Youth4Society

Evaluation Meeting for Anti-discrimination in Youth under Action 3.1 of the Youth in Action Programme, took place in Tirana, Albania from 23-30 April 2013. The activity gathered 27 participants from Programme Countries and South East Europe and its main focus was to evaluate projects in the field of anti-discrimination, with particular reference to anti-discrimination areas identified by the European Union: age, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity and disability. The trainer’s team worked in three dimensions: Sharing experience and good examples, giving knowledge and changing attitudes in positive way for marginalized target groups and creating common strategies for evaluation of youth projects and future cooperation.

The main objectives of the project were:

– to elaborate a common strategy on future projects to be conducted on these topics with the direct participation of young people from minority background and victims of discrimination.

– to raise awareness on local situations with anti-discrimination in the countries represented in this project

–  help to elaborate new activities in the youth field both between the partners represented in the project and with other youth non-governmental organisations, in particular with organisations who have previously co-operated and have a long-term view

– to help any plans for future work, also under the new Erasmus for All Programme.

The Project methodology was based in non-formal education and ‘learning-by-doing’ approach, where participants were the main actor and were encouraged to share their experience through participation and active involvement. Beside this, theoretical knowledge and input was provided from trainers team, who had lot of experience in youth work and international projects. Simulation exersices, role plays, brainstorming, power point presentations, case studies, small working group, debate, open group discussion and other methods were used to make the programme interactive and attractive.

 Link: Photogallery Seminar: Evaluation Meeting for Anti-discrimination in Youth

“Learning in nature’’ was a youth exchange hosted by Youth4Society organisation, 7-15 September 2012, in the city of Pogradec, Albania. It brought together 43 youngsters, 36 participants and 7 leaders from six countries: Albania, Macedonia, Italy, Romania, Turkey and Kosovo. The main theme of the youth exchange was education through outdoor activities. Partcipants got familiar with the concept of using outdoor activities to lead them in a healthy lifestyle. During the exchange they had the chance to reflect on the benefits that outdoor activities brings in the youngsters’ life, as well as protecting the environment as a challenge for our generation. Participants got equipped with different tools in order to use outdoor education in future projects in local and international level. Despite this, the youngsters had the possibility to cooperate together and share ideas for future projects within Youth in Action programme.

The methodolgy that was used, based on non-formal education. Methods such as: discussions, role play, games, simulations etc, helped participants to get a complete picture of outdoor activites as well as helping them to practice what they learned.

Partners were very helpful and present in every stage of the project. First they helped with suggestions while the project was being drafted. Once the project got approved they shared information about the activity and started selecting the participants. Partners provided the neccessary information and guidelines to their participants in order to be prepared before the event. Another aspect was spreading the outcomes of the project in their websites and in their local communities

Link: Photogallery Youth Exchnage – Learning in the nature