Youth supportive communities

Background After two years of cooperation, the partners have realised that in order to achieve more impact and make the cooperation more meaningful, we need a more structured and targeted approach based on the actual needs, interests and problems of the target group. Needs addressed by the project: - Finding answers to the target group's recurrent questions: "WHY should I get involved?" HOW can we make a difference?" "WHO will support us?" - Build and maintain links between schools and the local communities, especially during the transition from primary to secondary school. - Create and provide an ongoing supportive environment for teenagers in local communities. - Involve teenagers in the co-shaping of their own community. - Creating learning opportunities in a cross-cultural environment. - Equip teachers and youth workers with competences to support teenagers and actively involve them in the co-shaping of their community. Objectives The aim of the project was to create a cross-sectoral non-formal education programme for active citizenship of teenagers in their own community. The project objectives were: 1. To develop a competency model of active citizenship for teenagers aged 13-14 in Litija and Teseni during the first 4 months of the project. 2. to develop a non-formal education programme based on the competency model. 3. To test the programme on 30 young people aged 13 and 14 from Litija and Teissani over a period of 15 months. 4. Disseminate the intervention model, its results and impacts to at least 30 primary schools and NGOs in Slovenia and Romania during the last 4 months of the project. 5. To carry out 2 multiplier events for 140 international participants. Implementation In the project we: - Carried out a survey on the needs, interests and problems of teenagers in Litija and Teisani. - Developed a competence model of active citizenship for teenagers aged 13-14 years. - Developed a non-formal education programme based on the competence model. - Tested the programme on future users. As part of the testing, we also carried out 2 international youth exchanges. - Published a manual describing a cross-sectoral non-formal education programme for active citizenship of teenagers in their own community. - Conducted two multiplier events and disseminated the intervention model and its outcomes and impacts at local, national and international level. Achievements Tangible project results: - A survey on the needs, interests and problems of teenagers in Litija and Teisani. - A competence model of active citizenship for teenagers aged 13-14. - A non-formal education programme based on the competence model. - A manual describing a cross-sectoral non-formal education programme for active citizenship of teenagers in their own community. - Videos produced during the project. Intangible project results: - Competences acquired by the students who participated in the pilot implementation of the programme. - Improved competences of youth workers and teachers who participated in the pilot implementation of the programme. - Strengthened cooperation between youth organisations and schools. As both types of organisations have the same target group and as education is the central pillar around which the activities are built, the cooperation has led to greater trust and deeper cooperation on different aspects affecting young people in both local communities of the participating partners. - The social value of youth work has been reinforced. The target groups better recognise the potential and value of youth work and, as a consequence, value it more.