"The project ""New Kids on the Block"" will take place in Zagorje ob Savi, organized by the local youth center. Participating young volunteers will gain new skills and competences. On the other hand, local youth will gain informations on EVS and raise awareness and understanding of other cultures and countries.The project draws attention to the effects and benefits of intercultural learning opportunities of youngsters to learn, gain experience, skills and key competencies in a culturally mixed environment.Project will support participants in the acquisition of competences which will improve their personal development and employability in the European labour market.The project NKB includes 2 youngsters from 2 different countries who will become a vital part of the Youth Centre Zagorje (MC ZOS) and together with it create content with intercultural dimension which responds to the needs of local youth and the rest of inhabitants. Through this content which is mostly prepared in accordance with the principles of non-formal education, effects and benefits of volunteering and Erasmus + Programme will be promoted.Project activities include organizing a variety of activities and events for youth and with youth, helping with activities of MC ZOS, production of multimedia content and the work of other organizations: the intergenerational center, school, kindergarten, organisation for people with disabilities.The learning process will lead the volunteer to improve their skills of personal development and employability on the European labor market. The communication in English will raise the level of competence to communicate in a foreign language. Working in a multinational group and life in the new environment will increase the understanding of other cultures and countries, increased independence and self-confidence. By working in EVS project they will be able to recognize the effects of voluntary work and improve learning performance, enhance their active participation in society. Work in a youth center, in a stimulating and supportive environment will increase their motivation for further education, training and active role in society once they return home.We believe, that after the project will end, more youngsters from hosting environment will decide to take part in EVS as well."

Social and emotional well-being has been linked to young people’s schooling outcomes, their social development, their capacity to contribute to the workforce and the community, the rate of youth suicide. The WHO has estimated that depression alone will constitute one of the greatest health problems worldwide by the year 2020. Of increasing concern is the growing rate of suicide among young males. Deep unhappiness, disordered mood, feelings of hopelessness and thoughts of suicide are common among young people. This lowered mood may be risk factor for long-term social problems and depression.Eolas Soileir and its partners took a positive approach to the promotion of emotional health among young people by carrying out two projects for youth workers and young people to address these needs by understanding and developing their skills at building resilience, empowerment & positive mental health both within themselves and the young people they work with.Using Non Formal methodologies we developed the creative competences, specifically in the topics of positive mental health, resilience & empowerment for youth, in 27 youth workers from Ireland, Greece, Slovenia, Spain, Kosova, Romania, Belarus, Poland, Armenia & Estonia, in an 8 day training course held from 4th to 11th of August 2017 in Wexford Ireland. Further we ran a Youth Exchange in the topics of positive mental health, resilience & empowerment for 20 young people aged between 18 & 30 from Romania, Spain, Lithuania, Estonia and Ireland from the 17th to 22nd of August 2017 in Wexford Ireland & 6 youth workers.The emphasis was on various ways young people might cope with stressful or difficult life events and challenges and we focused on personal coping skills & creative skills for expression and self reflection. The objectives and results of the projects were: 1. The participants on the TC came away with concrete methods and ideas that helped develop their own sense of empowerment, resilience & positive mental health and are now more competent in putting into action ideas and methods to increase positive mental health in the young people they work with.2. The young people on the YE came away with concrete methods and ideas to help develop their own sense of empowerment, resilience & positive mental health and incorporate these into their lives.3. The pax on the TC and the young people on the YE explored the potentials of creative methodologies as a way for self-discovery, stress reduction, creativity, empowerment, resilience and positive mental health.4. The participants on the TC and the young people on the YE were part of an intercultural learning experience.5. The pax on the TC facilitated their exchange of experience regarding their work with their own young people.6. The young people on the YE are better able to understand both themselves and other young people thereby feeling less isolated, better able to understand positive mental health and understand what they can do to encourage it within themselves and others.7. The pax on the TC were encouraged to develop European co-operation in the youth field.These objectives were fulfilled in relation to the objectives of Erasmus + youth mobility:• We supported the acquisition of skills of youth workers & young people on their personal & professional development and improving their employability. • We helped improve the language skills & intercultural learning of the participants. • This project also addressed E+ youth Inclusion and Diversity strategy as the TC & YE sought to combat poor mental health particularly in disadvantaged young people and those facing social, economic and educational difficulties. • We promoted the international cooperation & intercultural dialogue between partner and programme countries. • We also built up key competences and skills of young people including young people with fewer opportunities through the acquisition of skills by the youth workers and directly with the young people in the youth exchange. • Through youthpass we ensured better recognition of competences gained through their learning periods abroad, • Promoted active participation in civil society and develop a sense of European citizenship • Youth workers increased their professional development in the field with a view to innovating and improving the quality of Youth work across Europe & in their country. • They increased their motivation and satisfaction in daily work through the strengthening of their mental health.The methods used were: mindfulness and creativity, theatre, art & creativity, nature & outdoors, music, conversation, all took place in a context of improving resilience, positive mental health and empowerment. Long term benefits are an environment where people can be more open, understanding and positive in their attitudes and behavior towards mental health and an increased knowledge of how to achieve this.

