Youth Ambassadors of Non-Formal Learning – Phase 2 (YAMNFL2)

Youth Ambassadors of Non Formal Learning – Phase 2 (YAMNFL2)

Timespan: 01/12/2023 – 30/11/2025

Donor: European Union – ERASMUS+ Lump Sum Grants

Call: ERASMUS-YOUTH-2023-CB

Budget: 267.643,00 EUR

Applicant: Local Democracy Agency Mostar (LDA Mostar) (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Partners: United Societies of Balkans (U.S.B)(Greece); ZID Udruženje (Montenegro), TDM 2000 (Italy); NGO Iuventa (Serbia); YOUTH 4 SOCIETY (Albania).

Description: The project “Youth Ambassadors of Non Formal Learning – phase 2” / YAMNFL2 is a continuation of the successfully implemented Youth Ambassadors of Non-Formal Learning project from 11/2020-05/2022 approved by the ERASMUS-JOUTH-2019-CB program. Phase 2 involves 6 partners and 6 associate partners from the program and WB countries, which aims to build the capacities of youth through participation in non-formal education activities and the ability to recognize competencies gained outside the formal educational environment, to enhance the employability of youth through innovative methodology. On 20/12/2012, the Council of the European Union issued a recommendation (2012/C 398/01) urging the EU countries to develop and empower ways of recognizing the NFL. Since then, a lot has been done in the member states, but such work was not conducted in the countries of the WB. Within these actions, we want to involve youth NGOs (responsible for developing NFL activities), other CSOs (that work with disadvantaged groups focused on youth), public institutions (responsible to design firm policies), private business companies (aiming at increasing the skills and recognition by employers of NFL competences), and young people. The beneficiaries of the action will join the 2-year journey to get the knowledge of best practices used in their local realities, features of NFL for increasing (self)employability, to collect inspiring successful stories, to develop dedicated tools and methods, and to get trained to directly work on the field.

Aims of the project: Strengthening the capacity of young people aiming to improve and strengthen their skills and competencies through innovative methods, which will contribute to greater employability of youth in EU and WB countries.

Specific objectives:

SO1: raising the capacity of organizations that work with young people and for young people, with focus on the underrepresented youth, to support the development of their competences for the labor market through the acquisition of non formal learning;

SO2: the creation of a stimulating environment for young people, through the provision of innovative tools for strengthening their skills, which will contribute to the reduction of youth unemployment;

SO3: creation of WB and EU countries network to improve cooperation encourage youth activism and greater involvement of young people in advocating for participative democracy in decision-making processes.

Target Groups: Youth and youth workers, youth organizations, young people, stakeholders (public institutions, CSOs, etc.); business startups, etc.

Results: With the results gained in phase 1, the action will involve existing youth ambassadors and introduce new beneficiaries from 6 states, equally covering WB and EU countries, that will build their capacities, but also act on the local level.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES:

Kick-Off Meeting Tirana, Albania
First Local Conferences in 6 partner countries
Panel Discussions in 6 partner countries
1st Webinar
International Seminar in Podgorica, Montenegro
1st Local Peer-to-Peer Training in 6 partner countries
2nd Webinar
International Training Course in Cagliari, Italy
2nd Local Peer-to-Peer Training in 6 partner countries
1st Project Newsletter
Midterm Meeting in Serbia
Study Visit for CSOs in Serbia
Study Visit for Youth Ambassadors in Thessaloniki, Greece
Final conference in 6 partner countries
TedX shorts (videos) in 6 partner countries
Youth Employment Fair in 6 partner countries
2nd Project Newsletter
Final Evaluation Meeting in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Youth Ambassadors of Non Formal Learning

Youth Ambassadors of Non Formal Learning

Timespan: 05/11/2019 – 04/03/2022

Donor: Erasmus+ (KA2 – Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices – Capacity Building in the field of Youth)

Supported by: Institute for Youth Development KULT

Supported by: Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports

Applicant: Local Democracy Agency Mostar (LDA Mostar)

