What, how and when 1

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General Aims of ‘Youth in Action Programme ’ Promote young people’s active citizenship in general and their European citizenship in particular Develop solidarity and promote tolerance among young people, in particular in order to foster social cohesion in the European Union Foster mutual understanding between young people in different countries Contribute to developing the quality of support systems for youth activities and the capabilities of civil society organisations in the youth field Promote European cooperation in the youth field. 3

The Youth in Action Programme was set up on the basis of the ‘Inclusion Strategy’ to ensure that young people with fewer opportunities and those from less-privileged backgrounds find a role in the Programme. The Strategy defines the Youth in Action programme as a tool to enhance the social inclusion, active citizenship and employability of young people with fewer opportunities and to contribute to social cohesion. Young people with fewer opportunities (social, geographical, cultural, health related, economic) Non formal and informal education Youth in Action Programme

Action 4 is targeted at building the capacity of youth workers and organisations to develop quality activities by providing Civil society, youth workers and other actors involved in youth work with opportunities to develop the quality of support structures to develop co-operation and partnerships to promote civil participation of young people at European level to exchange youth work good practice to receive training This will strengthen the impact of European co-operation in the field of youth policy and will also support project development under the Youth in Action Programme 5

Sub Action 4.4 supports projects aimed at introducing, implementing and promoting innovative approaches in the youth field. Namely to encourage the introduction, implementation and promotion of innovative and qualitative features in non-formal education and youth work. Innovative aspects may relate to:  the content  the objectives  the methodology applied 6

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‘Back to the Future’ make a sustainable change within the local contexts for the integration of youth with fewer opportunities promote mutual learning between young and old people empower primarily young people with fewer opportunities but as a result also local individuals and communities promoting active citizenship and participation. 8

makes a sustainable change within the local contexts for the integration of young people A likely situation: Specific features of local contexts in Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria and Greece Lack of resources for youth (educational, work related, cultural, recreational) Scarce activation of local community Low participation of young people to the decision making processes Scarce motivation of young people in making a change Low skills of young people to plan, promote and run actions/solutions Scarce interest of the local politicians and decision makers in youth policies 9

Low skills of young people to plan, promote and run actions/solutions Scarce interest of the local politicians and decision makers in youth policies Scarce motivation of young people in making a change Scarce activation of local community Lack of resources for youth (educational, work related, cultural, recreational) Specific features (obstacles) of local contexts Lack of life direction and guidance low self-esteem and self-efficacy Low motivation, low interest for education and work Social isolation, under education, un-employment 10 The vicious circle: waiting for the future

11 promote mutual learning between young and old people Bridging the intergeneration gap represents an important resource for the project. Why? To mobilize a part of the society which nowadays is losing its traditional role of guidance for the next generations To re-enable the link between old and new generations within a formal and structured frame will indirectly enhance the whole communities to learn from their past and open new and more effective channels for the local development Mirroring effect, Identity building and personal development of young people Toward a change: the younger and the older generations

12 Elderly people are holders of personal life experience. What can we learn from this experience? To avoid the risk to repeat similar mistakes To acquire valuable information (historical, political, anthropological) about the origins and the development of our community To recognize in a time perspective the old and new obstacles for the social integration To better identify the resources of the community which must be activated Toward a change: the younger and the older generation promote mutual learning between young and old people

13 empower primarily young people but as a result also local individuals and communities promoting active citizenship and participation. Toward a change: empower young people empower primarily young people Providing young people with skills concerning - Realizing their own role and responsibility within the communities - Achieving and determining a wider perspective about their opportunities within the local contexts (intergenerational forum) - Learning how to set up a strategy to create new opportunities with the support of the old generations and the local social actors - Setting a sustainable implementation plan of activities and making decisions (local committee)

