Duration of the project: Program: Erasmus + Kay Action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices Action: Capacity Building for Youth in ACP countries, Latin America and Asia Duration of the project: 01/09/2016 – 30/11/2017

Aims and objectives The project aims to increase the competencies of youth workers, trainers & leaders in their direct work with young people with disabilities. Creation of a meeting and debate space to exchange working methodologies and working tools dealing with the inclusion of youth with fewer opportunities. Objectives: Equipping youth workers working directly with youth with fewer opportunities with specific skills and competencies on supporting youth social integration initiatives; Analysis and emphasis on of the specific needs in training youth workers and trainers on disability issues, and the necessary competences for organizing, developing and running educational activities for mixed ability/disability groups of young people; Developing a specific set of tools and competencies (methodology and online courses) based on non-formal learning aiming at developing transversal and basic skills of youth workers for work with young disability people; Develop quality standards of services to be provided to participants with disabilities in all youth activities in terms of content, accessibility and methodology; Promoting cooperation between social workers, employers, youth workers/leaders to support the integration of young people with special needs and disabled people.

Actions: Monitoring, evaluation and review of policies, resources and practices across the world. Create a methodology for youth workers in their work with the target group Trainings, round tables, debates, policy formation - encouraging cooperation between social workers, employers, youth workers/leaders to support the integration of young people with special needs and disabled people Creation of innovative online tools and trainings - supporting social adaptation and increasing the employability of disadvantaged young people Informational campaigns, meetings between interested sides and target groups - promote awareness of young people to the policies for the social integration.

Results: Awareness raised about the importance of different European and national programmes about social integration and more active participation of disabled young people in youth actions; Better integration and improved cooperation between local stakeholders (NGOs, LAs, young people with disabilities, employers); Improved training of youth workers in their work with young people with disabilities – 400 trained youth workers; Drawn up recommendations for the state institutions for the improving of the status of young people with disabilities; Adopted new non-formal innovative approaches and methods in youth work for encouraging of social participation of the young people with special needs; Increased knowledge, skills and competences of young people with disabilities for easy integration and more active involvement in social and economic life – trained 200 young people; Recognized knowledge, skills and competences obtained by informal training and their validation.

Project activities and Methodology Activity 1: Steering Committee: Working meeting between the project partners for the development and adoption of all the technical and methodological project documents - schedules, methods, programs, methods of studying the problem, training modules spread. Contracting and determine the role of each partner. Working hours: 9-13/14.30-18.30. Representatives of partners, moderators are involved in the committee. The meeting will be closed with a press conference. Methods: presentations, work in groups, discussions, creating strategies for implementing the project, questions. Expected results: Conducted 1 preliminary meeting with the partners; Project successfully launched, with the full involvement of all partners; Developed programmes, educational modules; Reached agreement on a detailed action plan for the implementation of activities and on the methodology to be used; Elaborated and approved design of the project and the corresponding materials; 1 press conference for presenting the project; Minimum 2 representatives of the partner organizations.

Activity 2: Conducting monitoring, evaluation and review of policies, resources and practices across the world (legislation, methods, standards) regarding the activities and the role of youth workers and trainers in connection with their work with young people with special needs, and in particular with the disabled people. For this purpose, a special methodology for evaluation of the situation, needs and opportunities for improving the environment will be developed. Each partner will do extensive research in their country based on previously proposed research methodology. Based on this research a strategy and a methodology for youth leaders working with the specific target group will be developed. Methods: content analysis and SWAT, a study summarizing the results, development of methodology. Expected results: Carried out a deep analysis and evaluation of current policies and resources in the field of youth advocacy, working with young people with special needs, best practices – in each partner country; Developed a special methodology for analysis and assessment of the environment and the needs of youth workers in their particular work with young people with special needs and disabled people. Established methodology (based on the analysis and evaluation) for the work of youth workers and trainers with the specific target group; Released printed and electronic manual.

Activity 3: Conducting an international meeting with 30 youth leaders, trainers, educators, experts based on the developed methodology Description: The training will be split in two phases: 1) 3 days will be focused on training and providing participants with the necessary and adequate information (methodical instructions), knowledge, skills and competencies for work with young people with disabilities and special needs 2) 3 days will be focused on training for work with local and State entities, employers, other NGO'S, media. Advocacy and protection-Youth leaders as mediators between young people with disabilities and the responsible institutions. Hours: 9-13 / 14.30-18.30. Participants: representatives of the partners; local authorities; trainers; moderators Methods: Ice‐breakers, energizers, Inputs from experts, Simulations, role plays, Intercultural and experiential learning, Variety of visuals for thematic input, Brainstorming and discussions both in working groups and in plenary Expected results: implemented and tried in real situation methods and materials for the training of the youth mediators, leaders and municipal employees, which are easily applicable and multiplication to other projects and trainings; a developed critical thinking and gained knowledge/competencies in the work with young people with special needs and disabilities; Conducted 1 training course; Educated more than 30 youth workers and leaders; Certification of 30 participants as young mediators; Application of methodology of ways and educational materials during the training; Conducted 1 press conference during the time of the training.

