The Training Course “We RadioGreece” was a joint initiative of organisations from Greece, Portugal, Italy, Slovakia, Lithuania and Romania, that took place in Serres, Greece, from the 10th to the 19th of February 2020. The main aim of this Training Course for Youth Workers was to develop Web Radio as form of social involvement of young people, for their self development and to promote their influence in the mass media and the world of the "adults". The final target group of the educational activities developed by youth works - Young people - have a high potential for influence society, but often organisations aren’t attractive in terms of skills, tools, ways for self-expression, as well as sometimes are poor in motivation and support. Therefore, under the proposal of the applicant, the whole partnership agreed on the following objectives responding the common needs in their work with young people: - to support the educational choice of young people, adapting to new forms of cultural expression, new challenges, new opportunities in terms of self-establishment, growth and professional success; - to innovate the forms of aggregation, increasingly concerned by the social media phenomenon, succeeding in reaching young people in their path of life; - to help young people to influence the society in which they live, making them protagonists of change through the language of radio; - to aggregate the peers on the basis of common interests; - to contribute to entrepreneurship and creativity of young people and in the web-radio field; - to share technical skills and necessary methods for creating horizontal and democratic shows; - to improve the ways of communication of partner organizations. We RadioGreece fulfilled the objectives of the Erasmus+ programme, because it was aimed to: - empowering young people, - raising young people's social engagement, contributing to life-long learning and self-establishment of young people. This training course gave the chance to share this experience with the partner organizations involved, discovering the web radio as a tool together to improve communication with their target groups, of empowering young people, giving a possibility for better self-expression. Also the name of this project (We RadioGreece) symbolized a daily involved that start from Greece to the World, putting WE as direct involvement of each of us, as community, as youth, as youth workers, as Europe, as the World. All united in transmitting the essence of who we are, without filters, without mediation but respecting ourselves, our community, and others. The project developed new approaches based on new media through the creation of web radio shows by exploiting the potential of non-formal education (simulations, group approach, collaborative approach, role play, horizontal learning , team building games, learning challenge, etc.) and producing collective intellectual outputs, such as programs, jingles, sketches, etc. As results, new project ideas and web radio channels raised after they have been created by project participants during We RadioGreece, through their organizations and target groups later on, as follow-up initiatives, contributing in this way, to project sustainability. As a result, the project delivered innovative tools to youth workers and group leaders involved, helping young people to conquer spaces through instruments like Caster.fm (represented by a easily accessible webpage). We RadioGreece removed barriers between the two "worlds", showing to the world that adults and young people can co-operate, for a better society. At the same time, Youngsters impacted and influenced on society, showing to our communities that they can be "entrepreneurs", "journalists" and "speakers" in spite of their young age and stereotypes that may lead to “ageism”, as the number of listeners raises up and local communities follow with interest, young people gained prestige, admiration and respect for what they are now able to show to society.
The initiative to carry out this particular project at this place, this time and with these partners was born as a response to the current needs and taking into account the success of previous similar attempts (several editions of We Radio) that the key persons of this project have experienced during recent years in various contexts. The applicant - the non-governmental Organization Youthfully Yours GR – has already a year and a half of experience in broadcasting on its own radio (Web Radio Youthfully Yours – www.youthfullyyours.caster.fm) itself a result of previous versions of this project where we participated as partners due to our focus in the empowerment of youth. Young people in different countries - the target group - of the partner organizations - definitely have a high potential, but often lack skills, tools, ways for self- expression, as well as sometimes the motivation and support. The partners agreed on the following objectives responding the common needs in their work with young people: - to support the educational choice of young people, adapting to new forms of cultural expression, new challenges, new opportunities in terms of self-establishment, growth and professional success; - To innovate on the forms of aggregation, increasingly concerned by the social media phenomenon, succeeding in reaching young people in their path of life; - to help young people to influence the society in which they live, making them protagonists of change through the language of radio; - To aggregate the peers on the basis of common interests; - To contribute to entrepreneurship and creativity of young people and in the web-radio field; - To share technical skills and necessary methods for creating horizontal and democratic shows; - To improve the ways of communication of partner organizations. The objectives are directly linked to the objectives of the Erasmus+ programme: empowering young people and including their voice in public dialogue, raising young people's social engagement, contributing to life-long learning and self-establishment of young people. Besides, the project objectives correspond also to the local NA priorities, such as contributing to young people's activity and exploring artistic skills and new technologies. The project therefore aims to share this experience with the partner organizations involved and discovering the web radio as a tool together to improve communication with their target groups, of empowering young people, giving a possibility for better self-expression. Hence the name of this project: We RadioGreece - meaning - we community, we youth, we youth workers, we Greece, we Europe. All united in transmitting the essence of who we are, without filters, without mediation but respecting ourselves, our community, and others. In the current times, when extremism, polarization and aggressiveness often dominate public discourse in Greece, the EU and even further, it is particularly important that young people can actively voice their opinions and promote the exchange of ideas in their communities, rejuvenating this way the essence of Democracy itself and effectively fighting back at the populist tides that currently threaten our societies.