Abut the Project:The project proposed for Erasmus-Plus by Al Sharq Forum(Al Sharq Association) is three days’ Europe focused workshop in March 2021, bringing together 37 youth activists in a program that combines training, collaborative solution development in the forms of policy recommendations and projects under specific themes that address the interconnected challenges facing European youth. The three-days workshop would be focused first on training participants on systems thinking and design thinking tools for civil society, innovation management, and ideation of solutions to the root-cause problem of the highest priority while working collaboratively in group settings, then in the last day the solutions would be refined and presented to policymakers and prominent activists who would provide direct feedback to the groups.Youth civic engagement and participation in decision making processes while informing policies that are relevant to issues that concern them is crucial to have a more inclusive governance system. More importantly, such a system would enable creative and relevant solutions for challenges of importance to youth. We believe that the holistic approach for the workshop and its robust plan and delivery would ensure that the objectives stated, at the network and individual level.About the activities:Day 1-March 15, 2021Orientation & networkingWorkshop on policy, change management, and civic engagementWorkshop on strategic communication tools and techniquesWorkshop on systems and design thinking & innovation management for civil society Day 2-March 16, 2021Workshop on Innovation management continued: Ideation and development of solutions based on the regional priorities for civil society and youth in Europe Facilitated team collaboration to formalize and prepare the presentations and proposals (for ideas and projects)Internal review and feedback sessions for improvement and iterationsDay 3-March 17, 2021Presentations of projects and policy concepts to policymakers and general participantsFeedback review session and critical examination of ways forwardDialogue with the policymakers & decision-makers and conclusion of the ceremonyAbout the methodology:The expectation of the participants and post-test is to compare the expectations and results. The project evaluations will be constituted on result-based management principles which is an important approach to aim maximizing achievements by continuously learning from success as well as failure and making adaptations based on the lessons learned. This approach is based on constantly asking questions such as “What do we want to achieve?”, “What have we achieved?” and “What can we do differently to increase the chances of achieving our objectives?”.Result-based management which is an analytical approach enables monitoring and reporting on results. At the end o the project; to evaluate the project management, organizer team, stakeholders contribution, and analysis outcomes of the project, the tests will be composed of customized questions for each participant but will base on the following questions:About long-term envisaged Impact of the project:The primary purpose of this project that will host 37 international participants, is to increase the capacities of young change-agents concerned with regional challenges to become effective catalysts leading social change within their society, with a global outlook, a balanced identity, and a systematic approach to problem-solving. The young participants;-will learn to write projects in collaboration and project management dynamics;-have the opportunity to get specific knowledge given by trainers;-discuss their projects with decision-makers which may create an impact on certain policies-will gain competencies in the fields of teamwork, collaboration culture, communication skills;-will have an international environment since there will be youth from different parts of the world including Turkey as well.

<< Objectives >>The International Retreat project (IR project) is a week-long intensive strategic leadership capacity-building program that aims at enhancing the capacities and resilience of young change agents concerned with regional challenges. The project’s objective is to increase their leadership skills and abilities as change catalysts within their societies and empower them with a global outlook and a methodical approach to complex problem-solving. Such skills are necessary, we believe, especially with the increasing polarization and uncertainty. The IR project aims at equipping the participants with critical skills through hands-on workshops, lectures, various group activities, and training. The targeted skills include core interpersonal skills, strategy-focused leadership in uncertain times, strategic planning, visioning, and diplomatic skills such as facilitation, negotiations, and motivation. About the methodology:The expectations of the participants and post-test are to compare the expectations and results. The project’s evaluation will be constituted on result-based management principles, which is an important approach to maximize achievements by continuously learning from success as well as failure and making adaptations based on the lessons learned. This approach is based on constantly asking questions such as “What do we want to achieve?”, “What have we achieved?”, and “What can we do differently to increase