There is no doubt that Europe is an ethnically diverse continent, full of different minorities (even though there is not a shared definition of minority). The majority of European countries have minority populations of less than 20%, while others have more than this baseline (e.g. Belgium). However, it is important to look at how such minorities are involved in national and European mechanisms to speak out concerning their rights. As it has been quite evident in that in the last European elections, minorities were absent on the political agenda of most of the parties. Furthermore, the minorities struggle to communicate their culture through the media especially online, which on their side have been flooded by news and messages, which contributed to the raise of Islamophobia, as showed by the study on media representation of Islam done by L. Rodriguez, President of Junta Islamica Catalana.Therefore, their active engagement in society is hard to pursue. In particular, the partnership building process, either at national and European level requires a lot of effort when it comes to communicate with social media or digital communication, hence the luck of skills related to that could be potentially a source of exclusion for some minorities. The acquisition of this kind of skills will enhance their influence at a national and European level, bridging the gap for this minority group, ensuring equal opportunities. The project aims to help minority and disadvantaged communities in participating more and lay a fuller role within the EU society, beginning from the training about ICT and communication skills. This will be done through a train the trainer process, transferring knowledge from the lead organization to NGO’s that are Minority led or serve minority/disadvantaged, therefore passing on the knowledge to the NGO’s target group at local level.A side of it a training on EU citizenship and session to orienteer the minorities through the EU funding opportunities and how to apply will be done to narrow the gap between minorities and EU.Modules will consist of learning English (with embedded case studies on Islamophobia and the role of Muslims/Islam in the EU), ICT and Digital communication skills (including modules such as ECDL, Raspberry Pi to engage people to develop own code or development of tools through technology), ERR (employment rights & responsibilities), European citizenship, , inclusion, awareness & opportunities for the Youth & Small Businesses in the EU.The contents are portrayed narrow the gap between minorities and majority, either to enable a better communication between the parts through the use of ICT tools and enabling them to build and make concrete (fund) project involving the communities.Specific objectives of the project are:- Improving and extending the offer of high quality learning opportunities tailored to individual adult learners through usage of e-learning material;- Improve the digital competences of marginalised communities through vocational education activities;- Encouraging a proactive participation of minorities through a holistic approach of action; - Favouring greater understanding of cultural diversity in Europe;- Favouring a more positive attitude towards European awareness among involved minority groups.The WAO network to become a Syndicate Association to support the NGO’s in EU which serve minority or disadvantaged communities especially Muslim and Asian communities (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Burma & Middle East communities). National Contact points WAO to be established in the different partner countries.Within the WAO network, LEARN.ORG.UK will train partners in TAQA qualifications to the project partners which will be subsequently transferred to other NGOs in UK, Italy, Spain and in Sweden;The project has been thought on 3 main pillars:1. Education & Training of Staff/Volunteers in the areas of Quality Assurance & Good Practices: Partners will receive training from LEARN.ORG.UK trainers to become qualified in Quality Assurance & Assessing. On Completion, the staff/volunteers will receive an Europass certificate & a UK accreditated qualification to certify the skills acquired. 2. Integration&Positive Opportunities for the Disadvantaged or Marginalized Communities within the EU: Mapping job, training and funding opportunities offered by the EU and how they can be well promoted among the minorities members. This will also highlight the EU added value for citizens in the partner countries, especially UK citizens due to the many sceptical discussions that are currently being put forward; 3. Digital Technologies & e-learning: It is about boosting employability of community members in the areas of Coding, Use of ICT tools and digital communication methods and tools. Already existing e-learning opportunities will be mapped and new one will be designed in order to better address the digital needs and the communication needs of the communities.
The context of the project is as described in the application and the project summary above. In brief to work with NGOs in other parts of the EU whom have not participated in Erasmus+ projects or worked with minority/Muslim communities, those whom are in semi-rural areas, and to achieve the objectives that including engaging hard to reach end beneficiaries. To address specific issues relating to discrimination faced by Muslim & minority communities within the EU, and disadvantaged communities to play a fuller role in the EU, and smaller NGOs to have the opportunity to participate in Erasmus+ programmes. To work with small NGOs whom have never worked with Muslim/minority communities. To include other NGOs and public organisations within those geographical areas and involve the public to contribute within the project. Further objectives: 1. Exploring integration processes of various communities residing within the EU and Social cohesion. 2. Promote Volunteering opportunities/Work Trials, awareness of Youth & SMEs 3. Develop curricular to be used by practitioners. 4. Promote EU citizenship & inclusion 5. Promoting non-participating NGOs to participate and take the challenge to be a Co-ordinator. 6. Working at EU level and exploring EU dimensions. 7. Working with partners never worked with before or known to each other. 8. Ensuring there is a balance between Northern European countries and Southern European countries 9. NGOs from Italy, Sweden & Spain working with a Minorities led NGO based in the UK whose main service users are Youth, Muslim Communities, Refugee & Asylum Seekers, Women, disadvantaged groups. 10. Small NGOs coming together and working together exploring each others cultures and working methods. Setting up Steering/Focus Groups in each partner country 11. Improve Digital competences, ICT (including ECDL & Raspberry Pi) & Communication Skills 12. Learning English Language and developing tools. 13. Learning about Islamophobia 14. Employment Rights & Responsibilities 15. The WAO network to become a Syndicate Association to support the NGO’s in EU which serve minority or disadvantaged communities especially Muslim and Asian communities (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Burma & Middle East communities) 16. National Contact points WAO to be established in the different partner countries.Within the WAO network 17. LEARN.ORG.UK LIMITED to train partners in TAQA qualifications to the project partners which will be subsequently transferred to other NGOs in UK, Italy, Spain and in Sweden Key Priorities being: 1. Adult Education - designing and implementing effective provision for enhancing the basic skills and key competences. 2. Adult Education - extending and developing educators' competences. 3. Horizontal - Inclusive education, training and Youth. Number & profile of participating NGOs: five small NGOs from rural or semi-rural areas of Spain, Northern Sweden, South Italy and the Northern UK. A first for Partners from Italy, Sweden & Spain working directly with Muslim communities exploring Islamophobia and Xenophobia, discrimination faced by Muslim communities, and exploring education material and enhancing it. Main activities: C1 mobility of Educators activity, developing curricular for English Language teaching, Employability Skills, ICT, Coding, Integration, tackling Islamophobia & general discrimination. Results, and impact attained: Completion of all IOs including the non-funded Intellectual outputs, over 60 grassroots NGOs in Partner countries capacity built to a stage where they may now participate in Erasmus+ programmes. Over achieved on engaging direct beneficiaries and wider communities reached, events held in Partner countries, resources shared and being used by educators. Website up and running. Long term benefits: more educators using the resources/curricular within teaching and education activities, sharing of resources. Cultural, social and other awareness in relation to working with target groups. UK small NGO that is led by minority groups working in partnership with NGOs in other EU countries. Maintain links with NGOs in mainland Europe beyond Brexit.