CONTEXT The project is based on the underlying principle that considers all individuals as subjects of rights. However, social inclusion and full participation of people with intellectual disability are not yet a reality, but a future challenge. Currently they are recipients of aid more than active contributors to the common good, offering their experiences, reflections, and their voices. Consequently, global citizenship and civic engagement of adults with intellectual disabilities needs to become a European imperative since most egalitarian societies should benefit everyone. Within the above-described context the project partnership agreed on enhancing global citizenship and civic engagement among young adults with intellectual disabilities, helping to create more inclusive societies and promoting social cohesion. In brief, the project offered an important contribution to the "Agenda 2030" for Sustainable Development of the United Nations: "Guarantee an inclusive, equitable and quality education" (UN, 2015), and the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities. TARGET GROUPS The project partnership identified young adults with intellectual disabilities (18 to 30) and staff members and trainers as key target groups. On a broader level the project also identified and addressed the needs of other stakeholders (adult trainers, counsellors, teachers, university academics/researchers, social educators, third sector agents, etc.) and political opinion-leaders and decision-makers (Town halls, national parliaments, ombudsmen, etc.). OBJECTIVES This project had as general objective: - To raise awareness of young adults with intellectual disabilities (18 to 30) on their rights and common social issues to strengthen their active citizenship and civic engagement. As well as four specific objectives: - To enable young adults with intellectual disabilities in acquiring and developing key competences and skills to strengthen their civic engagement in the European democratic life. - To improve isolation of young adults with intellectual disabilities so they can take an active role in society. - To train trainers and staff members on how to promote active citizenship and civic engagement of young adults with intellectual disabilities. - To develop an international network to promote lifelong learning and to improve the quality of life and effectiveness of citizenship experiences of young adults with intellectual disabilities. RESULTS AND ACTIVITIES The project produced the following main outputs and related activities: - O1. Database on global citizenship and civic engagement among young adults with intellectual disabilities for EU associations/organizations with material, good practices, activities and resources. - O2. Handbook for staff members and trainers on global citizenship and civic engagement among young adults with intellectual disabilities. - O3. Platform of the blended training for staff members and trainers: Methodology and Contents. - O4. Toolkit for young adults with intellectual disabilities on global citizenship and civic engagement among young adults with intellectual disabilities. The project celebrated two training and learning activities: - An international workshop for young adults with intellectual disabilities on global citizenship and civic engagement. - A blended comprehensive training activity for staff members and trainers on global citizenship and civic engagement among young adults with intellectual disabilities. RESULTS The project therefore achieved the following results at the level of the different groups engaged: YOUNG ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES (18 to 30) - Personal knowledge on the topics related to global citizenship, their rights, and common social issues to strengthen their active citizenship. - Awareness of being European citizens and their understanding of their active role in the current challenges of the modern society. - Acquiring and developing key competences and skills to strengthen their civic engagement in the European democratic life. TRAINERS - Reinforce knowledge in the different areas of the project through the learning and cooperation process with all partners. - Pedagogical tools and strategies to promote active citizenship and civic engagement of young adults with intellectual disabilities. PARTNERS - Increased skills for cooperation; identification of new opportunities to further develop new solutions to tackle emerging problems. - Share the know-how of their organizations and will gain from the expertise of other European partners. - Experience a variety of methods and procedures at European level, beyond the fragmented knowledge of each of their organizations. STAKEHOLDERS - Access to new tools and skills to support global citizenship and civic engagement of young adults with intellectual disabilities. PARTNERS The PARTNERSHIP consisted of 7 organizations from 5 countries (Spain, Hungary, Czech Republic, Italy, and Croatia). All partners are highly experienced (except Down Seville) with EU projects.
In the light of this context the B4 project aimed at: GENERAL OBJECTIVE - To raise awareness of young adults with intellectual disabilities (18 to 30) on their rights and common social issues to strengthen their active citizenship and civic engagement. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES - To enable young adults with intellectual disabilities in acquiring and developing key competences and skills to strengthen their global citizenship and civic engagement in the European democratic life. - To improve isolation of young adults with intellectual disabilities so they can take an active role in society. - To train trainers and staff members on how to promote active citizenship and civic engagement among young adults with intellectual disabilities. - To offer training opportunities to the above target groups by using peer group training and mentoring to enhance and support the process of social inclusion. - To develop a set of tools and activities which will assist young adults with intellectual disability and trainers and staff members. - To develop an international network with a view to promote lifelong learning and to improve the quality of life and effectiveness of citizenship experiences of young adults with intellectual disabilities.
Young adults with intellectual disabilities (YAID) active contributors for the common good. However, their voices have been historically silenced. This project sought to enable their civic engagement and their full participation in the social reality. Partner have been working on programs about autonomy, independent life, and incorporation to the workforce of YAID. However, they acknowledged the need to work on global citizenship skills. They admitted the lack of time and resources to provide training and develop tools to enhance such competencies as much as other adults of their age. The project aimed to prepare staff and YAIS for the effective participation and social commitment. TRANSNATIONAL need of the project: - The full social inclusion and active citizenship of adults with intellectual disabilities in Europe cannot be addressed at the national level to achieve significant results. - The level of complexity of the topics requires skills and experiences that can only be found between excellence and resources from various organizations working together. - The design and development of IOs to be transferable to other European organizations require incorporating different organizational and pedagogical systems.