Back to search

Moving my Fears

2020-1-SI02-KA105-0154382020Youth mobilityfinalized
Countries: SI|LT|ES · Grant: €14,706.18
Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learningInclusion - equityHealth and wellbeing

Objectives

The project addressed the growing problem of physical inactivity among youngsters, which increasingly decreases their physical and mental health. The main reason was the observation that youngsters are not motivated enough to take part in sport because they associate it only with effort and not with fun, well-being and health. Another reason is that young people are often embarrassed or afraid to take up sport because of poor self-image, bad experiences or fear of embarrassing themselves in front of others. We therefore wanted to encourage young people to start looking at sport and exercise in a different way and to experience for themselves how sport and exercise can be an opportunity to socialise, learn new skills and, above all, spend quality time with a lot of positive effects. Youngsters spend too much time in front of screens (phones, tablets, computers) and indoors. During the exchange, the young people had a lot of social time and practised their communication skills, especially in English. Too much time spent in front of screens and not enough exercise is bad for young people's mental health (anxiety, depression), so we tried to do as many activities as possible outdoors, get plenty of exercise, avoid using phones and also cover topics on young people's mental health. The project was the realisation of an idea of a group of young people. We experienced how an international youth exchange is organised and were involved in the planning of the project, the preparation and implementation of the programme. By organising an International Youth Exchange (hereafter referred to as the MMF) in Zagorje, we also made other young people aware of the opportunities offered by Erasmus+ and the ESC programme, encouraging them to get involved in international projects. With the MMF we raised the level and visibility of the international activities of the Youth Centre Zagorje. The objectives of the project were: - To successfully carry out a 10-day activity with 24 young people from four countries, with whom we prepared several activities each day on the theme of "physical inactivity among young people", co-created and implemented by the exchange participants. - To hold a 2-day preparatory meeting to present the programme to the participating partners, to define the programme activities or timetable in more detail and to show them around the premises where the activities will take place (accommodation, meals, programme). - To carry out the final public event planned and implemented by the exchange participants. - To produce videos (storys) and a handbook (fanzine) in a spirit of mutual cooperation and to include key findings of the MMF participants on health, well-being, benefits and effects of physical activity, overcoming fear and shame to take up a sport. - Involve young people in the whole process ( idea development, writing project documentation, implementation, evaluation) and gain a lot of new experience and competences. - To provide 24 Youthpass certificates. Coherence of Erasmus+ objectives with our goals: - The young people involved in the project have become more aware of the importance of regular physical activity, which will have a positive impact on our habits and lifestyles, and have strengthened our values of solidarity, democracy and friendship. - Participants and organisers strengthened their competences in teamwork, working in an international environment, project work, communication in a foreign language and problem solving. This experience also increased our opportunities for professional, career and personal development. We increased our employability prospects. - The project participants worked in an intercultural environment, raising their awareness of the importance of understanding intercultural differences, encouraging more active social inclusion and fostering a sense of European citizenship and identity. - As the working language was English, the foreign language skills of all those involved in the project were strengthened. - Participants became better acquainted with the Erasmus+ programme and more aware of the values promoted by the European Union, and they became more motivated to participate in future mobility projects abroad. - All activities were carried out through non-formal and peer-to-peer learning, which enabled participants to acquire a wide range of competences that serve them in their personal development and improve their employability (better competitiveness on the labour market). - We have worked to involve young people with fewer opportunities. - The project has strengthened the international dimension of the participating organisations and improved their visibility. - The visibility of Erasmus+ has been raised and the project has had a motivational effect on local young people in particular (as they will be more likely to take part in international projects because they have seen first-hand what such projects look like).

Project partners (3)