Shape Your Future

Background We identified the need of a project to ensure a qualitative learning space for youth, as well as to improve/adapt working methods of youth workers facing exceptional measures taken during the pandemic COVID-19.The most important needs were to develop online working methodologies and to improve knowledge regarding online tools. We also considered important the interaction between private/public sectors and youth. Statistics and reports from each country underlined the necessity of a complex program to fulfil the needs of youth, youth workers and partners. Needs addressed 1. Youth workers: foster competences in order to facilitate online learning process among their beneficiaries; be updated with new approaches related to training/teaching platforms and tools that can increase job insertion of vulnerable youth; adapt working methods to the changing educational contexts and be involved in developing methodologies and instruments. 2. Youth: be informed on learning, training and international opportunities around EU; quick access to job opportunities; develop competences related to labour market and digital skills. 3. Partners: develop synergies between different domains of activity (education, labour market and youth work). Objectives The main aim of "Shape Your Future" project was to foster quality and multidimensional improvements in youth work, especially to reach and empower marginalised young people, thus supporting their integration into labour market and the equal right to education. Specific objectives envisaged: 1. Increase no. of youngsters involved in learning/training activities or employed through the development of a complex platform and a mobile application with information / tools from 5 countries related to labour market and socio-professional development opportunities; 2. Develop competences among 200 youth (100 vulnerable) to enter labour market by participating in specific activities like blended mobility, learning program, guidance; 3. Increase digital competences among 40 youth workers in order to adapt their methodologies to online environment through implementation of a training course / youth exchange / ONLINE course and familiarise them with new platforms / tools available around Europe; 4. Develop the organisational capacity of all partners through staff training, intellectual outputs development, international cooperation and dissemination of results. Implementation * Development of IO1 - Co-working space that brings together 3 main actors (private sector, NGOs and public institutions) and provides opportunities for youth to develop skills in labour market access, as well as for youth workers to have access innovative materials on non-formal education. * Development of IO2 - Mobile application for Android / Apple. * Development of IO3 - Booklet for youth workers with methodologies to adapt youth work to online environment and specific methods/instruments for social inclusion, labour market access adapted to online environment. * Implementation of specific activities to create IO1 and IO2 - online / offline workshops with youth / youth workers in all 5 communities. * Implementation of specific activities to complete IO3 - workshops, non-formal activities. * Implementation of C1-C3 - Job Shadowing's for youth workers that collaborate with involved partners * Implementation of C4- Training Course to develop methods/methodologies to be inserted in IO3. * Implementation of C5 - offline and online activities to practice learned competences during C4 and revise / update information. * Implementation of 5 TPMs - involving staff from each partners as well as experts to develop intellectual outputs. Achievements Results: * Shape Your Future Platform: 1 ONLINE co-working space with 400 persons enrolled with an active account; 250 persons created professional CVs; more than 100 people undertook the ONLINE courses available; more than 100 users applied for an vacancy; 150 persons were accepted in trainings, youth exchanges, internships, jobs - posted; 30 youth workers enrolled on the platform in learning from materials and experts how to adapt their youth work methodologies to online space. * Shape Your Future app: 2 versions for Android and Apple available. The mobile application was downloaded by more than 250 persons. * Booklet for youth workers - This output has one online version (with more information on the thematic) and one offline printed version for efficient use during non-formal activities. More than 500 offline - printed exemplars were disseminated during events * C1-C3 - internal staff exchanged best practice; * C4-C5 - more than 40 youth workers trained. Other results: * 10 articles about the project on national and international Social Media. * Reports from each partner related to implemented activities. * Capacity building of involved partners - professionalisation of staff; Project Management.