"<< Objectives >>Almost half (43%) of the EU population had an insufficient level of digital skills, as demonstrated by the EU-wide Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) indicator on ""digital skills"", based on 2017 Eurostat data. About 10 % of the EU labour force has no digital skills, while one third of them does not have at least basic digital skills, which are now required in most jobs. This share is much higher in Labour force of the Member States like Romania (26%) and Bulgaria (25%). Advanced digital skills are becoming a prerequisite for entry into many jobs and have a wide range of applications, even beyond domains where they are needed for core tasks. Across competence dimensions, the largest skills deficit, both among the active labour force and the population at large, relates to the use of software for content manipulation. Almost one in three internet users in the EU has no skills in this area (i.e. they claimed not to have carried out any of the activities considered under this dimension, which range from relatively basic text treatment and spreadsheet-based work to video editing and coding). This share is particularly large in Bulgaria and Romania (about 51 % of internet users) as well as Latvia (40%). Digital skills are critically important not only for accessing the labour market but also for harnessing the benefits of the digital transformation that is currently underway. Making sure the EU labour force has the necessary digital skills, including by addressing digital skills deficits in certain groups, such as youth and those who work with them, will thus be essential to bring about an inclusive digital economy and society. The fast changing digital environment requires a proper response from our educational systems if we are to educate the European citizens of the future. ‘SMART’ youth work recognizes that digital media & technologies open great potential for youth empowerment, enriching opportunities for enhancing their personal capabilities & competences & providing opportunities for connectivity & interaction with others. According to EU commission, it is imperative to facilitate knowledge exchange on digital youth work and young people’s digital cultures on international level. Initiatives should be supported at local, national and European level to share knowledge and practice. Cross-sectoral knowledge exchange should be encouraged to promote innovative thinking. The main idea of this project was to introduce a specifically designed NFE (Non formal Educational) training that combines digital tools such as web platforms, computer software and mobile application in order to enrich the digital competences of youth workers. More specifically, the youth workers involved in the main activity have been equipped to obtain, process and create digital content through graphic design, web and application software development. This enabled them, not only to modernize their teaching through the use of digital learning resources, but even more so to share this practical knowledge with the young people they are working with. The project has provided beneftits to all three dimensions for impacting successful digital youth work, according to the European Union Work Plan for Youth for 2016-2018: digitalisation of society, organisational digital development and youth work competences. The specific objectives of the project, in line with Erasmus+ programme objectives, were:- To boost both youth workers’ soft skills and ICT skills by engaging them in digital activities through the use of digital content and digital tools in the digital environment.- To support youth workers motivation and capacity to use digital tools and technologies to create knowledge and to innovate processes in creation and implementation of smart youth work.- To support the inclusion of youth workers and young people into the labour market by providing them with advanced digital skills and competences that will significantly boost their employability.- To promote the understanding and the application of certain EU youth policies related to the domain of this project such as ‘The Digital Competence Framework’ and ‘European Framework for the Digital Competence of Educators’.- To strengthen the international cooperation of the consortium for the modernization of youth through the development new initiatives that develop the digital skills of young people.<< Implementation >>The digital skills requirements on the labour market have been rapidly increasing. The partners have previous experience, or a strong desire to engage with developing and/or implementing NFE activities on developing such competences in youngsters through their every day activities. However, all of them lacked resources that would have enable them to do so. Consequently, we have used our knowledge, skills, resources and previous experiences as the foundation for the development of this training in order to accomplish the desired outcomes of the project. That is to equip youth workers from EU programme countries with much needed digital skills that they can pass on to the youth they work with. For example, some of the workshops aimed and answered to the following needs: A2 - To introduce pax to DigComp Framework and other relevant EU frameworks relevant to youth work. To introduce pax to visual facilitation and to provide informations about E+ Key Action 1 A3 - Participants learned how to set up a digital environment for storing and sharing project ideas and documents, and to track work progress which will benefit their every day work in