<< Objectives >>Eitt af markmiðum Samfés var að efna til og taka þátt í fjölbreyttum verkefnum á innlendum og erlendum vettvangi sem tengjast málefnum ungs fólks ásamt því að efla okkar fjölþjóðlega samstarfsnet, þróa starfið, læra eitthvað nýtt og hafa áhrif á umræðu, hugmyndir um málefni sem snerta starfið með ungu fólki. Það er þess vegna sem við sóttum um þennan mikilvæga styrk. Það er stór hluti af starfi Samfés að horfa fram á veginn, vera með fingur á púlsinum hvað varðar æskulýðsstarfið og mikilvægt að stjórnin sé ávallt virk í stefnumótun samtakanna og aðilarfélaga. Ólíkur bakgrunnur stjórnarmanna og fulltrúa Samfés sem og tiltölulega ör stjórnarskipti eru mikilvægir þættir í því að við verðum reglulega að efna til og taka þátt í verkefnum sem þessu. Upprunalega var ætlunin að heimsækja samtökin Mladinski center Zagorje ob Savi en vegna heimsfaraldurs seinkaði brottför sem hafði þær afleiðingar að upphaflegir tengiliðir á báðum félögum voru ekki til staðar lengur. Fyrir vikið, komum við á tengingu við Paul Gralton, varaformann Youth Work Ireland. Markmið heimsóknarinnar var meðal annars til þess að stjórn Samfés gæti ákveðið þá stefnu og þau skref sem mikilvæg eru að taka fyrir samtökin og æskulýðsvettvanginn á Íslandi. Markmiðið var að kynnast starfsemi og verkefnum samtakanna, skoða ólíkar félagsmiðstöðvar í þéttbýli, í dreifbýli, ræða áframhaldandi samstarf með ungmennaskipti og skipti á sjálfboðaliðum í huga. Við vildum með þessu verkefni styrkja hópinn sem og að flytja heim og miðla þekkingu og reynslu til aðildarfélaga samfés á landsvísu. Það var einnig okkar ósk að stofna til ungmennaskipta þannig að ungmennaráðið Samfés njóti góðs af þessu samstarfi þar sem þetta ýtir undir samstarfsgrundvöll milli ungmennaráða þessara landa og þar af leiðandi unglingarnir í félagsmiðstöðvum á ÍslandiAðalmarkmið með verkefninu var að kynnast starfsemi samtakanna, félagsmiðstöðvanna, ungmennahúsa, sjá hvernig þau vinna með unga fólkinu, efla þekkingu þátttakenda og mynda samstarfsgrundvöll til framtíðar. Í því samhengi var kynning á þeirra helstu verkefnum, stefnumótun í æskulýðsmálum mikilvæg, heimsóknir í félagsmiðstöðvar og ungmennahús. Við vildum einnig kynnast þjálfun starfsfólks og skiptast á góðum starfsháttum þar sem Samfés hefur gríðarlega reynslu af skipulagningu og framkvæmd m.a. starfsdaga fyrir starfsfólk í félagsmiðstöðum og ungmennahúsum. Markmiðið var að kynnast starfsháttum í samtökunum sem og í fjölbreyttum félagsmiðstöðvum, starfsstöðvum og ungmennahúsum og auka þar með þekkingu og færni stjórnarmanna og annarra fulltrúa Samfés. Einnig að kynnast þeirra nálgun á opnu æskulýðsstarfi, starf ungmennaráðs og mynda samstarfsgrundvöll fyrir sameiginleg verkefni á milli samtakanna.<< Implementation >>Þátttakendur voru þrettán talsins og koma þau öll að starfsemi Samfés, hópurinn samanstóð af starfsfólki, stjórnarmeðlimum og verktökum Samfés. Þátttakendur komu frá fjölbreyttum landshlutum og voru nokkuð blönduð af kynjum og í aldri, konur voru þó í meirihluta og þátttakendur af höfuðborgarsvæðinu. Aðalstarf þátttakenda er m.a. forstöðumennska í félagsmiðstöð, umsjón með ungmennaráðum og verkefnastjórn fyrir samtökin, allt með sterkan fókus á frítímaþjónustu fyrir ungmenni á aldrinum 10-25 ára. Hópurinn fór í hópeflisleiki og gerði æfingar til að styrkja tengslin sín á milli í miðbæ Dublin. Við heimsóttum aðalskrifstofu Youth Work Ireland og fengum kynningu á samtökunum í heild, við sátum málstofu á vegum þeirra um kynbundið ofbeldi (e. Gender based violence). Við fengum kynningu á árlegum tónlistarverðlaunum sem samtökin standa fyrir, Irish Youth Music Awards, ásamt kynningu á þátttökumiðuðum verkefnum samtakanna, t.a.m. ungmennaráðinu þeirra. Að lokum brugðum við okkur í ferðalag til Portlaoise að heimsækja félagsmiðstöð og kynna okkur þeirra verkefni.<< Results >>Við fengum góð og gangleg gögn í heimsóknum okkar sem við erum að vinna í að yfirfæra og þýða. Þau munu koma til að nýtast vel á vettvangi fyrir alla aðildarfélaga Samfés.

