CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND The "Explore Europe" project aims to develop a "Europe Zone" aimed at young people thanks to the combined use of: a) new generation interactive tools, b) educational and training activities conducted by youth workers. The so-called "Europe Zone" will indeed be a place to be discovered and where young people will be able to experience a "competitive adventure" characterized by: - respect for human rights, - promoting coexistence and inclusion, - support for integration and solidarity, - citizenship rights, - promotion of European values. The "Europe Zone" will be: a) a kind of virtual educational museum of all that the European Union represents and has represented in history since its birth; b) a multifunctional, informal and interactive space where to develop debates and comparisons, where to play and learn at the same time; c) an "educational path" between the actions and activities characterizing the supranational community; d) a "meeting place and exchange of views on Europe"; e) a training and awareness event where young people (especially those in the 11-18 age group) will be able to learn and express themselves by playing; f) a tool available to all stakeholders operating in the European sector to teach Europe in a new way and with greater effectiveness and secure involvement. OBJECTIVE, DIRECT AND INDIRECT BENEFICIARIES The objective of the project is to promote the positive action of Europe, as it was born in the first years of development and birth, and then perceived by all European peoples as the driving force of a "12-star" future, favoring greater participation active in the social and political context and returning to excite people on the dream of a united people, allowing greater participation of citizens in the institutions and reviving in them the confidence in the action of the future "state of the states". The direct beneficiaries are, on the one hand, young people (especially between 13 and 18 years) and, on the other hand, youth workers. The involvement of 900 direct beneficiaries and 20,000 indirect beneficiaries (stakeholders, trainers, teachers, etc.) is foreseen. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES AND METHODOLOGIES The "Explore Europe" project involves the development of a tool kit composed of 3 intellectual outputs: which allow the creation of an innovative modern, comprehensive, simple, effective, productive and pro-active training program for non-formal education on European citizenship, aimed at young people and youth workers. The Kit will consist of an interactive animation on the European Union, a team game and a virtual simulation of the European Parliament. The whole kit (in 4 languages, including English) will be based on operational methods that will encourage learning through play. IMPACT AND LONG-TERM BENEFITS The expected impact is definitely very important and lasting at all levels (local, regional, national and European). Many dissemination products will be made (4 newsletters, brochures, Facebook page, web portal, posters, an App, etc.). Furthermore, 3 multiplier events are planned (one in each of the project partner countries). In the long term the project will allow us to change the way to teach Europe, enhancing social cohesion and inclusion, integration, civic participation, intergenerational dialogue, transnational citizenship.
The primary objective of the project was to promote the positive action of Europe, as born in the first years of development and birth, and then perceived by all European peoples as a driving force of a "12-star" future, encouraging greater active participation in the social and political context and returning to excite people about the dream of a united people, allowing greater participation of citizens in the institutions and reviving their trust in the action of the future "state of states". The project envisaged: 1.the use of gamification as a teaching and training tool with the use of "serious games", 2.the direct and pro-active involvement as beneficiaries primarily of young people, students, youth workers and teachers, 3.the implementation of innovative and modern multimedia tools, 4.the strengthening of intergenerational dialogue, 5.a strong boost to the sense of active European citizenship, 6.the creation of a new and innovative work methodology for youth workers who work on the values of the European community, as well as the improvement of the quality of their work, because it is able to involve young people more and better, 7.the development of a path of knowledge and values of the importance of the existence of the EU
The "Explore Europe" project wanted to develop interactive tools aimed at the new generations to develop educational-training activities conducted by youth workers. Thanks to these products, the participants were able to experience a "competitive adventure" characterized by: - respect for human rights, - promotion of coexistence and inclusion, - support for integration and solidarity, - citizenship rights, - promotion of European values. - comparison of opinions on Europe; - training and awareness-raising moments where young people (especially those in the 13-18 age group) learned and expressed themselves by playing; The project has created various tools now available to all stakeholders operating in the European sector to teach Europe in a new way and with greater effectiveness and secure involvement. The project also wanted to contribute to improving the perception of youth workers' work, giving a boost of innovation and quality to their action thanks to the use of communication and educational means suitable for the target with which the youth workers themselves work every day, with the clear and evident objective of communicating the EU and its institutions in a form that was simple, modern, innovative, immediate and aware.