YWIS - YOUTH WORK IN SCHOOLS

The project of Youth work in schools, YWIS, develops youth work in educational environments. The aim is to define the role and opportunities of youth work in schools. Another aim is to incorporate informal education opportunities to formal education and to integrate the objectives of youth work and curricula. YWIS further increases the quality of youth work through four themes: sustainable development, democracy education, student wellbeing work and strengthening the sense of community.

Objectives

The project of Youth work in schools, YWIS, develops youth work in educational environments. The aim is to define the role and opportunities of youth work in schools. Another aim is to incorporate informal education opportunities to formal education and to integrate the objectives of youth work and curricula. YWIS further increases the quality of youth work through four themes: sustainable development, democracy education, student wellbeing work and strengthening the sense of community.

Implementation

YWIS consists of four work packages: Project management, Best practices of local networks, Mixing and testing best practices and Arranging learning and teaching activities. YWIS organises transnational meetings, workshops and training, and publishes materials and reviews concerning youth work in schools for international use. Moreover, each partner establishes local collaboration and disseminates the results through national networks.

Results

After YWIS youth work in schools is better identified in partner organisations and regions. Cooperation between schools and youth work organisations is established to facilitate and develop young people’s informal education. Youth work is better integrated into school curricula and practices. Youth workers’ competence has strengthened and new contents have been introduced to carry out youth work in schools.

More  information about Erasmus+ programs: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/link opens on new page

Project TOLERANCE

Duration: Sept 2019 – Aug 2022
Funding: 2019-1-EE01-KA229-051654link opens on new page
Website: Tolerancelink opens on new page

Outputs: Presentation Exchange of good practiceslink opens on new page

In today’s world, violence, aggression, intolerance, racism and ethnic discrimination are tendencies that can be observed in the behaviour of the students from all the partner countries - Estonia, Lithuania, Turkey, Romania and Portugal - of this Erasmus+ project. We are certain that raising awareness and understanding through various activities and cooperation will help with empathy, so sorely needed in our world.

The project aims:

• developing civic competencies and increasing self-esteem of students from five EU countries
• facilitating understanding the concepts ‘tolerance’ and ‘mutual understanding’ at a personal level as well as in the European context
• providing participants with practical examples for acting as civic-minded citizens
• raising awareness about diversity and cultural identities promoting social cohesion
• boosting the feeling of belonging to the EU community

To achieve the above-mentioned goals, an innovative attitude will be applied. Linking the benefits of using ICT in education will tackle give personality dimensions:

• openness to experience: students will be motivated to express their emotions and opinions using Art. They will produce the movie “Tolerance through my eyes” together as well as scenarios for the Forum theatre and digital photos. They will use art for the Festival of Tolerance And Mutual Understanding.
• extraversion: team building activities, sports competitions and board games will stimulate students’ assertiveness and sociability.
• amicability: working in transnational groups and making products together will develop students’ cooperation skills. The flashcards, the dictionary of the project, handmade bookmarks and thematic puzzles will be tangible products they will create together.
• neuroticism: students will experience unpleasant and pleasant emotions: irritation, sadness, nervousness and vulnerability during the Forum theatre activity. They will become aware of how intolerance is perceived by others, they will develop empathy and see how important it is to be an active citizen.

The activities are designed to develop the tolerance, mutual understanding, intercultural competences, social and civic spirit. The international cooperation will broaden the cross-cultural knowledge and understanding about the countries, cultures and values strengthening the feeling of belonging to a united Europe.