Our project aims at developing self-awareness, self-confidence, advocay, time, event management and other soft skills of the members of our informal groups. The members of the informal groups are living with various disabilities and already participated in the „Here We Are” transnational initiative. Proposed activities First phase of the project (2019 january-september) Structured group sessions with the aim of increasing the level of self-knowlegde, reinforcing positive group dynamics, increasing the quality of communication within the group and to carefully plan activities to be executed in the second phase of the project. Structure of the group sessions (each being 2X1,5 hours) • Contracting, frames, rules, expectations (1st meeting) • Me in the group. 6 sessions dedicated to efficient communication, conflict resolution and coping techniques through self-knowledge, feedback and reinforcement received from others. The sessions contribute to group cohesion, increased feeling of responsiblity felt towards other group members and the undertakings of the group. Methods to be applied: T-group, socio-therapy, drama • Me and the group. 3 sessions dedicated to the formulation of the group’s bylaws; channel and frequency of communication, areas and limits responsibilities • 4 sessions are dedicated as preparatory and planning meetings for phase 2 of the project. Expected outcomes are developed ideas, exact schedules, and to-do-lists. • 1 session is dedicated for evaluation of the process Group sessions are accompanied by individual coaching sessions for each member of the informal group. The coaching sessions are parellel to the group sessions. Aim of the coaching process is to reinforce soft skill gains on personal level, validate learning outcomes. Each member of the groups is expected to participate in a one hour coaching session every month. Second phase(2019 september-2020 may) The groups are conducting 6 events with local communities aimed at sensitivization of the general populationb and keeping equity, human rights of people living with disabilities high on the agenda. Events are expected to be having a high outreach, including local and national media coverage. Third phase (2020 june) Evaluation and validation of learning outcomes, designing the follow-up. Project results - 6 sensitizing activities per countries (HU, PT) - a minimum of 8 viedo-journal entries through the project per countries - a minimum of 12 mainstream media appearances through the project altogether (TV, radio, online or printed media) - a minimum of 8 blog entries per countries - 2*34 group sessions -2*90 individual coaching sessions -3 transnational meetings (HU, PT, HU) - regular posts in the social media - 1 summary including the processed results of the qualitative and quantitative evaluations throughout the project (transnational meetings, group session, evaluation of the sensitising activities done by the involved participants) - 1 publication describing the sensitizing activities and their results, illustrated with photos
’Still Here’ was aimed at at developing self-awareness, self-confidence, advocacy, time, event management and other soft skills of the members of our mixed-ability informal groups. The project was a follow-up of the „Here We Are” transnational initiative. The Hungarian and Portuguese groups worked together since 2017 in raising awareness on solidarity and making young people living with disabilities visible – the efforts of the groups were awarded by the EURODESK Solidarity prize in 2019. COVID-19 affected the activities of the groups heavily and the project activities needed to be re-structured from the beginning of 2020. The first phase of the project (2019 january-september) involved structured group sessions with the aim of increasing the level of self-knowlegde, reinforcing positive group dynamics, increasing the quality of communication within the group and to carefully plan activities to be executed in the second phase of the project. Structure of the group sessions: • Contracting, frames, rules, expectations (1st meeting) • Me in the group. 6 sessions dedicated to efficient communication, conflict resolution and coping techniques through self-knowledge, feedback and reinforcement received from others. The sessions contribute to group cohesion, increased feeling of responsibility felt towards other group members and the undertakings of the group. Methods applied: T-group, socio-therapy, drama • Me and the group. 3 sessions dedicated to the formulation of the group’s bylaws; channel and frequency of communication, areas and limits responsibilities • 4 sessions are dedicated as preparatory and planning meetings for phase 2 of the project. Expected outcomes are developed ideas, exact schedules, and to-do-lists. • 1 session is dedicated for evaluation of the process Second phase(2019 september-2020 february) Structured group sessions were followed by regular follow-up meetings to monitor and execute the planned awareness-raising events. The groups planned to conduct 6 events with local communities aimed at sensitivization of the general population and keeping equity, human rights of people living with disabilities high on the agenda. 3-3 events were implemented in Portugal and Hungary (2 events in high-schools and 4 community events on raising awareness) but unfortunately the COVID-19 pandemic made these activities impossible. Lockdown phase (2020 March – 2020 December) After an abrupt stop of face-to-face meetings, the groups were forced into online premises, the group developed a follow-up project in the frameworks of the European Solidarity Corps, developed the website of the group at www.hereweare.hu and was awarded as the Hungarian National winners of Charlemagne Youth Prize in 2020. Final phase (till 2021 december) The final year of the project was used to develop a regular follower base on the social media presence of the group and organize the final transnational meeting of the project in Coimbra, which had to be cancelled two times before. The final phase involved evaluation and validation of learning outcomes, and the group already started to implement the follow up of the project. Project results - A total of 6 sensitizing activities per countries (HU, PT) - several media appearances, presentations at events, raising awareness - website of the group - developed and implemented empowerment process -2 transnational meetings (HU, PT) - regular posts and presence in the social media -two follow-up projects implemented by the members