The project is aimed at bringing synergies between formal, non-formal and informal learning provided through formal system of education and youth work. The both spheres are working towards development of the key competences of young people, although often they act as competitors and the methods they use do not complement each other. The Ukrainian school doesn't pay much attention to development of competences for democratic citizenship and it is mostly carried by non-governmental organisations in the context not related to school. The Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Youth and Sport do not cooperate and do not have common programmes for young people notwithstanding they both have the common purpose – develop the key competences for democratic citizenship and employability. Youth organisations alone don't have enough strength and capacities to influence the situation and ensure permeability of informal and non-formal learning with formal education pathways. So, the main problem the project intends to solve is a lack of synergies between formal, informal and informal learning in Ukraine and low level of cooperation between formal system of education and youth work. The second problem to be addressed is the lack of education for democratic citizenship for young people. The first problem was selected as this is the primary issue for further validation of non-formal and informal learning and its permeability with formal education pathways. The second problem should be gradually solved as young people don't have a chance to develop competences necessary for democratic life and further employability.The project uses learning mobility as a core element for capacity development of youth workers, teachers of extra curriculum activities and representatives of youth organisations. The participants of the learning mobility will become multipliers of the experiences and transfer their developed expertise into complementary learning agendas for youth work and formal education. The good practices of building synergies between different learning approaches and systems will be developed during follow-up small scale projects involving stakeholders from sectors related to education and youth. The outcomes of the project activities will be consolidated and made available on the project interactive web site. Sustainability of the project will be ensured through establishment of policy dialogue between public authorities and youth work and education practitioners. Networking initiatives will ensure continuation of the project work after its end.
The purpose of the project "Development of competences for Democratic citizenship through formal, non-formal and informal learning" was to contribute to synergies between formal, non-formal and informal learning for development of the key competencies of young people. It was initiated with the task to showcase opportunities for cooperation between education providers working in the spheres of formal and non-formal education and develop capacities of teachers and youth workers to develop competences of young people, particularly social and civic competences; sense of initiative and entrepreneurship and learning to learn. The project responded to the needs of the ongoing educational reform in Ukraine, initiated in 2016, particularly in terms of implementing competence based approach through different types of education, i.e. formal, non-formal and informal. The project also intended to create networking opportunities for youth workers and social pedagogues within Ukraine and between participating countries. The project was implemented within the European Union Programme: Erasmus + Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices -Capacity Building in the field of Youth.Grant agreement with the Educational Initiatives Centre (EIC) as the main Project Applicant was signed on 20.12.2017 in Brussels. Internal grant agreements with Co-Applicants were signed on January 25, 2018 in Kyiv during the Working meeting of the representatives of Partner organisations. Aim of the project:The aim of the project was to support the process of development of young people’s democratic competences through establishing synergies between formal, informal and non-formal learning. The project objectives: •to provide opportunities for transferring expertise and experience exchange between youth workers and educators from participating countries;•to build capacities of youth organisations, youth workers and school teachers to design complementary educational programmes aimed at development democratic competences; •to contribute to establishment of policy dialogue between youth organisatoins, school administrations and teachers, public authorities responsible for youth and education fields;•to provide opportunities for networking between educators from participating countries and within Ukraine. Target audiences: The main target groups of the project were:•youth workers and representatives of youth organisations providing educational activities for young people aged 13-19, •school teachers in charge of extracurricular activities and social activities – so called teacher-organisers. •school administration and public officers in charge of youth and education.The project was co-funded by the Supporting Educational Reforms in Ukraine ‘Democratic School’ Programme funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and administered by the European Wergeland Centre (Norway). In Ukraine the project activities were implemented in coordination with the Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine.