats of mobilities for youth workers, we use the Erasmus+ Youth Academy community, which is our signature product and service.

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We simplify the procedures for participating in the youth exchanges from all partner organizations and support them in completing the forms, in the selection process, searching for travel itineraries and purchasing tickets, etc.

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Strategies that we implemented for the preparation:

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Strategies that we implemented for the preparation:

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Each partner organization prepared a report on the specific needs and characteristics of people with fewer opportunities in their national group. This report was sent to the coordinating organization in order to collect all the data to adapt the different elements of the project (activities, methodology, resources, accommodation, etc.) so that these needs could be responded to and offer an adequate attention to diversity.

The participants were prepared during the pre-mobility preparation phase through linguistic support, cultural preparation and understanding of what the project entails and what is expected of them.

Travel tickets were purchased for participants with limited financial resources.

Some groups traveled all together to avoid possible inconveniences that could arise during the trip.

There was a team trained in diversity and inclusion. We rely on the figure of group leaders to support all participants

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Reinforced support during the main activity:

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Reinforced support during the main activity:

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The activities and methodology were adapted and made more flexible taking into account the diversity within the group. We also use inclusive methods such as cooperative work and project-based learning. Through heterogeneous groupings, for example, participants with faster learning rates were combined with those with a slower rate, or participants with the most developed communication skills, with those who have to work on them, etc. In this way, reciprocal learning was favored.

Special interest was paid to the reflection activities and documentation of the project results due to the strong impact that a European mobility activity could have for some young people with fewer opportunities. They were encouraged to reflect individually and in groups and to actively participate during all activities.

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Associação Juventude de Vila Fonche (Portugal)

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Associação Juventude de Vila Fonche (Portugal)

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The organization has a free time activity centre in which is working with kinds and young people aged 6 to 16 years old.

When we have youth exchange for minors we try to envolve those young people that are with us in the Free time activity centre or have been in that social response.

We are part of the Protection Commission for children and Youngsters and we also try to envolve those one our mobilities. Basically we mainly envolve minors that we know in international mobility projects.

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Associação Juventude de Vila Fonche (Portugal)

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Associação Juventude de Vila Fonche (Portugal)

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The preparation of each group is planned and implemented according to the participant's profile. In the preparation phase, we always involve youth workers with high experience in working with minors as well as in international mobility projects.

Since we tend to involve participants that we have worked before in our activities, especially when the project is for minors, the preparation is easier.

Sometimes, we create informal moments and we invite other youngsters who have participated in previous projects, to share their experience with the group.

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Life Zone (Estonia) preparation meetings with young people and parents

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Life Zone (Estonia) preparation meetings with young people and parents

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As we work with the younger people, mainly under 18 y.o., we have to make sure that all understand the principles of the Erasmus+ youth exchanges, that everyone feels good about the upcoming participation, and is prepared with the logistics, language, any questions etc. We organise offline meeting, or online, if participants are from different towns of Estonia. We have our group chat, where any questions, concerns, problems can be raised immediately. Usually parents have more questions than young people.

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Associação Juventude de Vila Fonche (Portugal)

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Associação Juventude de Vila Fonche (Portugal)

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For our part, the most important thing when we participate in a youth exchange for minors is choosing the right group leader. We never choose or send a group leader that we don't know or have never worked with. We tend to involve at least an organization's youth worker or involve youngsters (+18) who have been taking the lead of a group in a youth exchange for minors in Portugal having all the time the support of the organization.

During the activities, we train the group leader to have active participation and support all the participants in each moment needed like with the translations, explaining if they don't understand the activity, training them for making the reflection about the day through non-formal education tools and create a safe environment for each participant.

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Life Zone (Estonia) support and communication

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Life Zone (Estonia) support and communication

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During our events, we always communicate:

Through WhatsApp Chat (leaders and the team together and separately)

Through the website, which we make for each project

Through Padlet, where people can raise concerns and give suggestions

In national groups at the end of each day

In person, with a buddy, team leader or organiser

Example: http://lifezonegroup.com/moneywise

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Here you will find some rules
that we will follow during the youth exchange:
Everyone takes part
Participants are encouraged to take the max out of the sessions during the project; action is needed!

Participants are encouraged to share knowledge, experience, organise the activities, and welcome the actions of others positively.