NGO greatly. They learned about online storage tool (googledrive.com) & G-suite for education). About online team based project management tool (asana). To be able to share and store ideas and important documents online. To be able to participate in project execution through digital environment. To gain insight in project management tools and methods. All of which is described as a necessity according to DigComp framework. A4 - Participants learn about visual identity and visual communications and how to apply that knowledge for the purpose of promotion of their organizations and projects, as well as for facilitating youth work. To learn about visual identity. To present their visual identities and share informations. about their organizations with each other’s - to network. To learn about visual communications and its importance for NGO sector. To learn about visual facilitation and its benefits in implementing youth work. A6 - To understand the importance of developing digital skills in young people & to be able to support others with their digital competence development. To create and edit digital content in different formats, to express oneself through digital means. To learn how to use basic Photoshop tools to create logo, business card, digital badge, flyer, cover photo, newsletter template. To use digital tools and technologies to create knowledge and to innovate processes and products. To learn how to design visual identity elements and to know how to share this knowledge with others. Which are very important skills nowadays, especially when it comes to NGOs. A7- Participans learned about basic contents on the website. To differentiate important from non important informations. To learn how to acquire and process digital informations. Which aims at promoting digital literacy. A9 - Participants learned how to create a website via Wordpress (WordPress is an online, open source website creation tool) and then are mentored and supported to make a website themselves.To learn about free website creation app that’s easily comprehendible. To be able to create digital content To learn how to build a basic website and to be able to share that knowledge with others. A10 - To show how modern tools such as application software can be used for teaching. To provide examples and informations on educational software applications. To upskill and digitize youth work. A11 - Participants learned about MIT App inventor (free open source software that allows anyone to create Application software (apps). Participants to understand the importance of apps nowadays. Participants to learn how to build basic apps and to express oneself through digital means. To share data, information and digital content with others through appropriate digital technologies. To act as an intermediary, to know about referencing and attribution practices. To use digital tools and technologies for co-construction and co-creation of resources and knowledge.A12 - Participants learned how to build apps. Participants to build educational apps. A14 - The purpose of this exercise seeked to engage learners in the game full process of reflection and assessment of learning progress. It seeks to support learners through their Youthpass process and also gather digital evidence of learning, which can be easily managed online and shared across online platforms. The objectives are to invite people to complete missions, track personal progress and claim recognition for the competence improved. For the recognition of their achievement, we used Open Badges as digital evidence. A15 - To award participants with the Youthpass certificate (Youthpass ceremony). To evaluate the training course, to understand the projects' successes and weak points, to measure the first results.The planning for the activities and the introduction of the participants with fewer opportunities was executed in accordance to Erasmus+ Inclusion and Diversity Strategy as well as concurring to Sustainable development goals. The training has gathered a variety of participants, in terms of their backgrounds, interest and expertise. This diversity was the foundation for learning inside the group’s dynamics (informal education). At the same time, the objectives of the project focus on developing specific competences which was a common interest of the participants in the activity (non-formal education).We have asked our partners to give an advantage to youth workers facing some sort of difficulties or obstacles. Furthermore, the consortium discussed the possible number and profile of participants with fewer opportunities and way to approach their involvement in the project, which involved participants facing the following obstacles: cultural differences, economic, social and geographical obstacles. The consortium involved these participants within the activities regularly whereas making beyond any doubt they felt included and accepted into the group for the duration of the training. For the participants facing cultural differences we made sure we included them the same way as every other participant and we provided individual support and mentorship when it was necessary. The trainers on this project were experienced professionals more than capable to provide specific support and set a positive role model for the participants. For the participants with economic obstacles, partners and applicant offered to buy the plane tickets directly through the organisation so that those persons can afford the travel to the TC activity. In addition, when it comes to their participation in the digital activities that require the use of electronic devices we made sure that the ratio between group size and number of needed devices for the certain activity was always 1:4. In that way, participants with economic obstacles that maybe lack the electronic devices were able to regularly participate in the group activities. In individual activities where the use of electronic devices was necessary, we provided laptops from coordinating organization. For persons with geographical obstacles partners and coordinator helped plan the entire trip to make it as optimal as possible for the participant. All the domestic travel was, of course, covered within the travel budget.