Youth unemployment is one of the biggest issues within the EU and one of the biggest challenges. Having a large inactive youth population immediately affects different social and economical fields. This is no different in the neighbourhoods we are focusing on: the Nieuw West of Amsterdam and Toxteth in Liverpool. Both multi cultural parts of the city with many social and economical problems. Both facing a large number of youth not participating, neither in jobs nor in other activities. Large scale programs were implemented already, as youth employment is one of the priorities of the municipalities in both cities. However, the effect is not really strong. Programs run for years already, but do not really influence the figures on unemployment. Basically that figure is quite steady for years already. Main objective of this project is by means of research and several case studies to develop a new, sustainable method in soft skill learning with the aim of contribute structurally to the employability of deprived youth. We want to have a structural impact on the chances of vulnerable young people on the labor market. We notice that many employment programs focus on acquiring hard skills. Based on our research and esspecially our experience in working in Amsterdam Nieuw-West and Liverpool Toxteth, we notice and see that the youth here does not necessarily suffer from low education! Also the new partner in this project: Shokkin group Nethterlands, who have a lot of contact with this target group (and are almost in the target group themself, concerning age and own experience) showed the other partners a lot of usefull insights of why a project as this is really necessary. The experience of all involved partners learns us that working with soft skill learning has a positive effect. With this project we want to encourage youth to acquire a set of soft skills like self esteem, communication skills, self reflection and collaboration skills. We intend to use creative tools to develop these soft skills amongst youth. In the description of the Intellectual Outputs we explain how the different creative methods should add to the development of young people. The final result should be that they will get employment easier, or become self employed. We set ourself goals in how many participants of the activities within this project should be employed or self-employed within a reasonable timeframe (I.e. Three months) after joining one of the activities. We like to start this strategic partnership in order to explore the opportunities and power of creative methods and tools in this soft skill learning. Though we have gathered quite some information yet and we work with the target group directly (some of the key figures - like the people from Shokkin Group - almost fit in the target group), we are aware there is still a lot to learn and to discover. For that reason we work with case studies, leading to methodology that will be tested several times. We are convinced that working in a bilateral project serves as a catalyst in gaining knowledge. For that reason we decided to place this project in an international context. Of course we aim that the outcomes of this project will be used in a much larger EU context. Making the results and the Description of activities: The project has the following activities: 5 IO's: -Foundation Bricks -Case Studies (4) -Development of Methodoloy -Making of documentary -Development of a portal 2 Multiplyer events 3 Trainings -1 joint staff training -1 Blended youth mobility -1 train the trainer training 5 transnational meetings (including 2 management meetings) Results: We have improved the capacity and capabilities of the partners and participants within the project; We have ensured equal access and inclusion in our work; We have developed arts engagement tools and a methodthat impact on reinforcing links between the youth fields with the world of work, personal/professional development and key-competences, including basic skills and transversal skills; Have we developing new and innovative approaches and supporting the dissemination of best practices. Longer term benefits: The European impact of this strategic partnership will be to evidence and support the case for creative cultural sector responses to social issues. Further impact will be in demonstrating how continued European cooperation between the partners who experience similar social challenges in the development of its young people can provide real tangible impacts, tools and best practice models that have transferable application.
We started this strategic partnership in order to explore the opportunities and power of creative methods and tools in soft skill learning. Though we had gathered quite some information and had a lot of experience working with this target group directly (some of the key figures - like Shokkin Group - almost fit in the target group), we were aware there is still a lot to learn and to discover. For that reason we worked with case studies, leading to methodology that was tested several times. Main objective of this project was by means of research and several case studies to develop a new, sustainable method in soft skill learning with the aim to contribute structurally to the employability of deprived youth. We wanted to have a structural impact on the chances of vulnerable young people on the labor market. Description of activities: The project has the following activities: 8 IO's: -IO1 / Foundation Bricks : a publication in which we analysed the need for the project and what we were going to answer to this need. (see website: thepowerofart.eu) -IO2-IO5 /Case Studies: training courses in photography, storytelling, music/spoken word / dance -IO6 / Development of the PoA Methodology, based on the Case Studies and their evaluations, experiences of the trainers and some research (see website: thepowerofart.eu) -IO7 / 4 short films that give impressions of the different training courses, the experiences of the participants and the project as a whole. (see website: thepowerofart.eu) -IO8 / Development of a portal (in english and dutch), providing info about the project, downloadable versions of the PoA Foundation Bricks and PoA Method Manual publications, a toolbox in which one can search for activities according to discipline, phase of the training, group size and duration (to be used in combination with the information provided in the manual by trainers interested in setting up their own PoA training), images and the project videos. (see website: thepowerofart.eu) 2 Multiplier events: E1: 13 December 2018 in Amsterdam: 39 pp in total, 21 NL and 18 UK E2: 11 October 2019 in Liverpool (final multiplier event): 78 pp in total, 27 NL and 51 UK 3 Trainings: C1: 12 - 15 December 2017 - a joint staff training in Liverpool (5 days; 8 participants) C2: 9 - 16 Dec 2018 - a blended youth mobility in Amsterdam (8 days, 15 participants, 7 NL, 8 UK, 4 acc persons) C3: 7 - 11 October 2019 - train the trainer training in Liverpool (5 days, 8 participants, 4 acc. persons) * 4 transnational meetings: TM 1: Kick off in Amsterdam (2 days, 3 participants) - 28 September 2017 TM 2: in Liverpool (2 days, 8 participants) - 12 & 13 March 2018 TM 3: in Amsterdam (1 day, 8 participants) - 21 September 2018 TM 4: in Liverpool (2 days, 6 participants) - 12 & 13 October 2019 Results: We have improved the capacity and capabilities of the partners and participants within the project; We have ensured equal access and inclusion in our work; We have developed arts engagement tools and a method that impact on reinforcing links between the youth fields with the world of work, personal/professional development and key-competences, including basic skills and transversal skills; Have we developing new and innovative approaches and supporting the dissemination of best practices. Results in general: The main objective of this project was “to research and evidence several case studies in order to develop new, sustainable methods in 'soft skill learning' with the aim to contribute structurally to the employability of disadvantaged youth, whilst having a structural impact on the chances of vulnerable young people within the labor market”. We did achieve this, for the project has resulted in new and sustainable methods in soft skill learning that will enhance young people’s employability (whether they are disadvantaged or not) and these methods and the related tools are made available for everyone through our portal. We promised our project would provide: “Capacity building for workers and young people; High quality transferable arts engagement modules; A high quality dissemination conference; Web, social network and digital learning products; Accreditation and records of achievement for participants”. We've kept this promise Furthermore: we aimed for an “European impact of this strategic partnership that would 1) evidence and support the creative cultural sector’s responses to social issues; 2) demonstrate that, and how, a European cooperation between partners who experience similar social challenges when it comes to the personal development of young people can result in tangible impacts, applicable tools and best practice models, available for everyone who is interested in creative approaches to soft skill learning, in particular when it comes to young people and their employability”. Also this goal has been reached. Also, we do think we have improved the capacity and capabilities of the partners within the project;