The project is set of activities for increasing the SCOs from 6 countries capacity to:Manage the strategy, vision, financial and HR resources,Interact with SCOs active in youth and other fields, as well as public and private stakeholders and policy makers for making more projects for the benefit of youth - youth at risk in particular The project is realized by transnational consortium involving 3 local bodies, 2 umbrella youth and disability people nationwide organizations -BDC and NAHPU, and NGOs with over 5 years of fieldwork experience in delivery of training, education, mentorship and other services to the most vulnerable youth such as NEETs, kids without parents ,with disabilities and migrant youth. The project Core activity are 4 TRAINING COURSES - ALL transnational, MOBILITY of YOUTHWORKERS aimed at:IMPROVE THE SCOs experts and managers to plan, design and implement projects, raise funds Design vision and strategy, fundraise and network so as to ensure professional and motivated youth staff and volunteersImprove SCOs capacity to apply ICT and network with local youth, community, stakeholders and interact with them though efficient and constructive dialogue Each TRAINING COURSE if mainly for SERBIA and B& H Yws mixing them with experienced and motivated to collaborate stakeholders and policymakers -local, regional and EU. Total number of YWs is from 45 -50 per training, and each TC finishes with 3 - 5 TEST YOUTH PROJECTS which are implemented in the following 6 months. During this period VIRTUAL GROUP & INDIVIDUAL MENTORSHIP & JOB SHADOW SESSIONS provide access of YWs to transnational expertise. Moreover - stakeholders and new partners are involved from the project partners. The best projects and the most motivated YWs are selected through transnational on-line evaluation and selection process, as well as based on the comments and evaluation of the VIRTUAL MENTORS, and feedbacks on the projects. FEEDBACK will be provided by SEMINARS, ROUND TABLES and multiply events. 15 nominated per training course YWs most motivated and successful project leaders will be selected and invited in the SECOND ROUND OF MOBILITY. It is more open for NETWORKING with stakeholders, policymakers from the 6 project countries, aimed at making the youth projects long term initiatives, large scale events or new transnational COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS. THUS each YW is motivated to compete so as to become member of sustainable STRATEGIC NETWORK. Forums, Seminars, Round tables and Large scale events will promote the project activities, and the outputs - handbooks, training manuals, training curriculums, and youth projects designed. Moreover they will promote and demonstrate project ideas and results turning the YWs into role models and inspirators for the local medias, SCOs, stakeholders and policy makers. Large scale event, workshops and field visits during the ACTIVATE SCOs academy as well researches on the specific training needs & vast promotion campaign.
The project was implemented by the Lead CSO, Balkan Development Center, from Kraljevo, Serbia together with 7 partner organisations from 5 countries: Serbia: Citizens Initiative for the Future (CIF), Municipality of Kursumlija; Bulgaria: National Association of Persons with Disabilities (NAPHU) and the Municipality of Elin Pelin; Bosnia and Herzegovina: Municipality of Visegrad; Hungry: Youth NGO - INNOVAFORM; Greece: NGO IASIS. Project duration period: 15th November 2018 – 14th November 2020. Project objective: to raise awareness on benefits of networking and internationalisation, common challenges and potentials of CSOs to increase social inclusion of youth; to strategically build CSOs management potentials, project management capacities - to train staff and youth workers on visions, missions, general networking skills and increase practical knowledge to reach vulnerable youth, to activate them to be active in society and involved in voluntary activities. More than 700 participants took part in project mobility and capacity building activities of which around half targeting persons with fewer opportunities.Eight Mobility Training Courses encompassed topics related to: Defining CSO’s vision and mission, strategic planning and development of youth communication strategies. Importance of youth and YW networking, existing EU networks. Information channelling using ICT and social media. Innovative collaborative and youth reach approaches, strategies and best practice exchange. Improving skill of CSOs to attract, involve and motivate staff, fundraising, crowd funding, budget preparation and financial management of local and international projects. Importance of networking, PR strategies and relations, negotiation and promotion skills, communication, constructive dialogue, effective interaction with CSOs. Presentation of best practices and innovative collaborative strategies for policy making skills and interaction with public and private stakeholders. Youth volunteering potentials, activities to activate local youth and a tool to reach NEETs, youth with disabilities and vulnerable youth groups. How to reach volunteers, involve them and to design and fund voluntary activities through EU funds. Practical skills in design and management of voluntary activities and best practices for involving youth in voluntary activities. PCM and generation of project ideas, preparation and implementation process mainstreamed through training course cycle. E+ and other funds promoted to participants. Mobility training courses also focused on gathering outcomes, improving evaluation skills, reporting, follow up activities, media and stakeholder representatives networking.Other conducted activities were: Opening Conferences, multi-day Networking conferences summarise key learning topics and conduct field work, working visits and networking with stakeholders. Organisation of Round Tables to provoke debate on legal frame for CSOs in Serbia and B&H, promote CSO working strategies, definition and recognition of youth work, propose potential solutions for better cooperation between CSOs and stakeholders, promote CSO strategic plans, EU grant opportunities and engage CSOs and policy makers for future collaboration with YWs. Multiply events - present project impact in Serbia and B&H with focus on grass root organisations and their functioning. Virtual support service in virtual learning and support as an opportunity to transfer best practices and expert support in project design and applications for funding. Research on CSO challenges, needs and best practice examples was compiled into a handbook on CSO capacities and project outputs and results.