The project 'C4C: Communication for cooperation – Next Chapter' was developed with an aim to empower youth workers through a set of key communication skills in order to facilitate and spread tolerance in the European youth sector. The project consisted of three stages: preparatory arrangements, training course and follow up activities. The main activity was the training course tackling the development communication skills, which took place in Slovenia in Ajdovščina. The main activity took place in Ajdovščina, Slovenia, where 22 people (18 participants + support team) gathered to experience an intense 6-day training course. Topics covered were: nonviolent communication, transaction analysis, giving feedback, mediation, public speaking, assertive communication, ICT tools for communication and the role of communication skills in the context of youth work. The participants were all active youth workers, facilitators and educators from the partner countries Slovenia, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Latvia, Finland, Romania, Cyprus and the Netherlands. The main objective of this project was to equip participants of the TC to become ambassadors of tolerant dialogue and to raise awareness on the importance of communication skills and tolerance in the light of the changing European society. Specific goals of this project were: G1. To gain the knowledge about different forms, strategies, norms and mistakes of communication. G2. To gain practical skills of communication to be used in working with diversity and inclusion G3. To experience the barriers of cooperation and learn the strategies to cope with them in daily life G4. To gain skills of specific communication methods, such as feedback, mediation, nonviolent communication, mediation, transactional analysis and public speaking G5. To acquire skills of ICT tools for communication and trigger discussion on media literacy and critical thinking G6. To plan and implement at least one follow up session about communication for cooperation in each partner country G7. To produce various forms of dissemination material The main project activity enabled participants to learn about new aspects in terms of communication that changed their perspective on human communication and gave them a fresh view on the topic. They have strengthened their skills, know-how and competence in terms of communication and improved their employability chances in the labor market.The participants were genuinely interested in the project topics and have prepared detailed plans on how to transfer this know-how to their local environments, present it to young people in their home countries. This phase was rather successful which led to the project contributing to the spreading the skills of tolerant communication into 9 different countries. We are pleased that the project topic attracted people, eager to learn and improve and we hope to have given them useful tools which will help them deal with communication challenges, conflicts and support them in creating a European culture of peace, tolerance and mutual understanding.

<< Objectives >>Dieses Projekt hatte zum Ziel, das Verständnis junger Menschen für die Konzepte, Prozesse und Risikofaktoren von Radikalisierung und gewalttätigem Extremismus in Europa zu erweitern. Die Idee war, das Wissen der Teilnehmenden über die Grundursachen dieser Probleme zu vertiefen, insbesondere bei jungen Menschen. Darüber hinaus sollte das Projekt die Teilnehmenden befähigen, Radikalisierung und gewalttätigem Extremismus in ihren eigenen Gemeinschaften entgegenzuwirken. Im ersten Teil des Projekts wollten wir uns insbesondere mit den Identitätsproblemen und der sozialen Ausgrenzung junger Menschen befassen, die sie anfällig für die Botschaften des Extremismus machen. Wir hielten es für wichtig, die Zusammenhänge zwischen Identität, Stereotypen und Diskriminierung zu diskutieren. Wir sollten die Teilnehmenden darauf vorbereiten, ihre eigenen Untersuchungen zur Radikalisierung auf lokaler Ebene durchzuführen. Im zweiten Teil sollten sie dann die Möglichkeit haben, die Ergebnisse ihrer Recherchen auszutauschen, zu vergleichen und zu analysieren. Außerdem sollten die Teilnehmenden konkrete Erasmus+ Projekte entwickeln, die auf die Bekämpfung von Radikalisierung und gewalttätigem Extremismus abzielen. Von den Teilnehmenden wurde auch erwartet, dass sie über ihr Lernen reflektieren und ihre verschiedenen Kompetenzen während der beiden Projekte weiterentwickeln, unter anderem Fähigkeiten zum kritischen Denken und zur Projektplanung. Im weiteren Sinne sollten die Jugendbegegnungen die Vielfalt, den interkulturellen Dialog, die Achtung der Menschenrechte sowie die Werte Freiheit und Toleranz fördern. Ein weiteres Ziel war die Stärkung der Zusammenarbeit auf europäischer Ebene.<< Implementation >>In beiden Teilen der Jugendbegegnung näherten wir uns den Themen Radikalisierung und Extremismus durch verschiedene nicht-formale Bildungsaktivitäten. Unsere Arbeitsmethoden umfassten Diskussionen, Gruppenarbeit, Präsentationen, Fallstudien, Selbstreflexion, Rollenspiele, Simulationsspiele und Projektplanungs-Workshops. Es war wichtig, die Teilnehmenden nicht nur in die Themen einzuführen, sondern sie auch zum Nachdenken und zur Diskussion darüber anzuregen. Die Teilnehmenden konnten gemeinsam arbeiten und über ihr Lernen nachdenken. Wir bereiteten auch kulturelle Abende vor, organisierten Ausflüge und führten zahlreiche teambildende Aktivitäten und Energizer durch.Die Teilnehmenden sollten ein Interesse an Radikalisierung und gewalttätigem Extremismus sowie den Wunsch mitbringen, mehr über diese Themen zu erfahren. Außerdem sollten sie tolerant und aufgeschlossen sein und in der Lage, sich auf Englisch zu verständigen. Wir begrüßten Teilnehmende mit unterschiedlichem Hintergrund, auch solche, die mit verschiedenen Hindernissen konfrontiert sind. Die Teilnehmenden mussten, bis auf einige Außnahmen zwischen 16 und 25 Jahre alt sein, die Gruppenleiter mindestens 18. Aus jedem Land nahmen wir 1 Gruppenleiter und 4 Teilnehmende auf.