"Main aim of the project ""European Wide Web of Youth Work"" is to foster the usage of on-line tools in non-formal education in order to improve quality of programs for education of youth leaders and youth workers available. The consortium participating in this project is consisted of national organizations from Slovenia, Lithuania, Italy, and networks from Serbia, Croatia, the Netherlands, as well as one international network based in Austria. All partners have rich experience in designing and implementing educational programs for youth leaders and youth workers on local, national and European level, as well as different experiences in using on-line learning tools. The idea for this project came after assessing common needs in improving quality and accessibility of training programs for youth workers, by introducing, adapting and creating new on-line learning tools. Several activities are planned in order to raise capacities of educators and trainers in NFE to effectively use on-line learning in their programs, but also to explore existing tools for on-line learning, adjust them to the needs of non-formal education and youth work and create new tools that will help NFE and youth work practitioners to work on competences of youth leaders and youth workers on-line.The project includes 2 mobility activities: training course for building competences of 24 educators in the youth field to use on-line learning in their training programs for youth workers and seminar that will gather 28 experts in NFE together with IT experts to explore possibilities of on-line learning in NFE and create new tools for it. In addition, participants of the training course will organize on-line courses for their target groups, on national or European level that will gather more than 100 participants in total. Manual for using on-line tools in non-formal education will be created and published in English and languages of participating countries (7 European languages).Careful plan for dissemination and exploitation of results of the project is designed in order to promote the possibilities of on-line learning to wide range of organizations and institutions working on designing and implementing educational programs for youth leaders and youth workers."

"The strategic partnership in the frame of the project ""Strengthening the role of youth work in contesting dynamics of shrinking cities"" addressed the challenges related to shrinking phenomena and practices of youth work in shrinking cities of Europe. Accordingly, the project was focusing shrinking cities not only through the question of causes and consequences of shrinking but also through the mapping of good practices of youth work in the selected shrinking cities which contribute to the sustainable perspectives of the local youth. The project was initiated by youth organizations and organizations working for youth. The project team was comprised of eight partner organizations, having different yet complementary competence and experience to offer in the project. The consortium provided a broad knowledge and coverage of various subjects across different sectors related to the challenges of youth work in the shrinking cities. The overall objective of the project was to contribute to building of new strategies of social inclusion and civic engagement for youth residing in Europe’s “shrinking cities”. The more specific objectives of the project were: 1. To expand knowledge on the „shrinking cities” phenomena in the European context, with emphasis on successful youth work practices contesting their unfavorable social, economic and political dynamics; 2. To create and disseminate quality toolbox for youth workers working in shrinking cities based on the mapping and analysis of best practices in selected countries. To achieve the objectives mentioned above, the project implemented following activities: 1. Developing mapping methodology approach and conducting researches - a mapping methodology that comprehends the similarities and differences among EU countries and study of shrinking cities phenomenon in each of the selected countries along with best practice examples/cases of youth work contesting dynamics of shrinking cities. 2. Preparation of the toolkit „Youth-work in/for the shrinking cities” with methodological instructions for youth work based on the conducted survey. The additional aspect of the project was the dissemination of the project results through the multiplier events on the local level and through different communication channels including project results platform and Salto youth platform, mailing lists and social networks. The project created following results: 1.The project has strengthened capacities and competences of 8 partner organizations in the field of youth-work by generating innovative approaches and enhanced cooperation at transnational level. The project fostered mutual learning process among project partners and ensured exchange of expertise to maximize the impact of the work which ultimately enabled re-application and transfer of project outputs. 2. The project carried out a mapping methodology applicable in the transnational survey, disregarding national and local specific context of youth work and shrinking phenomena in different countries and regions of European Union. . 3. The project carried out mapping reports prepared in line with the commonly developed methodology containing analytical description of shrinking cities and related challenges in each of the selected countries; analytical description of best practice examples/cases of youth work contesting dynamics of shrinking cities. The delivered mapping reports have been published in the publication under title ""Strengthening the role of youth work in contesting dynamics of shrinking cities"" (ISBN 978-953-7872-19-9). Beside the English version, the publication is available also in Spanish language. 4. The project resulted in the creation of the toolkit “Youth-work in&for the shrinking cities” (ISBN 978-953-7872-12-0) which contains recommendations and methodological instructions for youth workers and educators. Beside the English version, the toolkit is made available also in Spanish, Portuguese, German and Croatian language. 5. The project provided a space for discussion about interrelation of shrinking and youth (work) in the frame of transnational project meetings and multiplier events, Thereby it can be said that the project could be considered as an important step towards a sustainable European network of youth workers working on challenges of shrinking cities at the community level6. The project contributed to the increasing of the awareness of the citizens about the challenges of shrinking in the transnational European context, but also about the existence of good practices of youth work that can contribute to the sustainable development of the shrinking cities and regions."

<< Objectives >>With the Blockchained Youth Work we wish to tackle the insufficient recognition and validation of youth work, and address them with digital innovation. Our objectives are to :Create a quality framework for educational practices in the field of youthPilot the innovative platform based on the blockchain technology for the validation, recognition, quality assurance and supply of youth work relevant learning outcomesAdvocate for the quality of youth work at national, regional and EU level.<< Implementation >>Core activities are:Analysis of educational practices in partner’s countries (training offer) and existing quality parametersNeeds analysis of various stakeholdersDevelopment and testing of block chain platform and user friendly appsCreating a visual identity of the project and platformSeveral testing events on national and international levelPiloting the platformCollection of national key issues related to youth work recognition and validationAdvocacy activitiesQuality dissemination<< Results >>Main results of the Blockchained Youth Work are to:build 1 blockchain platformdevelop quality framework based on qualitative and quantitative analysis of educational practicesinclude at least 25 organizations in the pilot training certification process, and at least 50 certified trainings on platformanalyse key issues in partner countries related to youth work recognition and validationimplement quality advocacy plan on quality of youth work and sustainable innovative solution