Partners: Društvo za razvijanje prostovoljnega dela Novo mesto (Novo mesto / Slovenia); The Future Now Association (Sofia / Bulgaria); Kosovo Center of Diplomacy (Prishtina / Kosovo*); United Societies of Balkans (Thessaloniki / Greece); Youth 4 Society (Tirana / Albania); Center for Intercultural Dialogue (Kumanovo / North Macedonia); Asocijacija za demokratski prosperitet – ZID (ADP-ZID) (Podgorica / Montenegro); NGO IUVENTA (Šabac / Serbia); Turk Girisim ve Is Dunyasi Konfederasyonu (Istanbul / Turkey); TDM 2000 (Cagliari / Italy).

General Objective:

The project aims at promoting participation in Non Formal Education activities and the power of validation and recognition of competences acquired outside the formal education environment through an innovative methodology.

Project wants to take into consideration what has been done so far within this area, research for best practices and successful stories, and get ready to go on the field to reinforce the importance of Non Formal Learning.

Specific Objectives:

To research, collect, analyze and spread existing best practices and policies in the field of validation and recognition of NFL, as well as successful stories of young people, in the 11 countries participating in the project
To train 22 “Young Ambassadors” to promote the role of NFL in the development of competences starting from real experiences on the field, successful stories and dedicated methods
To create a network of Young Ambassadors of NFL to set up the base for sustainable work in the field of promotion of NFL, setting up a platform for sharing of stories, challenges, ideas and best practices
To produce a complete methodology for the “Young Ambassadors of NFL” concept, including a dedicated manual, a catalogue of successful stories, online and offline tools, and methods for facilitation of dedicated workshops
To develop a set of recommendations to facilitate the creation of new policies for the validation and recognition of competences acquired outside the formal education environment, involving public institutions, private sector and civil society

Description:

The project is based upon Non Formal Education and is working to develop the new methodology of the Youth Ambassadors of Non Formal Education, trained youngsters which can use peer-to-peer approach providing their experience to inspire other young people and relevant stakeholders in giving a higher credit and a better use to NFL experiences.

Activity plan:

Kick Off Meeting in Kumanovo / North Macedonia (16-17 January, 2020)
Opening conferences in all the 11 countries (September, 2020)
Research on existing policies on recognition and validation of NFL, and successful stories of young people that built their path thanks to NFL competences (May-December, 2020). The second research will be carried out, to collect inspiring stories of young people that, thanks to Non Formal Education, built a personal or professional path, identifying their way to arrive there and how did they manage to make it important for their future.
Training Course on NFL and its recognition for Youth Ambassadors in Cagliari / Italy (August, 2021)
Creation of the Network of Youth Ambassadors and the online platform for exchange of stories and best practices (October, 2021)
One of the Youth Ambassadors per country will go on a Job Shadowing for a period of 21 days in another country, both with the aim to “shadow” the work of the organization on the field and to provide suggestions for the future activities to be implemented.
Mid Term Evaluation Meeting in Mostar / Bosnia and Herzegovina (September-October, 2021)
Seminar of Youth Ambassadors to share their Job Shadowing experiences and to develop the tools for the local actions (September, 2021). The seminar will involve all the 22 Youth Ambassadors and 3 facilitators and support staff, and will be held in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
One-day Conference for the opening of the Local Info Points in each partner’s country (October – December, 2020)
Opening of Local Info Points – 1 per country (October 2020 – January, 2021)
Development, Publication and Translation of the Manual of the Youth Ambassador for NFL, the research and the Catalog of Successful Stories (October 2020 – February, 2021)
Local Actions – at least 4 per country, to be held in 4 different cities, at least one involving local authorities, educational providers and business environment (October, 2021). The Youth Ambassadors will pass to action, realizing at least 4 workshops in each country (total 44, involving 100 people per country).
Youth Exchange in Sofia / Bulgaria (December, 2021)
Drafting of Proposed policies for recognition and validation of NFL (February-June, 2021)
Final Dissemination Period (January-February, 2022)
Final Evaluation Meeting in Tirana / Albania (February, 2022)