<< Results >>Participants acquired a new insight and new input on innovative methods of NFE. Specifically, youth workers managed to develop competencies, skills and knowledge emphasizing on the soft skills and digital skills development, that they would implement in their work with young people. They had acquired useful digital resources (digital learning nuggets, case study blogs, links, educational application softwares), information and know-how on digital tools and software, for teaching, as well as for their every day work in general (projects and volunteers management). In parallel, through specific activities they have broaden both their contacts and network. Youth workers were also introduced to new methods, by using digital tools, for implementing NFE activities such as: name games, getting to know, group building and icebreakers, reflection, self-assesment and evaluation activities. Furthermore, during the training, participants came up with entirely new projects, workshop ideas, teaching resources (A13: Let’s apply our knowledge!), whilst they had the chance to get a thorough feedback, a procedure which will enable them to detect both their advantages and weaknesses, thus being fully-trained and sufficiently prepared to implement similar initiatives in the future. Additionally, participants were introduced and familiarized with DigComp Framework and with methods on how to develop those competences in their target group. The training course provided them with a different perspective to youth work, one that involves teaching through digital activities, inside the digital environment, with digital resources. Expected impact on the indirect target group (young people) after the implementation of the practical workshops by youth workers at their local environments:- They learned new perspectives and new aspects in the field of ICT that will offer the basis for further deepening of knowledge and conquest of new / different competencies needed to be competitive in the labor market and in the business sector - The training activity supported participants with advanced digital skills, knowledge and competences that will enable them to improve both theirs's and their target group’s chances of success on the job market (graphic and web design and application software).Expected impact on participating organizations:- Partners involved have strengthened their European partnerships which will set the way for new projects and ideas developed through Erasmus+ funding, as well as other sources- Broader insight into the ‘working methods’ of the partner organizations that partners can learn from and apply in their own work where applicable- Have learned about good and established practices in EU, networking and strengthening of partnerships for future projects in the youth sector - Acquainted with a new, innovative training plan in the domain of digital youth work for working with young people and youth workers.- Ways to invlove vulnerable youth workers from partner organizations in the ICT sector.- Improved skills in project management, volunteer management, cultural knowledge and improved language skills (by working with project partners), practices and approaches in the NGO sector.- All partners had built their experience, understanding and confidence to use Open Educational Resources (MIT app developer 2, WordPress software).- Useful and concrete information and knowledge, obtained with experiences from the various countries, practices and culture.- Organizations involved familiarized with the DigComp framework and with ways on how to implement it in their educational activities.Expected impact for the other relevant stakeholders: Other stakeholders of the project are representatives of public or private bodies dealing with ICT and education such as ICT sector, Educational Institutions, Regional Municipalities, etc. Stakeholders were indirectly involved by receiving all the findings and activities of the project. Specifically, each partner was responsible to present the findings of the project with the intention establish at least one connection with one of the aforementioned stakeholders. For instance, the partner and the stakeholder have created mutually beneficial program in which the partners of this project provide placements or job opportunities for young people through the aforementioned stakeholders. They acquired useful digital resources (digital learning nuggets, case study blogs, links, educational application software), information and know-how on digital tools and software, for teaching, as well as for their every day work in general. As an added value, participants, partners and stakeholders were introduced to implementation of SDGs in everyday youth working activities that they were able to share with their target group, their organizations (staff, volunteers, users) and, through dissemination, with all the other relevant stakeholders."

