The project Youth Action for Europe is a youth exchange that aims to encourage, engage and empower young people to participate in the civic life of their communities. The project is based on the understanding that civic participation is developed through civic education and the acquisition of social and civic competencies and skills. The methodology we have chosen to conduct the exchange includes elements of civic education and non-formal educational methods, including presentations, discussions, sharing of experiences, role-playing and group work, creative activities and simulations, sharing of good practices, and development of future projects under the Erasmus+ program, innovative ideas for civil campaigns and initiatives to disseminate and promote project results. These training approaches will develop the key competencies of young participants in the exchange, such as civic awareness, critical thinking, integrated problem solving, as well as negotiation skills, and constructive participation in community activities.
The implementation of the project will lead to improvement of the quality of youth work in the field of civic and social activities through the cooperation of youth organizations, increasing the capacity of young people in their personal and professional realization, developing young people’s soft and leadership skills and competences for their active contribution in society, promoting democratic values for young people’s full participation in civic and social life in Europe.
The expected impact of the youth exchange on the participants is:
– To encourage them to be active citizens in social and civic events, as well as motivated for positive change
– To foster young people’s self-esteem, solidarity and to enable them to make decisions for themselves and others in their community
– To encourage young people to know and defend their rights, freedoms, and responsibilities
– To develop complex social and civic competencies such as soft and leadership skills, critical thinking, constructive participation in dialogue and debate, decision-making and negotiation skills, intercultural competencies, and civic awareness skills
– To increase participants’ awareness of the fundamental human rights, freedom of expression, democracy, and democratic participation; and of the negative consequences of young people’s lack of activity and participation
Venue: Varna, Bulgaria
Duration: 16-22 May 2022
Countries: Bulgaria, Italy, Romania, North Macedonia, Hungary, and Serbia
Participants: 32 young people (aged 18-30) from 6 European countries
Infopack is available here.
The project is funded by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ program.