The project “SHAPE YOUR FUTURE” is one of the main 20 projects included in the program Constanta - Youth Capital of Romania (CCTR), developed to foster social inclusion and promote the empowerment of young people, mainly the marginalised ones. This project started with a need analysis in Constanta County among youth (students, youth workers) related to their specific needs to be inserted in the labour market. Starting from this main issue the consortium reached a commune need - to create a space for youth and youth workers where they can find opportunities for personal and professional development. Going further they stated that the need is to create some on-line tools / work spaces where they can experience different programs gathering stakeholders from various domains / sectors (public, private and civil society). As a final result, the project will raise awareness on the importance of social inclusion of vulnerable young people and the development of regional communities by creating international instruments and actions in all 5 countries that will promote it. By creating different tools (apps, platform, booklet) we will enable young people to learn about the existent European programs/ local opportunities from partner regions and to have a unique cultural experience. The main aim is to foster quality and multidimensional improvements in youth work, in order to reach and empower marginalised young people, thus supporting their integration into labour market and the chances for social inclusion/education. Specific objectives: 1. Increase no. of youngsters involved in a learning activity / job through the development of 3 specific products with information/tools from 5 countries related to labour market/empowerment/personal and professional development, during 24 months; 2. Increase the knowledge of at least 75 youth workers regarding young people’s developmental needs by developing skills to use innovative practices and methods in direct work with disadvantaged youth, gathered by participating in Job Shadowing and learning activities, during 24 months; 3. Develop the organisational capacity of the 6 partners through exchange of best practices and international cooperation, promotion and dissemination of the created materials and specific activities, during 12 months. C1-C3 - Job Shadowing - 10-day job-shadowing mobility (3) based on a non-formal education approach. Youth workers from each partner will have the opportunity to work alongside and gain experience of the role of another youth worker, and gain an insight about the youth work done Young Educators, BB&R and HANTA. The 2 main purposes of this activity are: 1) to give the chance to not so experienced youth workers to develop further their competences related to youth work;2) identify tools/instruments/materials/ non-formal education methods that can improve the development of youth and increase their chances to enter the labour market. C4 - Training Course with a group composed by 12 youth workers trained (3/country), 2 trainers (RO). Duration of the activity is 9 full training days plus 1 arrival/1 departure. The training will focus on development of competences in participants as well as implementation, testing and evaluation, of tools. C5 - Youth Exchange. Participants: 40 young people (8 participants/partner region) out of which half are people with fewer opportunities. Objectives: gather young people from disadvantaged social groups and provide conditions development and personal growth; gain skills, competences and knowledge in the fields related to the project: labour market, social inclusion, entrepreneurship, digital skills; provide young people with an opportunity to try for themselves and explore the effect of the tools for self-exploration and personal development. The aim of the project is also to meet other targets of the European Union Youth Strategy to ‘support the development of vulnerable young people - ‘increase access to labour market. With the help of young people/youth workers and experts we will create the following: 1. "Shape Your Future" mobile application IO2 that will include: real time notifications on the learning opportunities, materials uploaded for youth /youth workers/stakeholders in the participating cities; forum/blog for youngsters enrolled in any activity related to the topic, where people can keep records of their activity and discover new and interesting opportunities, where people can discover projects and jobs that they can access. 2. IO1 platform will include - an interactive environment, bringing in the same place on the one hand the employers, NGOs, institutions and local authorities, and on the other hand the young people who are interested in jobs or various possibilities of internship and volunteering. 3. Booklet IO3 - training material on Social Inclusion and Entrepreneurship for youth workers with methods based on Non-formal education and best practice in participating countries.
The main aim of "Shape Your Future" project was to foster quality and multidimensional improvements in youth work, especially to reach and empower marginalised young people, thus supporting their integration into labour market and the equal right to education. Specific objectives envisaged: 1. Increase no. of youngsters involved in learning/training activities or employed through the development of a complex platform and a mobile application with information / tools from 5 countries related to labour market and socio-professional development opportunities; 2. Develop competences among 200 youth (100 vulnerable) to enter labour market by participating in specific activities like blended mobility, learning program, guidance; 3. Increase digital competences among 40 youth workers in order to adapt their methodologies to online environment through implementation of a training course / youth exchange / ONLINE course and familiarise them with new platforms / tools available around Europe; 4. Develop the organisational capacity of all partners through staff training, intellectual outputs development, international cooperation and dissemination of results.
We identified the need of a project to ensure a qualitative learning space for youth, as well as to improve/adapt working methods of youth workers facing exceptional measures taken during the pandemic COVID-19.The most important needs were to develop online working methodologies and to improve knowledge regarding online tools. We also considered important the interaction between private/public sectors and youth. Statistics and reports from each country underlined the necessity of a complex program to fulfil the needs of youth, youth workers and partners. Needs addressed 1. Youth workers: foster competences in order to facilitate online learning process among their beneficiaries; be updated with new approaches related to training/teaching platforms and tools that can increase job insertion of vulnerable youth; adapt working methods to the changing educational contexts and be involved in developing methodologies and instruments. 2. Youth: be informed on learning, training and international opportunities around EU; quick access to job opportunities; develop competences related to labour market and digital skills. 3. Partners: develop synergies between different domains of activity (education, labour market and youth work).