<< Objectives >>“BYSN - Boost Your Skills to help the NEETs” is designed to tackle the issue of young unemployment in the local areas of the partner organizations. The project will give the participant YW proper skills and competences to create specific activities for youngsters who are without a job, in order to help them enter in the job market and be more successful in finding a new job.The objectives of the project are:-to equip YW with skills and abilities to create activities that can support NEETs in finding a job-to provide YW with activities that they can use to empower NEETs of their local areas-to promote entrepreneurship mindset in YW and, indirectly, in the NEETs-to increase the inclusion of local NEETs of the communities of the partner organizationsAfter the project, the YW will be able to set up activities in their countries that will involve young unemployees. Those events and activities will be useful to share what the YW have learnt during the project, offering the young unemployed the possibility to acquire knowledge that will be useful in their job search.<< Implementation >>“BYSN - Boost Your Skills to help the NEETs” will involve a total of 41 participants coming from the countries of the partner organization: Greece, Albania, Spain, Bulgaria, France, The Republic of North Macedonia, Turkey, Italy, Montenegro, Romania, Ukraine, Portugal, Cyprus. Participants are Youth Workers (24- 32 years old) who are daily cooperating with the partner organizations of the project and with Culti Multi. They have previous experiences in preparing activities for unemployed youngsters and they are interested in learning skills and competencies to promote new kinds of activities for this target group in order to facilitate their access to the job market.Participants have a good level of English and an open mindset. To balance the gender, an equal number of males and females will be chosen among the whole group of participants.The activities of the project are based on non-formal education, and they can be resumed in: team building games, trust sections, energizers and name games, workshops of entrepreneurship, debates, group discussions, learning by doing sessions and role play games. All the activities are related with the main topic of the project, and they are built to facilitate the learning of every person in the group.<< Results >>The results of the project are:-increased skills and competencies of the Youth Workers (YW) in the field of entrepreneurial methods-increased initiative of the YW-improved personal motivation and attitude of the YW-developed of an empowered mindset able to take choices and risks in the YW-increased capacity of the YW to create activities to share fundamental entrepreneurship knowledges to the young unemployees of their local communities-creation of a manual on how to proper learn entrepreneurship skills and enter in the job market-increased efficiency of the partner organization, which will have a more trained staff after the project.The project will have a positive impact on:-participants of the project, who will be able to increase their skills and knowledges in the entrepreneurship sector, and they will be able to share the acquired knowledge in their local community-partner organizations and Culti Multi, which will benefit from a better trained staff once the YW will be back in their countries, and which will also have the opportunities to create a strong network of associations that could cooperate on other projects in the future.-local communities of unemployed youngsters in the partner organizations countries. Those youngsters will be able to learn what the YW have learnt during the project thanks to some specific activities that the YW will do once back home. This will boost the possibility for those young unemployees to find a job.

"The aim of the project ""Let's talk about gender"" was to increase awareness among youth workers and youth workers about gender issues, resulting in inequality and discrimination against girls and women, boys and men, which takes place in their private, family, professional and social spheres. This goal was achieved so that these trainers and trainers could work in a more conscious and targeted way with their clients in the area of gender and as persons significant for youth could influence the shaping of their thinking about stereotypes and gender roles. The project involved 26 participants from the following countries: Poland, Lithuania, Portugal, Macedonia, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland. The main activity of the project was the training of youth workers, which took place from 11 to 16 May 2019 in Zakopane (plus two travel days 10 May - day of arrival and 17 May - day of departure). This project, through several stages of activities, prepared our beneficiaries and our beneficiaries to work with young people on gender issues, equipping them with tools and methods to work with these topics, where the main method used by participants and participants was the method of Forum Theatre. It was its elements that were practised during the training. Specific objectives, such as: overcoming existing habits and stereotypes concerning female and male social roles; shaping critical thinking and responding to images and texts presenting stereotypical social roles contained in cultural and media messages; drawing attention to the stereotypes proposed in education systems, in everyday family life, at work - were achieved, mainly thanks to presentations prepared by participants and participants from different organizations and countries. These presentations, as well as the lecture on ""What, is gender"" helped to agree on the concept.Consequently, further specific objectives were also achieved (increasing critical use of media and other cultural sources, increasing knowledge, awareness and sensitivity to diversity, equal treatment and the risk of discrimination), because during the discussion, which was the result of these presentations, there were conclusions about the attention to be paid to the language we communicate with others. Participants and participants pointed out that the language may include discrimination and unequal treatment of others. This resulted in further actions: specific objectives (promoting gender equality by paying attention to elements of the language of communication, creating a new language of dialogue between the sexes based on mutual recognition and respect and raising awareness of the need for gender egalitarianism) were pursued during the creation of Forum Theatre scenes, translating the conclusions of the discussion and drawing attention to language. The result of this work were scenes and sessions of Forum Theatre, which participants and participants could watch, comment on and above all practice the method. The result of the project was that on the basis of their own experience, participants and participants created their own workshops for young people, using elements of the TF method. Thus, they increased their professional competences and consolidated the knowledge gained by their own learning. In addition, participants and participants conducted workshops in their organizations using the TF method to disseminate it in their environment and to allow more people to use it. A brochure with scenarios of Forum Theatre performances with expert commentary was created, as well as case studies on the perception of gender in one's own country and in one's own environment and gender equality issues at school, at work, in the family (https://www.salto-youth.net/tools/toolbox/tool/let-s-talk-how-we-talk-about-gender.2626/). A long-term benefit that has been achieved is the dissemination of the Forum Theatre method as a tool for discussing important social issues."

