The migration flows across the Mediterranean has increased from a 216 000 people in 2014 to 362 753 in 2016 (unhcr.org-refugee situations). The numbers are not expected to decrease in 2017-2019. The European Commission's agenda on migration sets out a European response, combining internal and external policies, making best use of EU agencies and tools, and involving all actors: EU countries and institutions, international organisations, civil society, local authorities and national partners outside the EU. The Fifth progress report on the Partnership Framework on Migration, presented 6th September 2017 by the Commission, shows that measures put in place to better manage migration along the Central Mediterranean Route and with partners in Africa are starting to bear fruits. Our countries will still for years to come receive thousands of young refugees and migrants who have a statutory right to education in the country they finally come to. This is very challenging for the schools since they are dealing with a new target group we did not see much before. This requires not only a solid pedagogical approach since the refugees meet a totally new curriculum, but also the systematic work of professional youth workers that was not common before. Objectives of this project is in line with general specific objectives of the programme guide; 1)to foster quality improvements in youth work by running competence building of youth workers and potential youth workers and share good practise across the diverse field of expertise of the consortium on the issue of migrants/refugees in a school setting. 2) improve the level of key competences and skills of young people, in particular through increased learning mobility opportunities for those active in youth work. 3) enhance the international dimension of youth activities and the capacity of organisations in their support for young people in complementarity with the European Union's external action, in particular through the promotion of mobility and cooperation between Programme and Partner Countries The participants will be youth workers, up to 40 participating in training activities. The training activities will be a mix of joint short time staff trainings and blended mobility of young people, where the non formal learning methods will be essential to individual learning. We expect to produce the following outcomes for the participants: -Improved competences, linked to their professional youth work: By using both formal and primarily non-formal education methods, the trainings aim to create an active and inclusive youth work base and enhance their exploring possibilities for inclusion of refugees and migrant youth in upper secondary schools by focusing on youth empowerment tools. - Broader understanding of practices, policies and research in relation to young people with refugee/migrant background or those at risk of marginalization.. - Increased capacity to trigger changes in terms of inclusion of new groups within their educational organisations: Youth workers will learn how to work evidence based towards young people with refugee/migrant background - Better quality of their work and activities in favour of young people with fewer opportunities living in rural and deprived urban areas. - Greater understanding and responsiveness to social and cultural diversity; - Increased opportunities for professional and career development: We aim to raise focus on disfigured youth for youth workers as catalyst for change. Participants with disfigurement , who are youth workers or potential future youth workers, will make at least 10% of the total participants in the pilot course. - Increased motivation and satisfaction in youth workers daily work. Long term benefits will be better education and service provision for migrants and refugees, and higher quality youth work.
Background/context of the project : The Fifth progress report on the Partnership Framework on Migration, presented 6th September 2017 by the Commission, shows that measures put in place to better manage migration along the Central Mediterranean Route and with partners in Africa are starting to bear fruits. Our countries will still for years to come receive thousands of young refugees and migrants who have a statutory right to education in the country they finally come to. This is very challenging for the schools since they are dealing with a new target group we did not see much before. This requires not only a solid pedagogical approach since the refugees meet a totally new curriculum, but also the systematic work of professional youth workers that was not common before. This has been our focus during the project implementation. Number and type of participants: The participants were social workers or social advisors working with migrants/refugees in schools or NGO's that cooperate with Vocational training or other schools or public sector. In total around 250 participants took directly part in the project, either as direct participants in training abroad or as local participants not foreseen in the application. Description of undertaken activities: The project was implemented according to the plan as outlined in the project application with; Kickoff and training of Staff in Stavanger Training of staff in Larache, Morocco Mid term evaluation meeting and planning in Madrid, Spain Final staff training in Istanbul, Turkey In addition to this there has been local multiplier activities not foreseen in the application in all partner countries Results and impact attained In this project we did not develop any intellectual outputs but focused 100% on capacity building and exchange of good practices as learning, mostly through non formal and informal learning methods and know-how between the different types of organisations involved in education, training and youth work. We have done this in order to ensure inclusion of the youth workers that actually work with the refugees/migrants, and not administrators who develop products. Developing intellectual outputs does not very often involve many people in the organisation, so trainings and sharing good practise made it much more relevant and interesting for large parts of the organisation. The project also raised awareness among youth workers and stakeholders in the counties and contributed to a social dialogue about discrimination and social exclusion for youth with refugee or migrant background. This was especially important since a considerable proportion of youth with refugee or migrant background are at risk for less participation in society. Achieved results for participants and partners in short; 1. Increased knowledge about Arabian culture and traditions for the youth workers 2. Increased knowledge about Islam and the Koran for the youth workers 3. Participants got a toolbox of non formal/in formal learning methods to be used in school settings in order to ensure inclusion and success in school environment 4. Participants have had an increased understanding of the complex issue on migrants and refugees in Europe 5. Participants have had the chance to lift their status in schools through learning about evidence based approaches to their work for better common reflection with pedagogical staff on student learning 6. Participants have learned about organizing a multiplier event 7. Increased understanding of the complexity of European migration policies and strategies 8. Increased competence in foreign languages; professional dialogues and reflections + knowledge of Arabic/Turcic 9. Better understanding of interconnections between formal, non-formal education, vocational training, other forms of learning 10. More positive attitude towards the European project and the EU values, especially for us NON EU members 11. Greater understanding and responsiveness to social, ethnic, linguistic and cultural diversity in general 12. Much better understanding of practices, policies and systems in education, training or youth across countries Longer-term benefits The long term benefits expected from running this project is expected at; 1) Increased quality improvements in our youth work by project competence building of youth workers and potential youth workers 2) improved the level of key competences and skills of our young youth workers, through their increased learning mobility experiences 3) enhanced international dimension of youth activities and the capacity of our organisations in their support for young people 4) increased motivation for participating organisations to join Erasmus + projects or similar.