FINER: Find your INner powER

The outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020 has led to profound changes on a personal, social and professional level, as if a pause button had been pressed in our daily lives and routines. This unprecedented change, combined with the restrictive measures introduced by governments to prevent the pandemic, has challenged the psychological and mental state of the population not only in Europe but around the world. Within this framework, people have experienced high levels of anxiety, stress, depression, uncertainty about the future and lack of motivation due to this static daily routine. During this time, more than 50% of young adults in Europe are affected by anxiety or depression (ILO, 2020). Therefore, the FINER project focused on providing theoretical knowledge, tools and best practices to empower both young adults and young adults with fewer opportunities, but also adult educators, to maintain their well-being as a means to cope with difficult situations and find their way through the darkness of time. With the knowledge and tools to strengthen wellbeing, adult educators can show young adults the way to adaptability, positivity and creating their own path full of new possibilities.

Through the FINER project, the partnership aimed to raise awareness about the main issues young adults and adult educators face concerning well-being, while also targeting stakeholders and individuals interested in the project's themes. The project sought to enhance the well-being of young adults by utilizing innovative project results and providing adult educators with tools to empower psychologically young adults. Moreover, it aimed to equip young adults with the necessary steps to change their lives under the guidance of adult educators. The project facilitated access to several organizations operating in professional fields relevant to its thematic focus. Additionally, it involved the development of three project results with diverse formulations and themes, incorporating both theoretical and interactive components. Furthermore, the project focused on the creation and provision of comprehensive material and tools for young people to acquire knowledge about well-being and provided assistive tools for adult educators to contribute to the improvement of young adults’ well-being.

The consortium of FINER project implemented one online multiplier event per organization country during 25th month and one in person multiplier event during 26-27th month per organization country, as well as a Learning, Teaching and Training Activity in UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TORINO, due to the great expertise that this partner allocates in psychology studies. The FINER project implemented a Learning, Teaching and Training Activity in the 20th month of the project, when PR1 was completed and PR2 was in the external testing phase. The FINER LTTA was scheduled to be implemented in that time of the project as it created additive valuable knowledge on how fostering well-being can enhance everyday life and raise awareness on how well-being can help to deal with the consequences that the pandemic of Covid-19 has caused in our lives, both on a personal and professional level. Participating in the activities, learners did understand how a psychologically empowered person can pursue its goals more effectively. This understanding emerged from applying in practice some of the suggestions and tips that were referred to in the “Well-Being E-Book”. The implementation of both FINER LTTA and Multiplier activities provided added value to the impact and dissemination of the project. Participants came closer, exchanged various perspectives and experiences regarding handling of well-being-especially in difficult times- and were trained how to make all of this part of their everyday life. Stakeholders and other participants also operated as multipliers for the dissemination of the project’s vision and outcomes. The “Find your INner powER” Multiplier Event were implemented for raising awareness regarding the importance of well-being and dealing with unprecedented situations, such as the turbulent period that began since the outbreak of COVID-19. The objective of the multiplier was to inform the target audience located in the partnership countries about the produced outcomes of the project, meaning the “Well-Being E-Book”, the “The Target Finder Toolkit” and the Online 3D Mall platform aiming at the best of its exploitation and dissemination. Moreover, during the events, stakeholders and participants from associated organizations were free to provide feedback on the produced outcomes of the project. The multiplier events were both online (25th month) and offline (month 26th- 27th), in order to offer a distinct validation of the produced deliverables and increase the sustainability after the end of the project. Stakeholders from each region of the partner organisation, but also at national level (online MEs), stakeholders from public and private institutions involved in promoting the well-being of young adults and adult education, as well as associated organisations working with the host lead organisation, took part. The latter help to increase the impact of the project outcomes by providing a holistic perspective on the additional welfare practices that the project adds to the existing practices. In addition, participants were encouraged to take part in activities that provide an insight into the practices included in the project outcomes.

The FINER project produced three Project Results in order to reach out the objectives, which are to empower well-being, enhance adaptability of young adults. More specifically, the consortium of the FINER project has developed a detailed plan that includes the project activities and desired results. The distribution of responsibilities and contribution accrued from the experience and expertise that each partner provides to the project. PR1: The Well-Being E-Book: The first Project Result of this project is a theoretical E-Book about well-being and all the correlations beyond this matter. This E-Book provides adults and especially young adults with information about well-being. Participants getting informed about what is well-being, which factors are associated with it as well as how they affect our psychology. Moreover, this PR also includes tips addressed to adult educators for boosting the well-being of their learners. PR2: The Target Finder Toolkit: The second Project Result is the Target Finder Toolkit that helps adult educators to enhance the adaptive skills of adult learners and assist them on rescheduling and redesigning their life in this rapidly changing and COVID-19 hardly hit world. The Toolkit consists of methodological tools, as well as self-assessment quiz for young adults. Finally, the Target Finder Toolkit provides adult educators with a self-assessment methodology in order to develop their own Quizzes, according to the needs of their target groups. PR3: FINER Online 3D Mall platform: The FINER Online 3D Mall represents an alternative way of having a walk around different Corners. This platform enables a visual walk to users and offers the ability to “walk around” the Mall and visit different “Corners”, with interactive formulation, composed by case studies/ guides, quizzes, videos and podcasts. One of the “Corners” of the Online 3D Mall is the Coffee Corner, a social module forum which encourages interaction among young adults. Finally, in this Project Result the FINER Mapping was developed, offering 58 organisations across Europe active in provision of support to matters related to well-being. Apart from the Project Results, the consortium of the FINER project developed some tangible and intangible results. Tangible results: - Logo & visual identity of the project which contributes to the dissemination strategy and visual identification of the project. - Dissemination materials, leaflet of the project, as well as FB cover photos. - Project website, where all project results and project-related information are presented in accordance with the visual identity of the project. - Social Media accounts: the main channel of dissemination were the Facebook and Instagram page of the project. - Newsletters and Brochures: 4 Newsletters and 3 Brochures were designed through the implementation period of the project for creating the linking bond between the project’s elaboration and the main target groups. - Podcasts: In an effort to affect more and more young adults on European and international level, we decided to disseminate the project through a series of podcasts, as one of the most familiar channels among young adults. - Press releases disseminated to the local press (printed or online): regarding major events of the project implements, meetings, achievements accomplished, calls for participants, to both inform and become visible for their project to the peripheral area. - Plans of the project: The partnership of FINER project developed the tasks distribution plan, quality assurance and evaluation plan, impact plan, dissemination and exploitation plan and risk management plan. Intangible results: - Raised awareness and provision of structured tools on the topic of well-being enhancement and self-boosting beyond the main target groups of the project like to educators, psychologists, social workers, and VET institutes working with young adults. - At local but also European level, a Net of collaboration among associated partners were reached out with a special focus on improving personal well-being and exploring possible ways to redirect and reorganize the life goals that young adults have set.