<< Objectives >>With this project, we achieved the development of social, emotional, cognitive, and physical competencies of young people, with a focus on intercultural awareness and gender equality, by using the method of dance. Main aim of this project was development of social, emotional, cognitive and physical competences of young people, with focus on intercultural awareness and gender equality, by using the method of dance.This project was designed by a group of young people with a vision of dealing with issues of gender equality and human rights, especially when it comes to refugees and immigrants, by using the dance method.In nowadays world the young people concluded that they are dealing with a lot of challenges in terms of gender equality. This project was a new way for young people to learn about different cultures, people who are different from them, hear their stories first hand, share experiences and make friends with them through dance. Also, the emphasis of the project was to understand the other gender, to try to see from his or her perspective and make peace among themselves. Nowadays, there is a problem of unequal rights of men and women. It is present most of the time in human history in all peoples and cultures.The main issues and needs that arose in this project dealt with gender (in)equality, (in)equality of ethnic groups, as well as the need to develop a more tolerant and peaceful society, to accept one's own values ​​and respect others. In accordance with the goals of the Erasmus+ program in the field of youth, this project aimed to increase the self-empowerment and self-esteem of the participants, improve their foreign language skills,improve their intercultural awareness and motivate them for active participation in society.<< Implementation >>The main activity of this project was a youth exchange implemented in Samobor, Croatia. It included 24 participants from 4 countries: Croatia, Romania, Poland and Bulgaria. This project included the following groups of participants from 18 to 30 years old : CROATIA - the participants were young people who are involved in the local activities of the host organization and are mostly young people with economic and geographical barriers (youth from low-income families and youth from rural areas around Samobor, which lack facilities and facilities for young people). The participants were also from other parts of Croatia that were particularly motivated to tackle the gender equality issues and contribute to overall project result. They were young people with economic and social obstacles. ROMANIA- young people who were normally a regular target group of the sending organization, volunteers who actively participate in the design and implementation of projects. They came from unfavorable position when it comes to their economic position (young people who are unemployed and young people who are NEET) as well as social skills (young people with problems in socialization with peers) BULGARIA - young people who mostly just recently joined Erasmus+ and who expressed interest in the development of the project based on themes of gender equality combined with dance. The participants were mostly young people with fewer opportunities - youth who came from rural areas as well as youth with cultural differences. POLAND - young people from the region of the sending organization, who expressed great motivation in the design of this project based on the involvement in the previous cooperation of partner organizations. They are young people who came from rural and peripheral areas and thus were not in the same situation of participating in content that interests them as their peers and they used all the possibilities of this exchange. At the beginning of the project itself, it was planned that participants from Slovakia would participate. Namely, because of the entire crisis with the war in Ukraine and political developments (and Slovakia bordering the Ukraine), the young people were afraid to travel. The partner organization had a problem finding new participants, even those who were on the reserve list canceled their participation. After consultations with the National Agency and the request from the Slovak participants, the partners had to reach an agreement that the Slovak national group will not participate in the project.<< Results >>This project had an impact on the participants through achieving their learning goals they set before coming to the project as: understanding of the impact of human behavior on its surrounding and knowledge about efficient methods how to positively use that power in order to create a more peaceful and tolerant society. Participating in this project, the participants developed the following knowledge, skills and behaviors: - increased social, emotional, cognitive and physical skills - increased their knowledge about issues of gender equality and nationality - increased their responsibility towards raising awareness in their own society and practical skills in designing and implementing local activities aimed at promoting human rights and a positive climate between genders and cultures through the medium of dance; - increased intercultural skills, tolerance, respect and sense of common European identity; - increased language competence;- participants increased better communications skills- increased knowledge about the Erasmus + program and the opportunities it offers to young people. The most important result of the project was a dance choreography that promotes gender equality and strives to increase gender awareness. The choreography is based on Cuban and international dances and integrates elements of learning outcomes achieved by the participants (through a set of dedicated workshops), such as:- increased awareness of the importance of maintaining a healthy body through physical activity for better brain function, concentration and mental health;- increased critical thinking;– increased creativity and expression;- increased interest and respect for new / different cultures - increased will power and visionary aspect - increased communication and presentation skills, leadership and teamwork.At the end of the program, the participants performed the final choreography for the purposes of recording the video, that was used for the dissemination of project results.This project result shows joint progress, teamwork, and critical thinking of the participants. It also serves as an example of good practice in tackling the topic of gender equality among youth.