14 as a result also local individuals and communities promoting active citizenship and participation. Toward a change: empower young people The role of local Multipliers: they have the role to multiply the effect of the project primarily at local level but also at regional and national level.  Initiator Multipliers have to take the initiative to organise meetings, to bring people together  Networker Vital aspect of the work of a multiplier is to be involved in different networks, formal and informal as well on local, regional and national  Motivator Multipliers should be aware that their role is to motivate people to participate and become active. For multipliers is essential to listening to other young people, analysing their needs and be familiar with what is important in order to motivate them.  Information provider Multipliers should be able to give the right information at the right time

15 The role of the coordinators:  provide logistical and psychological support to their groups help them to go toward the envisaged goals  keep the contacts and closely collaborate with the other coordinators, the project manager and the evaluation coordinator providing and receiving information and feedbacks  facilitate and mediate the communication within the intergenerational forums.  attend to provide all the information and documents, reports to be published in the website of the project

16 What could happen in a community if all the social actors: Young people, Elderly people, local government, Youth organisations Start to cooperate and work together?

High skills of young people to plan, promote and run actions/solutions Interest of the local politicians and decision makers in youth policies High motivation of young people in making a change Activation of local community, youth organisations More resources for youth (educational, work related, cultural, recreational) Removing obstacles to integration High self-esteem and self-efficacy High motivation, high interest for education and work Participation to the decision making process 17 The virtuous circle: building the future

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19 International meetings Intergenerational forum Local committees Local conferences Actions

20 International meetings Budapest Opening session; methods exchange and partnership building; training sessions; evaluation meeting; start up the European network of youth initiators for social changes. Palermo Closing session; sharing the working methods and learning about the eventual obstacles and problems met; planning next actions to carry out concerning the network building and development; planning dissemination and mainstreaming of the results/outcomes of the project

21 Intergenerational forum composed of :  young local people with fewer opportunities (20) identified with the help of the multipliers and the support of the partner organizations  elderly people of the local community (10) who are interested in giving their support and contribution for the youth integration (all together 30 persons).

22 Intergenerational forum The forum gathers opinions, suggestions and proposals of young and old generations together. They discuss about their life stories and conditions, considering in a time perspective how the opportunities for the integration of youth have changed and how could change in a next future.

23 Intergenerational forum Productions: A publication of the life stories of the participants (old and young) focused on the obstacles to their integration A description of the causes and the determinants of such difficulties for the youth integration within the local communities through a time perspective. A local strategy for the integration of the youth and for new employment opportunities A list of project proposals, including main aims, expected outcomes, main activities, list of local public and private actors to be involved in order to ensure effectiveness and sustainability. All the productions will be also published on the website.

24 Local committees - cooperation with the local authorities and the social private sector (public healthcare, education, and employment departments, youth organisations which are operating within the communities) identified with the help partner organisations. - set up at the same time of the intergenerational forum - composed of 10 persons: young people (3 persons), elderly people (3 persons), representatives of local authorities and the social private sector (4 persons) TASKS: - determinate the criteria for the evaluation of project proposals (forum productions) - selects the proposal/s, evaluate the feasibility and sustainability - elaborate and finalise the implementation plan/s.

25 Local Conferences 4 conferences in Italy, Bulgaria, Greece and Hungary organized by the partners addressed to local and national experts, politicians, students and teachers, youth organisations leaders AIMS - spreading the outcomes achieved in each community - channelling the innovative contents and methodology implemented to other youth organizations (at least 5 other youth organizations for each country should attend the conferences) - promote the enlargement of the European network of youth initiators of social changes.

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27 Intergenerational forums: Start-up April 2008 / end September 2008, assembled twice a month (12 sessions). Local committee: Start-up April 2008 / Finalizing proposals’ selections and implementation plans by September 2008 Closing meeting: Palermo from 7 th to 9 th of October 2008 Local conferences: Finalizing publication of local conferences by November 2008

28 Activities Months DecemberJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAgoustSeptemberOctoberNovember Partners involvement online platform (website) Networking monthly breakdown reports Evaluation process Opening meeting in Budapest intergenerational local forums Setting up local committees Forums’ productions and proposals Finalizing proposals’ selections and implementation plans Publishing reports and achievements in the website Closing meeting in Palermo Local conferences