<< Results >>Diese zweistufige Jugendbegegnung sensibilisierte junge Menschen für die Herausforderungen von Radikalisierung und Extremismus. Die Teilnehmenden vertieften tatsächlich ihr Verständnis für die Prozesse, Ursachen und Risikofaktoren dieser Phänomene durch verschiedene nicht-formale Bildungsaktivitäten. Im ersten Teil näherten sich die Teilnehmenden den Themen aus der Perspektive von Identitätsfragen und sozialer Ausgrenzung. Im zweiten Teil bekamen sie mehr Instrumente an die Hand, um junge Menschen zu identifizieren, bei denen das Risiko einer gewalttätigen Radikalisierung besteht. Die Teilnehmenden sind nun besser in der Lage, gewalttätigem Extremismus in ihren Gemeinschaften zu begegnen. Die Teilnehmenden entwickelten auch ihre Kompetenzen, darunter Zusammenarbeit, kritisches Denken und Projektplanung. Bei der zweiten Jugendbegegnung hatten sie die Möglichkeit, Erasmus+ Projekte zu entwerfen, die später umgesetzt werden sollen. Darüber hinaus hatten die Teilnehmenden die Möglichkeit, in einem internationalen Umfeld Erfahrungen zu sammeln und Perspektiven auszutauschen. Das Projekt stärkte somit die europäische Zusammenarbeit und förderte Toleranz und interkulturellen Dialog zwischen jungen Menschen aus verschiedenen Ländern.

<< Objectives >>By the implementation of the project we wanted to strengthen the capacities of youth organisations and youth workers from eight counties (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Georgia, Germany, Poland, Spain, Ukraine) working with youth with disadvantages with the specific focus on youth with migrant background in the field of conflict transformation and peace-building.The objectives of the project were:- To develop awareness and competences of 28 participants in peace education, conflict transformation, intercultural learning and dialogue, including a critical understanding of personal and collective identities and their role in conflicts;-To identify effective methods that help to prevent and/or transform conflict through fostering non-violence;- to explore the principles of the culture of peace and non-violence as the approaches to conflict resolution;- to explore the nature, value, and types of conflicts and find out how culture and personal values influence conflict situations;-To gain tools for conflict transformation and peace-building;-To exchange best practices in relation to youth work and conflict, inter-religious and cultural dialogue;-To help participants reflect on the competence needed for using different tools to develop dialogue;-To raise awareness of risk factors under which conflicts tend to arise especially within the intercultural communities;-To facilitate networking between participants from eight countries and develop new projects dealing with conflict resolution and peace-building within the partnership involved in the project.<< Implementation >>The project consists of 3 phases and included the following activities:1. Training course in Hannover, Germany (5-14 August 2022). The training course involved 28 youth workers and youth leaders from partner organisations from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cyprus, Georgia, Germany, Poland, Spain, and Ukraine. It was focused on: - development awareness and competences of participants in peace education, conflict transformation, intercultural learning and dialogue, including a critical understanding of personal and collective identities and their role in conflicts; - identifying effective methods that help to prevent and/or transform conflict through fostering non-violence; - exploring the principles of the culture of peace and non-violence as the approaches to conflict resolution; - exploring the nature, value, and types of conflicts and find out how culture and personal values influence conflict situations;- gaining knowledge on key concepts, such as conflict management, conflict transformation, conflict resolution, inner belief systems, and non-violent communication; - gaining tools for conflict transformation and peace-building; - helping participants reflect on the competence needed for using different tools to develop dialogue; - raising awareness of risk factors under which conflicts tend to arise especially within the intercultural communities.2. Implementation of local initiatives by the participants of the training course with young people in their communities (September-November 2022). 3. Evaluation seminar of the project in Poronin, Poland (9-16 November 2022). The seminar involved 27 participants youth workers and youth leaders from partner organisations from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cyprus, Georgia, Germany, Poland, Spain, and Ukraine. 14 participants were those who took part in the training course and 13 participants who were involved in organising local initiatives after the training course. The seminar was the space for evaluation and sharing practices of local activities, sharing different discoveries, pointing out areas for the international youth work intervention and developing joint projects within the partnership which will be focused on the promotion of a culture of peace. The seminar was a space for finalising the learning process within the long-term project and setting up personal learning objectives within the planned project.The objectives of the seminar:• to evaluate the individual learning process of the participants and have a look at the process of their self-empowerment and self-efficiency in dealing with conflict management and peace-building;• to evaluate and reflect on the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of the participants gained within the project;• to evaluate Local Activities in Participating countries and present the project implemented through a dissemination event;• to exchange best practices in relation to youth work and conflict, inter-religious and cultural dialogue;• to help participants reflect on the competence needed for using different tools to develop dialogue;• to facilitate networking between participants and develop new projects dealing with conflict resolution and peace-building.