Unite Ambassadors for Peace and Cohesion is a Strategic Partnership project to produce and share an accredited scheme for young people. Created by a mixture of four secondary schools, a local authority and two civic organisations from the UK, Hungary and Estonia, the socio-education scheme trains young people to led a youth lead approach to combating discrimination, segregation, stereotypes, racism, sexism, xenophobia or unhealthy relationships. Promoting respect, honesty, trust, communication, identity and equality inside school environments and within the communities where they live. The trained Unite Ambassadors will deliver the message of positive cohesion, support their peers in acquiring knowledge rather than building their opinions based on social media and national press. They will lead civic sessions in school supported by professional workers and teachers; as well as be a role model and ambassador within their school setting. Schools and organisations will be able to access online resources to train and support Unite Ambassadors, and Ambassadors can access methods, tools and activities to support their sessions to their peers and in daily school life. Referring to a tool kit that can also support initiatives and projects formed by the Unite Ambassadors. Over two years the Strategic Partnership will work on designing and honing a scheme with input direct from young people who will also be involved in piloting the scheme. Embedding accreditation that can be used Europe wide and can be tailored to varying abilities and levels of learners. Packaged in a accessible and translatable website, for use by trainers and those who will be trained as a Unite Ambassador. Spreading the message of cohesion, supporting those reinforcing this message and making school life a environment that is supportive, nurturing and inclusive and reflective of EU values. The young people in the partnership will be an integral part to insuring the scheme is relevant, applicable and effective in helping to develop understanding and knowledge, as well as impacting on the health and wellbeing of the young people in schools backing the scheme. Providing a greater understanding and responsiveness to social, ethnic, linguistic and cultural diversity; which will be beneficial to their future employment and life pathways from the encouragement of active citizenship found within Unite Ambassadors.
Unite Ambassadors (for Peace and Cohesion) was a Strategic Partnership project to produce and share a social education focused ambassador program for young people. Created by a mixture of four secondary schools, a local authority and two civic organisations from the UK, Hungary and Estonia. The socio-education scheme trains young people to champion a youth lead approach to combating discrimination, segregation, stereotypes, prejudice, inequality or isolation. Promoting respect, inclusion, trust, communication, identity, advocacy and equality inside school/ youth environments and within the communities where they live. The Unite Ambassadors scheme is packaged in a accessible and translatable website, for use by mentors and those who will be trained as Unite Ambassadors. Spreading the ethos of cohesion, peace and inclusion; reinforcing the positive message and making school and community life a environment that is supportive, nurturing, inclusive and reflective of EU values. Live on the site there is a wealth of background information to embed the scheme within a variety of youth orientated settings; as well as how to link it into learning objectives, curriculum and policies connected to formal education. There is access to translatable guidance supporting the effective delivery of the training program and additional sessions aimed at guiding and enhancing the flexible program to increase its effectiveness and relevance for different countries and settings. The trained Unite Ambassadors deliver the message of positive cohesion, whilst supporting their peers in acquiring knowledge rather than building their opinions based on social media and national press. They will lead civic activities and social action initiatives supported by a 'mentor'; to make a difference in their community, as well as being a role model and ambassador within their youth and school setting. Schools, organisations and other youth leaders known as 'Mentors' have access to online resources to train and support Unite Ambassadors, through accessing session plans, tools and activities to support their sessions for their Ambassadors in daily school life. Unite Ambassadors has been piloted by groups across the three nations, including young people who have special educational needs, home schooled, from minority groups, mono-cultural areas and those from disadvantaged, rural or low income backgrounds between the ages of 14-18 years. The scheme has a bespoke certification attached and offers accessible criteria for localised accreditation. Unite Ambassadors could also link to the International Duke of Edinburgh Award (units) available across Europe; which allows Unite Ambassadors to be used by varying abilities and levels of learners, as well as linking into key curriculum outcomes. Over three years, the Strategic Partnership worked on designing and honing this scheme with input direct from young people. The young people in the partnership were an integral part to insuring the scheme is relevant, applicable and effective in helping to develop understanding and knowledge, as well as impacting positively on the health and well being of the young people in schools operating the scheme. Thus providing a greater responsiveness to social, ethnic, linguistic and cultural diversity; which will be beneficial to their future employment and life pathways from the encouragement of active citizenship, inclusion and cohesion found within Unite Ambassadors.