Let’s mediate! - Training course on Alternative Dispute Resolution in EVS/ESC is an initiative aimed at implementing mediation as a conflict resolution tool into international volunteering projects. EVS/ESC projects in general have high risk conflicts and misunderstandings and coordinators and mentors have to deal with those situations and quite often they simply do not know how to react and what to do. The project aims to introduce Mediation – an alternative dispute resolution method – to youth work, especially in EVS projects. Mediation is a way of solving conflicts amicably with a support of third, neutral person, who facilitates the parties of the dispute through all stages of conflict, supporting them in dealing with emotions, identifying their interests, creating options and finally – reaching a common ground. So far known mostly in commercial disputes – mediation gains recognition as one of the most efficient and constructive way of solving conflicts. The main objectives of the project are: - To explore the topic of multiculturalism and intercultural dialogue; - To learn about origins of different types of conflicts and possible methods of solving them; - To promote and explain Alternative Dispute Resolutions with special emphasis on mediation - To teach in practice skills relevant to effective negotiation and mediation; - To use mediation in solving conflicts during EVS projects in partner organisations; - To increase the quality of EVS projects in partner organisations; - To discuss about challenges and difficulties connected with EVS and future of EVS programme. - To create a field for further cooperation and development of new volunteering projects; - To share the results of First ADR Kit strategic partnership devoted to mediation in youth education. The project engages 12 organisations from 10 countries (United Kingdon, Poland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria, Portugal, Malta, Estonia) and 35 participants in total (including trainers and facilitators). Let’s mediate consist of 1 international mobility – Training Course in Worcester, where EVS/ESC coordinators and mentors will gain new competences connected with mediation. During the training course on mediation participants will learn about the principles of mediation and will practice their skills in listening, creating options, negotiating and transforming conflict into dialogue. After the mobility, they will implement their local activities: workshops for EVS/ESC volunteers and other young people, introducing peer-to-peer mediation in their workplaces or use mediation in practise. All cases will be collected and disseminated. The project will allow youth workers to use mediation as a tool in their daily work with young people. It will also help to enhance their competences related to communication and cooperation that are valuable on the labour market. The skills and competences will be used in EVS/SC projects when difficult situations occur. After the training course EVS/ESC volunteers also will learn from their coordinators about the idea of mediation and through participating in workshops, will also develop skills and comptences. On a long run, the project will contribute to the raising of the quality of EVS/ESC projects in partner organisations as conflicts will be resolved in a peaceful, respectful way. Furthermore, project will have a solid networking aspect and partnerships among participating organisations will be stronger.