Participants are encouraged to use all the available materials, incl. recycling items to create something new and to minimise the environmental footprint.

Some time will be dedicated to leisure time sports activities as we believe that you can get the energy "to change your world" only by moving yourself.

Participants are encouraged to raise their voices through the different ways of creative expression, tell stories, and welcome the experience of the other.
There is no wrong or right opinion!

The youth exchange is smoke and drink-free, the camp will create an atmosphere that promotes health, well-being, and positive experiences for all participants.

Our venue is located in the nature - forest, lake, parks... and together, we will look after each other to support and make everyone feel good and safe.

We believe that only in a calm and cheerful environment can we build a healthy and happy lifestyle base. And we think to respect others means to let them be themselves. Respect also means following the rules we created for the group's well-being.

All together, we will celebrate
individual and group achievements.
We will do it through different kind of reflection and
evaluation methods by the end of each day.

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Associação Juventude de Vila Fonche (Portugal)

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Associação Juventude de Vila Fonche (Portugal)

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After the activity we do the following activities:

meeting with the young people and group leader in a face to face meeting in the organization where we evaluate the project and having a experience organization's youth worker involved.

Helping the participants and group leader to understand their learning process through non formal activities;

Helping, if needed, participants to make the Youthpass self assessment;

The organization is a Eurodesk multiplier and we have been doing dissemination activities in schools and we have invited those young people that have been in youth exchanges to share their experience with others.

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On the last day of ANY project, we have a space for further cooperation ideas brainstorming.

This has to be well facilitated during the workshop and later on online or locally, to keep the motivation of young people to implement their ideas into life.

Usually, more ideas for youth exchanges come up, or also Solidarity projects.

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We have a list of the stakeholders we work with during our projects, and we try to:

Engage them if possible, like local municipalities, or businesses, or associations

Ask for sponsorship (can be financial or non-financial, like venues, transport etc)

Promote the impact of a project within their social media or networks

Join our activities, so we can create more impact on the local level too.

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Besides keeping up nation-wide newsletter and websites (scambiinternazionali & youthforeurope) and the social media of Joint where all opportunities are posted as an open call, for recruitment:

- Fuori Traccia - a local project, a step towards creating a network (MiWay) of shelters, youth centers, social cooperatives (target group 14-19 years-old) and meeting places popular for teenagers in the city of Milan, in order to inform them about voluntary work and civic participation activities, based on non formal education on the topics of civic participation, environmental sustainability and international mobility; the aim of this initiative is to prevent and combat the social isolation of adolescents in Milan, with particular reference to HVYP

- MiWay - a network of social cooperatives and already existing networks in province of Milan who support the inclusion of HVYP at the local level, Joint created in 2021 the informal network Mi-Way, that puts together over 10 NGOs working with vulnerable and highly vulnerable young people in Milan metropolitan area. Mi-Way is the structure used to recruit and properly support their participation in mobility opportunities, mostly Youth Exchanges and short term ESC Teams. Inside the network, we organise:

Training and sharing activities to build the capacity of the local NGOs in the support of their beneficiaries involved in mobility activities

Presentations of the mobility opportunities through presentations and orientation interviews;

Residential training courses of 3 days for the preparation and the evaluation of the mobility activities, both for participants and group leaders.

The participants of Mi_Way are involved across the years, getting more responsibilities and autonomy (from participant to group leader, to facilitator etc.), through the follow-up weekends and the project management local training courses, in a process of empowerment and participation.

During selection:

- personal call/ interview with every potential participant, conducted by JOINT staff

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Hosting YE:

- Agreements for participants, group leaders, partners, parents / legal guardians

Preparing and involving the group leaders is a key factor:

- For our YE we try to organize an in-person APV, preferably at a moment when the group of the exchange has already been formed, in order to plan and adjust the programme according to the needs of participants and competencies of group leaders + at least 2 follow-up meetings with the leaders beforehand, in order to monitor the preparation process

- National training course (3 days) for 15-20 future italian-group leaders who will be supporting participants during YE both organized by us and abroad. During the training course we are addressing the role of a group leader, creating a personal connection with the people, training competences like: leadership, communication, intercultural learning, risk management, other characteristics about work with young people with fewer opportunities. Participants of the training course pay a fee of 80eur, which is reimbursed if they take a role as a group leader in a JOINT youth exchange (either hosted by Joint or where Joint is a partner).