The EU has developed a clear mandate to encourage social inclusion as set out in the EU Youth strategy, the Erasmus+ Inclusion and Diversity Strategy and the Europe 2020 Strategy including the EU2020 European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion.Equality of opportunity, inclusion and diversity are also seen as key principles that many youth workers adhere to. As a result of such strategic, policy and professional direction for equality, inclusion and diversity to be a clear focus of practice, there is a need for educators, trainers and practitioners to continue exploring effective ways to develop and enhance their knowledge, skills and experience in order to meet the challenges that such a drive for these agendas reveals.Given this context, this project aimed to provide a means for youth work educators, trainers and practitioners to develop resources that will support further the development of youth work practice that is inclusive, diverse and which promotes equality of opportunity.The primary objectives were to produce a network of partners and thus a community of practice in order to develop knowledge and skills related to developing quality youth work practice. Such a community has then developed a toolbox of resources that includes:- A principles and approaches report- Good practice examples across the partners- Specific resources for youth work practitioners to use- A University education module to be used with youth practitioners- Training outlines that can be used by training providers - Learning that organisations and individuals have developed through the process such as intercultural competence, EU citizenship, professional linkages, mobility of youth workers and the development of specific skills.The primary target for the RIDE outputs are youth work practitioners, organisations involved in running youth projects, youth work training organisations and university staff and students involved in youth work courses. The project involved 5 partners. It was led by the University of Gloucestershire alongside: CESIE (a NGO from Italy), The Croatian Youth Network (a NGO) as well as Trnava University from Slovakia and Akdeniz University, Turkey.All objectives have been completed and are freely available on various websites especially the project website www.rideproject.euThe resources have been greatly welcomed amongst the networks of the project partners, where, for some, there is a real need for quality youth resources in the local language. The resources are now being used extensively by youth workers, youth organisations and educational/training partners.The project and resources have already been highlighted as examples of good practice by the ministry for education in Slovenia and the ministry for youth and sport in Turkey.

The project “The Melting Pot” is a 15 months project involving three Networks of youth workers and three cultural institutions from Serbia, Croatia and The Republic of North Macedonia - NAPOR, Galerija Matice Srpske, Mreža mladih Hrvatske, Pogon – Zagrebački centar za nezavisnu kulturu i mlade, Sojuz za mladinska rabota Skopje, and Opstinska ustanova Muzej na grad Negotino, with the aim to bring cultural institutions closer to all young people through youth work programs. Therefore, it is important to create cross-sectoral cooperation between youth and culture and develop innovative, interactive and inclusive methods and tools for work with young people in cultural institutions, especially with young people with different backgrounds, as well as create preconditions for the professionalism of youth workers and employees in cultural institutions.The aims of partnership in this project are:- To increase visibility and recognition of youth work and cultural institutions’ potential to respond to the identified needs of various youth groups at local, national, regional and EU level.- To raise the quality of youth work across the region by introducing innovative and creative methods integrated into culture and arts programs. - To increase professionalism of youth workers and employees in cultural institutions by creating curricula for their education. - To establish cross-sectoral cooperation among youth workers and cultural institutions at national and regional level.Main results of the project are: Detailed insight into the answers of way youth not participate in cultural activities, as well as insight into possible approaches and appropriate methods to change the situation. Collected regional and EU innovative methods enriched the capacity of youth workers and employees in cultural institutions and resulted in quality provision of services for youth. Created Curricula and youth work programs increased professionalism of youth and cultural workers. Various multiplying events raised awareness of relevant stakeholders (youth from fever opportunities, youth and cultural workers, decision makers and journalist) at national and regional level about importance of investing in youth work services in cultural institutions and its positive implication on youth development. Journalists motivated to report about youth, youth work and culture at the national and regional level. Study visit to Serbia built capacity of youth workers and cultural institutions by gaining knowledge and new insights about innovative good practices applicable for creation of youth work programs in cultural institutions. Laid foundation for fruitful cross-sectoral cooperation among youth workers and cultural institutions at national and regional level.In order to reach the results several activities are planned: - Comparative research on the needs of various youth groups related to culture conducted in 3 countries involving 350 youth ( thereof 140 young people with different backgrounds);- Curricula for education of youth workers in cultural institutions and development of six youth work programs applicable in various cultural institutions;- In the testing phase 60 young people (30 from fewer opportunities groups) will be actively involved in the youth work programs performed in cultural institutions by 6 youth and cultural workers from 3 countries;- Booklet “Melting pot of innovation in youth work and cultural institutions” containing up to 15 innovative and creative methods used in cultural activities for various youth groups, reflecting Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian and EU level;- Study visit in Serbia for 12 youth workers and cultural institutions representatives;- Cooperation with 30 journalists from national, regional and local media in 3 countries participated in the ME 1-3 Melting pot – served as breakfast to journalists;- ME Melting pot – demonstration of innovation! for 30 youth with fewer opportunities, 30 youth workers and 30 cultural institutions from Croatia, Serbia and The Republic of North Macedonia;- ME Regional melting pot – innovations, culture and youth work for 30 youth workers, various cultural institutions and authorities from regional and national level from 3 countries and up to 50 participants from EU countries;- Visibility and promotional actions reaching youth workers from 150 organisations and 150 cultural institutions from Serbia, Croatia and The Republic of North Macedonia and up to 200.000 people of the wider public. Careful plan for dissemination and exploitation of the project results is designed in order to promote the project outputs and outcomes to wide range of organizations and institutions working on national, regional and European level in the field of youth work.