<< Results >>The following results were achieved as expected within the project:- participants from 8 countries increased their competences in conflict transformation, peace-building, and peace related youth work;- at least 8 local initiatives focused on promoting peace and dialogue were implemented in 8 countries;- the network of youth workers working in the field of peace-building were created;- the quality of international and local youth work was increased through the activities implemented by the participants and through sharing good practices.The project will have an impact on different levels:- personal level: the participants increased their competences in the field of peace-related youth work, they improved their work as professionals on the local, national and international levels. Additionally, they gained experience of working in an inter-cultural and inter-religious group of people: experienced living together in shared rooms with the young people from different countries, worked in mixed groups in the workshops, due to cultural evenings and all the activities ensured the inter-cultural and inter-religious experience of young people; raised up awareness on the personal impact on peacebuilding in everyday life; explored and found more European values, history, culture, religions, traditions, rose up awareness towards diversity: met with different people with different backgrounds, nationalities, traditions, and cultures by working with them in a group, which led the participants to appreciateand respect the different people and rise up the sense of tolerance and appreciation of differences.- on partner organizations: the participants brought newly gained experience and skills from the Training Course and Seminar. This was directly contributed to the quality of the projects that partner organization were working with and consequently brought a positive impact on the organizational level;- on participants’ local communities: the participant brought the multiplying effect to their social circle – peers, family, friends, neighbors and local media. In this way, the main objectives and results of the project were spread further. In addition, more people were encouraged to become socially engaged and informed about youth activities and how the EU can support such projects. We encouraged participants to hold public events after their return and inform the target groups about the project and the knowledge gained from the project. Follow up activities: the project provided a framework where the participants got the possibility to meet people with similar interests and organizations with similar agendas and missions. Cooperative work showed that future partnerships are very likely to be established. In addition, we strongly believe in large benefits of a network-based on personal connections and with the guiding principles of tolerance, friendship, and understanding. Since there were participants from countries that are in a conflict state, we helped to develop future peacemakers networks. The results of the project were disseminated by partner organizations. During the project activities, we invited local neighbors and friends to join the inter-cultural evenings where different cultures/countries presented themselves and engaged in a dialogue. Regarding the international level: we also made a presentation on Erasmus+ and how to develop mobility projects eg –international training. After covering all issues relevant to the topic we encouraged an open space for participants to think about new projects that can be developed by using the acquired background on Erasmus+. This was done during the Evaluation Seminar. They were free to choose their preferred topic, possible partners, place and type of activity. During the period of work in project groups, the trainers assisted participants in making draft projects. It provided with an European and International impact on our Project and contributed to the development of Erasmus+ programme.

"<< Objectives >>Within the project ""Expanding Opportunities for Youth Employment"" we will conduct a training course, dedicated to the coaching of young people with fewer opportunities in their career building, especially on the online job market. The participants of the TC – youth workers who will be prepared to act as coaches in their communities and support young people in their career building.Aims and objectives:• to explore the causes and consequences of the youth unemployment in rural and deprived urban areas;• to train international group of youth workers to become coaches for young people with fewer opportunities in their self-realization and future career, especially on the online job market; • to support organisations working with young people with fewer opportunities (esp. those coming from rural and deprived urban areas and migrants) and provide them with the innovative tools aimed at youth development;• to promote international cooperation and capacity building in the field of youth work.<< Activities >>The main activity is a training course which will take place in Sumy, Ukraine and will last for 7 working days (excluding 2 travel days) and involve 36 participants (youth workers, trainers, youth leaders, educators) from the following countries: Germany, Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia, Italy, Azerbaijan, Spain and Cyprus. << Impact >>As a valuable project result we expect that participants will conduct their local initiatives for their target groups dedicated to the issue of the project. The materials and results of the TC will be summarized and published in the Internet for the open access for all interested parties. In this way the youth leaders and organizations not involved into the project may benefit from its results.On regional level 8 organisations received experience and competences to provide future activities aimed at combating youth unemployment. The effect from the project on the national level is so, that the innovative methods were transferred from one countries to others. The project should help to decrease youth unemployment and negative work migration within one country and on the international level."