- International training course of 25-30 youth workers and young people (18+) with experience in the field of youth exchanges and willing to learn more about how to support vulnerable and/or under-aged participants in Youth Exchanges. Therefore, the aim is:

Training group leaders who will possibly be involved in the Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges, about inclusion and about strategies to support and empower vulnerable and highly vulnerable participants before, during and after a Youth Exchange experience; with a focus on the ones hosted by Associazione Joint and by its network in that year and in the following years

Co-designing the youth exchanges that will be hosted by Associazione Joint in that year and that will be focusing on Inclusion (they will involve 40% participants with fewer opportunities and highly vulnerable young people).

Reaching agreements for mutual cooperation with organisations active in the field of youth mobility.

Sending YE:

Participants:

- 3 day in-person preparation meeting for youngsters (minors) who will be participating in youth exchanges during the summer/ next few months as an introduction to: non formal education, multicultural communication and living in a multicultural community, expressing their needs and adapting to the needs of others, going deeper into the fears and expectations of their upcoming experiences.

- pre-departure online calls with the participants, group leader + representative of JOINT - answering questions, supporting the preparation of intercultural nights and other activities, empowering and motivating;

- financial support, in case of need;

Someone from JOINT team is always involved in the preparation process, as an addition to the group leader:

- Whatsapp group

- Planning the trips & buying tickets

- Preparing activities

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Hosting YE:

- Daily reflection in national groups with provided materials (personalized based on the needs of the group)

- Daily leaders’ meetings

- Methodologies adapted to non-English speakers (practical, visual, creative) - both activities & reflection

- Adapting the timetable to the needs of the group, taking into account the feedback received everyday during the leaders’ meetings

Sending YE
- There is someone from the JOINT team which the participants have met during the pre-departure meeting ready to support and assist anytime. There is a whatsapp group for each national team made by JOINT in order to both communicate the steps and important details from JOINT and the hosting organization as well as respond to any questions and solve problems.

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- at least 1 follow up meeting + a system for evaluating the experience

- invite them to participate and volunteer in our YE

- follow-up in-person meeting of 2-3 days with the youngsters involved in the youth exchanges to share their experiences, help them with dissemination activities, discuss future steps and opportunities to get involved in Joint activities.

- 2 annual meetings of the members of Joint, weekends in which the most active members of the association and youngsters that participated in opportunities provided by Joint are invited to come, in order to exchange good practices and to define future plans of the organisation. This activity is part of a larger empowerment strategy to foster the active participation of the members of Joint in the decision making process of the association. The weekends are a moment for the members to meet each other, the staff and the board of Joint, creating a stronger identity and commitment to the association's vision and mission.

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-  Fuori Traccia - a local project, a step towards creating a network (MiWay) of shelters, youth centers, social cooperatives (target group 14-19 years-old) and meeting places popular for teenagers in the city of Milan, in order to inform them about voluntary work and civic participation activities, based on non formal education on the topics of civic participation, environmental sustainability and international mobility; the aim of this initiative is to prevent and combat the social isolation of adolescents in Milan, with particular reference to HVYP; in addition to it, we coordinate ESC volunteers who work with the youth centers.

- MiWay - a network of social cooperatives and already existing networks in province of Milan who support the inclusion of HVYP at the local level, Joint created in 2021 the informal network Mi-Way, that puts together over 10 NGOs working with vulnerable and highly vulnerable young people in Milan metropolitan area. Mi-Way is the structure used to recruit and properly support their participation in mobility opportunities, mostly Youth Exchanges and short term ESC Teams. Inside the network, we organise:

Training and sharing activities to build the capacity of the local NGOs in the support of their beneficiaries involved in mobility activities

Presentations of the mobility opportunities through presentations and orientation interviews;

Residential training courses of 3 days for the preparation and the evaluation of the mobility activities, both for participants and group leaders.

The participants of Mi_Way are involved across the years, getting more responsibilities and autonomy (from participant to group leader, to facilitator etc.), through the follow-up weekends and the project management local training courses, in a process of empowerment and participation.

- The E+ mobility accreditation aiming at creating an international network of organisations with shared quality standards, measures, strategy for inclusion of highly vulnerable young people.