Action 4: Conducting national training courses for youth workers and leaders: trained leaders/workers will hold a training course on a national level among 30 youth workers. During the course the methodology and materials developed by the international training course will be applied. The training will be split in two phases: 1) 2 days will be focused on training and providing participants with the necessary and adequate information (methodical instructions), knowledge, skills and competencies for working with young people with disabilities and special needs (based on the elaborated methodology); 2) 1 day will be focused on training for work with local and State entities, employers, other NGO'S, media. Advocacy and protection-Youth leaders as mediators between young people with disabilities and the responsible institutions. Hours: 9-13 / 14.30-18.30. Participants: representatives of the youth NGOs; youth leader and workers, local authorities; trainers; moderators. Methods: Ice‐breakers, energizers, Inputs from experts, Simulations, role plays, Intercultural and experiential learning, Variety of visuals for thematic input, Brainstorming and discussions both in working groups and in plenary. Expected results: Conducted 10 training course; Educated more than 300 youth workers and leaders; Certification of 300 participants as young mediators; Application of methodology of ways and educational materials during the training; A list with suggestions and recommendations on behalf of the participants towards the institutions, defining the local and national youth policies and strategies in the work of youth workers with young people with disabilities and special needs. Conducted 1 press conference during the time of the training.

Activity 5: Development of the interactive platform through: • Completion of the virtual educational platform with new and specialized online courses for youth workers and trainers, to provide retraining and/or acquisition of new skills in their work with young people with disabilities or with special needs. These can be: Coordinator for youth actions, connected with integration of youth with disabilities; Organizer of youth events and initiatives for people with special needs; Organizer of volunteer programs for disabled people; • Development of new thematic modules/courses that are aimed at helping young people with disabilities and their successful realization on the labor market. The topics will be formed on the basis of consultation between the needs of young people with special needs, employers, government institutions. This may include: project management, working with accounting programs, web design, working with the Office package (word, excel, power point, photoshops), etc. • Creation of an online database of trained young people with special needs and employers in order to increase the incentives for employers to hire young people with disabilities and adaptation of the work environment to their needs. • Conducting online trainings for youth leaders and workers in each partner country – at least 20 for every country. The platform will be translated into the language of each partner. During online training moderator/mentor will assist participants with the provision of methodological guidance, information, and materials. After all the modular levels, participants will receive a certificate of successful completion of training. Methods: creation of online platform, online learning's, online mediation Participants: representatives of the youth NGOs; youth leaders and workers, moderators; young people with special needs and disabled people, employers, government institutions. Expected results: - Developed additional modules for youth workers and leaders to support their work with the target groups; - Developed training modules for young people with special needs or disabled in order to increase their qualifications and better integration into society; - Focusing on the recognition of non-formal education and its validation; - Created database of trained young people and a database of employers for the purpose of supply and demand on the employment of young people with special needs and enhance their integration and employment. - Increasing the role and competences of youth workers, as mediators between various target groups; - Increased knowledge, skills and competences of young people with special needs for in-easy integration and greater participation in economic life.

Action 6: conducting national round tables on issues of integration of young people with disabilities and the role of youth workers and institutions. The aim of these meetings is to hear the views of the direct target group, youth workers, employers, social partners, local and State institutions, responsible for carrying out the policies on the integration of young people with disabilities. The forms of one/two-day meetings with several key accent: -national programs and policies in the area of integration of young people with disabilities; -the role of youth workers and youth NGOs in their work with the target groups – presentation of the methodology for youth workers; -cooperation and communication between youth workers, young people with disabilities- employers – social partners/government institutions – presentation of online educational platform and formation of policies; -differentiation of opinions to improve the microclimate for better integration of young people with disabilities and disabled people (based on recommendations during the trainings). Participants: representatives of the youth NGOs; youth leader and workers, moderators; young people with special needs, employers, government institutions. Expected results: Conducted 7 national round tables and debates; Included over 160 participants Improved climate and dialogue between the interested parties; Changed attitudes of employers and social partners with regarding the integration of young people with special needs and disabled people; Increased level of integration of young people with disabilities; Increased level of public hearing, on the problems of young people with special needs; High level of respect for youth workers and increased capacity of youth organisations; Separate recommendations and opinions on improving the microclimate and the environment of young people with special needs and disabled people.

Action 7: International final meeting Description: The final meeting will summarize all ideas and suggestions, generated throughout the local activities. 4 days: Day 1: Presentation and popularization of Erasmus+ and presenting a formula for better integration of youth people with disabilities and the role of youth organizations; Day 2: Presentation of the results, good practices and report of the activities. Day 3: New ideas for prospective projects; strategies. Day 4: Network and partnerships; multiplication of the methodology and e-platform. Methods: thematic workshops, debates, presentations; 7 hours/day Participants: representatives of the partner organisations; youth leader and workers, moderators; young people with disabilities,with special needs;emloyers,government institutions. Expected results: 1 international meeting organized; 1 press-conference held; summarized results – Erasmus+ presentation, presentation of the activities, products and results; list of recommendations, addressed to the concerned people and the target groups.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE (IDA NETWORK) www.idanetwork.eu E-mail: office@idanetwork.eu Partner meeting, 01-05.10.2016, Palermo, Italy