the chances of achieving our objectives? ”. Result-based management is an analytical approach that enables monitoring and reporting the results at the end of the project, to evaluate it.The tentative schedule for the International Retreat:Day 1Orientation & networkingWorkshop on civic engagement, policymaking, and change management. Workshop on strategic communication techniques and tools. Day 2Workshop on innovative civil society engagement, systems, and design thinking. Workshop on innovation management continued: Ideation and development of solutions based on the regional priorities for civil society and youth in EuropeDay 3Workshop on leadership styles: models of success and failure.Workshop on strategic leadership.Day 4Workshop on grassroots mobilization and advocacy.Workshop on challenges facing the world: a contextual analysis.Day 5Formalization and preparation of the presentations and proposals (the facilitator team shall help in that).Feedback and internal review sessions.Day 6Policy concepts and projects presentations before policymakers and general participants. Feedback review session and critical examination of ways forward.Policymakers dialogue.Closing ceremony.<< Implementation >>Youth Participants (Youth Activists): 40 active youth participants who are from the above-mentioned countries and actively involved in, but not limited to, the political sphere, academia, media outlet or social media, climate action, and human rights. It is paramount to show their commitment to the shared values of pluralism, inclusiveness, and participation, which are fundamental principles in the EU Youth Strategy. Participants also need to balance out their global outlook with their grassroots commitment to local causes, including youth inclusion and empowerment, promoting a culture of dialogue in local communities, and most importantly working toward higher representation in the decision-making mechanisms at all levels. Decision-makers & Experts: The policymakers shall be selected from the host country (ministry advisors, politicians, and experts). They may be selected from Al Sharq Forum’s (Al Sharq Association) connection database (i.e., someone who has previously joined Al Sharq Forum’s as a speaker or a mentor in other activities and programs). For instance, we may invite the representatives of the Ministry of Youth, amongst other relevant multilateral youth agencies in the country.The admission process of participants is a multi-phase process. Depending on the quality of applications, we filter the applications, and around half of the applicants will be interviewed for the first round. After further filtration, only a quarter of the initial applicants will proceed to the second round of interviews. After the second round of interviews, we calculate the weighted scoring for each interviewee and choose the top candidates to join the Al Sharq Fellowship Program. The weighted scoring reflects the candidate's motivation, experience in civil society activities, self-awareness level, personal vision, and commitment to serving communities. In the end, we will have a cohort of 40 participants starting the Fellowship program for the 2021/22 round. The proposed international retreat is part of the Fellowship cycle, with an action-oriented approach to civic engagement. Participants classification would be adhering to the following:- Gender balance: 50% of the participants are males and 50% are females.- All participants are between 20 and 30 years of age.-The participants will be from the following countries: Spain, France, Germany, Bosnia, and Turkey.Organizing team: Al Sharq Forum team, including the core team (exclusively youth team) and volunteers. The core team’s rich experience in running similar events would help them execute the program efficiently. The communications and media team will be responsible for comprehensive media coverage for all the program activities on all social media accounts.Alongside the Al Sharq Forum team, a team of volunteers will be selected to take part in organizing the program as supporting team members, whose task is to facilitate and ensure an overall satisfactory experience for the participants. The volunteers are to be recruited after a two-phase admission process where we choose 15 volunteers out of 25 applicants. The admission process mainly assesses their motivation, experience, and commitment. Last year, we chose nine volunteers, most of whom were alumni.The volunteers' involvement and help are critical for the Fellowship Program during the pre-retreat phase (November 2021 - February 2022). For example, they will manage the online platform to help participants properly use the LMS (learning management system). Also, they will completely manage the workshops by dividing the task and assigning each of them to their program coordinator, venue & equipment coordinator, hospitality & merchandising coordinator, promotions & communications coordinators, and group facilitators. The latter facilitate group activities when participants work on the projects, mainly taking place through collaborative spaces.Volunteers Classification:- 28% to 72% male-female percentage. - The average age is 21.Guests: Those who are a combination of policymakers, academicians, influential decision-makers, and prominent activists in the respective fields.