<< Objectives >>The digital era brings along a complex set of different challenges and opportunities. In the increasingly more digital world the abuse of technology and lack of proper rest from it has become a problem of the modern lifestyle. Not only does it affect mental health and contribute to the cause of headache, eyestrain, social distancing, shorter attention span, disconnection, etc. but also hinder the effective use of technology or digital tools and lower productivity of the user. Smart, informed and well-targeted actions are important to develop relevant competences and safe tools to prevent and manage the risks of the digital era.Therefore the aim of the project is to inform and teach techniques and practises to help youth workers and leaders become more aware of the need to calm their minds, ways to do it, remind the importance of physical connection, and the result a healthy use of technology has on productivity and well-being for themselves and the young people they work with. More specifically, the project objectives are:- Identify and acknowledge risks of the digital era and effects on the mind;- Teach youth workers with innovative and quality non-formal education methods and tools that help quieten the mind, increase productivity and well-being; and therefore:- increase opportunities for career development through a healthier and more professional digital lifestyle;- Increase quality and productivity of (youth) work in the activities where technological advancements are used;- increase well-being and satisfaction in daily life and (youth) work;- Develop a close community of youth workers to share personal and professional practices and experiences;- Spread awareness through collaboration with external organisation of the digital era’s risks and healthy practices to mitigate them;<< Implementation >>27 youth workers, aged 18 and over, from 8 different countries (Germany, Bulgaria, Greece, Latvia, Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Macedonia) will be selected to participate in the project. The ideal candidate is active in the field of youth, works with digital technology and/or in a fast paced, loud environment and is interested in innovative education, learning to learn, is committed and active in sharing its experience with others. People with fewer opportunities will be given priority.Throughout the period of the project the participants will be taught, as the title suggests, how to have a calm mind in a busy world for higher productivity and well-being. The fundamental idea carried throughout the project is innerwork. Help yourself in order to be able to help another. The core qualities are awareness and self-knowledge. The main outcomes, in our framework of work, are effectiveness, productivity, and well-being. The methods used are mind-fulness, mind-clearance, mind-body connection, connection with nature and another person. The physical activities will last 9 days and the learning methods, activities, rest, reflection, and dissemination will be structured accordingly. There will be an online workshops to prepare the participants beforehand and another to follow up after. The venue, where the physical activities will take place, is located in a serene area surrounded by forests and is ideal for the planned practices.<< Results >>During the training course the participants will benefit by becoming more aware of the hidden risks of the digital era and learn the techniques and practices to help mitigate them and become more productive and increase the sense of well-being in their daily (youth) work by reducing stress, anxiety, distraction, prolonging attention and aiding mental health. Successfully learnt techniques and continued practice of them should also benefit outside the work environment of digital technology and in load or fast paced settings, as an example.As a result, the quality of work delivered to (young) people by the participants of the project will be increased. And ultimately, the atmosphere, quality and total accumulative effect of the organisational impact in the field of youth work, including people with fewer opportunities, will also see a positive change.Project specific results are:- Organisation of two online meetings to prepare the participants for the activities and later follow up on continuation of thought practices;- Creation and management of an online project group on social channel;- Successful mastery of several tools to work with oneself and young people.- Development of a digital booklet to showcase and describe in detail the digital era risks, practices to mitigate them and increase productivity & well-being;- Development of a video guide to supplement the digital booklet;- Creation of promotional content for advertisement (articles, videos, photos) with the Erasmus+ logo- Addition of new tools in the youth workers’ Toolbox for Training;- Generation of individual reports on the effect the techniques have on the participants’ daily (youth) work;