More than Reliable Online Education

The decision to apply for the MORE project under Erasmus+ KA2 was driven by the pressing challenges faced by youth centers and workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. With activities halted and collaboration limited, youth organizations urgently needed innovative solutions to continue their essential work. The project was conceived as a response to these needs, aiming to equip youth workers with tools and resources to effectively engage with young people and communities, even amidst global disruptions.The call for new approaches was echoed by youth center directors, highlighting a readiness to embrace any initiative directly benefiting their operations. The project's collaborative nature, involving four NGOs across Europe – Association Active Youth (Lithuania), Europejskie Centrum Mlodziezy (Poland), Predict CSD Consulting (Romania), and Brodoto (Croatia) – exemplifies a commitment to transcending geographical barriers for the greater good of youth empowerment. By focusing on the development of key competencies and providing educational resources, MORE aims to ensure that youth workers are not just surviving these challenging times but thriving in their roles, thereby securing a resilient and educated future for the youth they serve

-Develop an educational program for YWs: This program is designed to equip YWs with relevant competencies and skills that align with the changing status quo, including education, training, and digital skills. The idea is to prepare them for the evolving landscape of youth work. -Innovate practical learning methods: We aimed to develop a more professional and innovative approach to practical learning, tightly linked to active participation in youth work. This involves creating methods that are engaging, practical, and applicable in real-world scenarios. -Promote global access to free education: to foster a mindset that emphasizes the importance of global access to free education. This includes highlighting opportunities and ways for YWs and youth to develop further. -Establish a Global Online Network among Youth Workers: The creation of a global online network for YWs is essential. This network facilitates learning from each other, sharing experiences, and collaborating on a global scale. Achieving objectives is expected to significantly improve the field of youth work. It's not just about responding to future lockdowns or emergencies, but also about providing YWs with skills and support that are relevant in on/offfline contexts.

In the MORE project, we implemented a comprehensive set of activities, each meticulously designed to enhance the skills of youth workers and the operational efficacy of youth centers in both online and offline environments. The activities included: Research on Needs/Wants of Youth Workers and Centers: This initial step involved identifying the specific needs and wants of youth workers and centers to enhance their hard and soft skills. Training Course in Croatia: A course was conducted in Croatia to train staff in the preparation of online courses, equipping them with the necessary skills for digital education. Pilot Online Course: We launched a pilot online course to lay the groundwork for the finalization of a comprehensive online curriculum titled “Video Production From A to Z”. Set of 9 Online Courses (plus Pilot Course)- 'MORE Specialized Education': These courses were designed to boost the organizational and individual skills of youth workers, particularly in engaging with youth effectively. Training Course in Romania: This course focused on drafting a program for practical seminars that were later conducted in each partner country. Recorded webinar series “MORE from Youth Workers”: where the expertise and good practice were shared in the partner countries. Practical Seminars for Experienced Youth Workers: These seminars provided a platform for experienced youth workers to share their expertise and best practices. 'MORE Knowledge to Practice' Handbook: This handbook was created to help youth workers adapt learning methods and tools in their daily practices. Recorded Webinar Series 'MORE from Youth Workers': A series of webinars was recorded, featuring insights and experiences from youth workers. Publication of 3 Online Magazines 'MORE Insights': These magazines included informative articles, success stories from the target group, and recommendations for learning opportunities. Multiplier Events: The project hosted 2 face-to-face and 2 online multiplier events in Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Croatia to promote project results, Erasmus+, and to facilitate networking among youth workers and other stakeholders. Mentorship Program 'MORE Guidance': This program connected youth workers with professionals in specific fields for individual guidance. Development of 'MORE Diverse' Online Platform: An online platform was developed to host all the educational resources mentioned above. The aim was to create a sustainable and impactful learning environment that not only addresses current needs but also anticipates future challenges in youth work.

Extensive Research on Youth Workers' Needs: Conducted detailed research to identify specific needs and preferences of youth workers and centres. This was pivotal in tailoring the subsequent training and resources to enhance both hard and soft skills relevant for working in varied environments. Training Course in Croatia: Implemented a key training course in Croatia, attended by 6 project team members. This course was essential for equipping staff with the skills needed to develop and prepare online educational materials effectively. Training Course in Romania for Seminar Drafting: This training course, with 10 participants, focused on drafting a program for practical seminars. It was a foundational step towards creating a comprehensive handbook. Pilot Online Course on Video Production: Successfully launched on UDEMY, this course garnered considerable attention, enrolling 2,421 students by January 1st, 2024, and achieving a high satisfaction rating of 4.23 out of 5 stars. Comprehensive Set of 9 UDEMY Courses: Surpassing the initial goal of 8, a total of 9 courses were created on various topics, ranging from graphic design to project writing. Each course was well-received, with ratings between 4 and 5 stars, indicating the high quality and relevance of the content totalled in 12,878 enrolled students by January 1st, 2024. Multiplier Events Across Partner Countries: Conducted both face-to-face and online multiplier events in Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Croatia. These events served not only to disseminate the project's findings and resources but also to provide a vital networking platform for youth workers and stakeholders. The multipliers were attended by 516 participants in total. 'MORE Guidance' Mentorship Program: This innovative program successfully connected 20 professionals from diverse fields with youth workers, offering mentorship sessions across partner countries. It stands as an ongoing opportunity for youth workers seeking individualized guidance. Development of the 'MORE Diverse' Online Platform: This platform acts as a central hub for all the project's resources, facilitating easy access and interaction among users, and ensuring the longevity and continuous engagement with the project's outputs. 'MORE from Youth Workers' Webinar Series: A series of 4 informative webinars were held across the participating countries. These webinars provided a platform for experts to share their knowledge, discuss best practices, and engage in Q&A sessions, drawing in numerous participants. The webinars attracted 153 participants in total. Practical Seminars for Experienced Youth Workers: Four two-day seminars were conducted in the project countries. These seminars combined theoretical knowledge with practical examples and hands-on exercises, creating a rich learning environment. The total attendance at these seminars provides a measure of the project's direct impact on the field. The seminars attracted 114 participants in total. 'MORE Knowledge to Practice' Handbook: This 125-page handbook has been a significant resource, aiding youth workers in adapting to and learning new techniques and online tools. Its download count is a testament to its utility and popularity. The handbook was downloaded by 136 people in total.