"Summary of the project""Boost your possibilities! - Youth Centres for Youth mobility and Intercultural learning”- Strategic Partnerships brought together 10 Youth Centres (and 1 research partner) from Finland (4), Slovenia (3) and Estonia (3) for a 27-month project. The project focused on improving the quality and supporting individual centres’ strategies - starting from each centre's own needs and reality - through international mobilities (4 partner meetings), learning activities (15 job shadows, 1 training course) and a strong research and activity dimensions on local, regional, national and international level. The project and its activities were implemented in full in all three countries over the duration of 27 months, working on multiple levels and dimensions (such as local level activities, regional networking, research, international exchange of practices and youth workers) at the same time. Looking from contextual basis, the need for developing international youth work competences in each partner centre was very unique to all. Some centres had already years of experience in IYW, where as some were beginners in the field. The project design aimed to allow development in centres regardless of their previous experience or capacities, offering a wide range of activities and ""peer support"" successfully to each other.The project's main aim was to collect, develop and transfer methodologies, approaches and competence of international youth work, carried out in different local and regional settings, and study their impact on young people across the partner countries. A set of objectives had been created to be tackled in the duration of the project. The project focused on:- Exchanging and remodeling, and gathering good practices of international youth work between youth centres- Exchanging and establishing expertise and work ""flows used"" in practice in the international projects - Creating clear and concrete links between regional / national / international level strategies and our international youth work practices- Research the impact of international youth work in different cultural and regional realities- Create a stronger (strategic) community around the youth centers to create sustainable surroundings and support for the growth of international youth work in youth centres- Improving the intercultural- and international project work competencies of individuals working in youth centresFurthermore, the project worked on multiple levels and we had also divided it's objectives on 3 different levels - local / regional, national and international:Local / Regional level:The project aimed to support the individual youth centers' and their strategy implementation in developing international dimension as a tool for youth work. In concrete, it was foreseen that the project brought resources, preconditions and support for individual centers to act upon their plans to become more ""international"" and offer activities that promote it as a value. A network and a ""guiding community"" was be created through the implementation of this project to support youth centre's taking their next steps (what ever the entry point was), through sharing good practices and experience. Exchange of expertise through the activities carried out in the project acted as the means for doing so. Beside the sharing of good practices to local and regional youth centre's all had their own ""focal points"" to work on (concrete objectives), that were also supported and used as basis for the international ""spin-off"" mobilities set up during the project. As one of the key elements, the project offered also resources for individual youth centres to set up regional cross-sectorial cooperation and research dimension to be implemented in their practice.National level:The project aimed to create a sustainable and contributing network between the international youth work actors in each local / regional reality. The idea behind it is that each youth centre could get better and more sustainable support on national level from their peers from this network as a result of the project. This was foreseen to happen through national level meetings, on-going support and structural reflection and evaluation of the project process, coordinated by each national coordinator (umbrella organisations). The project set up an impact research together with youth researchers, to determine the needs and affect / impact of our work, in order to make it more visible and improve the quality of it. International level:The project aimed to bring added value through exchange of practices and approaches form different national realities shared through seminars, individual mobility and training elements. This was done through a strong research dimension on international, national and regional level supporting the concrete actions of the project. As an output a publication was created to conclude and summarise the results of this process, and added value of IYW."