<< Results >>The IR project's focal points include equipping participants with leadership skills and exposing them to specific intellectual and practical knowledge of leadership and positive systems change. The following sections outline both the knowledge themes and skills.A.Leadership skillsHere are the key leadership skills we aim to cultivate throughout the training sessions: · Self-awareness & Growth· Team management, visionary leadership, and self-vision· Understanding personal leadership style: DISC analysis· Personal life and vision assessment, development, and planning· Communication · Presentation and public discourse· Non-violent communication (NVC)· Debates and rhetoric arguments· Advocacy and campaigning· Teamwork · Facilitation skills· Negotiation and conflict resolution· Intercultural team leadership· Strategy · Grasping the meaning and types of Strategy, and its formulations skills· Strategy development in times of uncertainty· Decision-making in times of uncertainty· Solving complex problemsB. Leadership knowledge areasThe several knowledge themes we shall expose the participants to through critical interdisciplinary discussions during the training include, but not limited to, the following:· Political sociology, international politics, and geopolitics· Building trust and fostering leadership in a digital age· Principles for leading in times of uncertainty· Systems methodologies · Forecasting, prediction, and future studies

<< Objectives >>What is Al Sharq’s Youth Impact PlatformAl Sharq Youth’s Impact Platform program is an action-oriented social incubation platform aimed at empowering civil-society youth workers and civil society initiatives. The platform brings together civil society youth workers, civil society initiatives, activists, volunteers, funders, and mentors to address key civil society challenges at local and regional levels. Impact Platform project focuses on the professional development of youth workers in civil society by providing non-formal and informal engaging learning experiences and capacity building activities. What are the addressed needs? Civil society initiatives established by youth often lack multiple aspects that prevent them from being more effective: I.Some of them lack the skills needed to mobilize and organize, so they will be trained on certain topics among others. J.Youth Workers and civil society advocates particularly lack a space to obtain learning skills and competences.K.A lack of constructive and productive ecosystem where youth workers can increase their professional developments abilities.L.Youth civic leaders, professionals and workers lack the international exposure to other experiences from other different contexts/countries. As such, Impact Boot Camp provides a space for sharing experiences, networking and participatory learning from each other.M.Some lack leadership skills to push their initiative forward, so we advise them on how to lead and manage their initiatives. N.Some of the initiatives lack basic financial resources, and do not know how to collect and accumulate sufficient resources, so they will be trained on crowdfunding and fundraising alongside getting basic seed funds.O.Some of the initiatives lack the field expertise or experiences needed to fulfill the initiative’s purpose, so we will connect the initiatives with experienced mentors to facilitate the knowledge transfer process. P.In some cases, the initiative has the resources, skills, leadership and the right team, but all that it needs is the network with policy influencers and policy makers.<< Implementation >>The needs of the youth civil society initiatives and youth leaders and workers will be fulfilled through a six-month incubation period for selected youth-oriented initiatives. The incubation included the provision of various supporting mechanisms, including online and offline professional development and capacity building activities for civil society youth workers, mentorship with high-profile personnel, strategic advisory, networking, seed-funding, and crowdfunding/volunteer mobilization. Professional development and capacity building activities for civil society youth workers at Impact Platform project:5.Civil society initiative & volunteers management course. > online courses6.Fundraising and mobilizing resources course. > online courses7.Effective strategic communication & digital advocacy course. > online courses8.Civil society leadership | Impact Boot Camp > physical mobility, networking & capacity building program. Civil society leadership | Impact Boot Campis considered the main physical activity at the Impact Platform program. The purpose of Boot Camp is to:4.Connect active youth at the incubated civil society initiatives. 5.Share experiences and perspectives among participating youth about common challenges facing them while working in civil society. 6.Build the capacity and leadership potential of youth civil society workers through a participatory and engaging approach. 7. We expect to bring 50 youth via this project.<< Results >>We expect this project to have a truly long-term impact not “only” during the project duration, but also after the project and beyond the regions. 1)Developing the professional skills of civil society youth workers.2)Widen the network of civil society youth workers with peers, experts & civil society leaders. 3)Amplifying the impact of civil society organizations incubated initiatives that is led by youth workers.