Leisure time as a positivist youth peer pedagogy Erasmus Project

Project Title

Leisure time as a positivist youth peer pedagogy

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for youth

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Inclusion – equity; Disabilities – special needs; Youth (Participation, Youth Work, Youth Policy)

Project Summary

Leisure and leisure activities are an important aspect of quality of life for all young people, including the disadvantaged and disabled people. The leisure activities are the engine through which young people have fun, make new friendships, and develop skills and competencies. Until now, leisure activities have not been considered as areas of support and assistance. For disadvantaged young people, integrated leisure and social activities can be the key to social inclusion. Many recreational activities provide opportunities for dating, engaging in social interactions and developing friendships. Often, it is these relationships that make leisure activities the most meaningful. Much of the youth still has a limited range of entertainment and activities. Opportunities for entertainment often consist in leading disadvantaged youth groups among the general public. However, very little support is given for the individual participation of young people in these public settings, although it is the media themselves that may provide greater opportunities for social networking. All societies recognize the importance of leisure activities in the psychological, cognitive, civic, professional and physical development of young people. Therefore, in many places around the world, young people take a certain amount of time during which they are not at work and school and can participate in various activities according to their personal preference. Productive leisure is fundamental to the personal and social development of young people.
Psychological benefits of leisure activities for disadvantaged young people are:
– Perceptions of freedom, independence and autonomy
– Improved self-improvement through improved sense of self-esteem and self-confidence
– Better ability to socialize with others, including greater tolerance and understanding
– Better teamwork opportunities
– Increased creativity
– Improve the expression and reflection of personal spiritual ideals
– Greater adaptability and sustainability
– Better sense of humor
– Perceptions of a better quality of life
– More balanced competitiveness and a more positive outlook for life

This project has the following objectives:
– Creating an inclusive youth community by consolidating their free time as a positive for well-being, reducing education cessation and stable mental health
– Creating, approving and disseminating new youth-oriented results: A guide for youth workers and teachers on “How to build an inclusive youth community?” – Methods, case studies, tips; Handbook on inclusive youth entertainment activities for youth workers / leaders and teachers and the mobile application for inclusive recreational and leisure activities
– Organizing motivational leisure seminars to stimulate human interaction, verbal interactive collaboration and improving 21st century skills
– Creating awareness campaigns that integrate disabled youth in the four countries (Bulgaria, Belgium, Austria and Serbia) into youth organizations, but also the families of disadvantaged young people.
– Measuring the impact of the Positive Leisure Time for Youth concept by piloting in Bulgaria, Belgium, Austria and Serbia with local youth organizations, and successfully deriving implementation guidance.

The following target groups were included:
– Youth workers, youth leaders and members of youth NGOs
– Youth with and without disabilities (and their representative youth organizations)

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 179890 Eur

Project Coordinator

PLOVDIVSKI UNIVERSITET PAISIY HILENDARSKI & Country: BG

Project Partners

• PHOENIXKM BVBA
• WERKGROEP INCLUSIEVE TOEGANKELIJKHEID
• BEOGRADSKA OTVORENA SKOLA
• SDRUZENIJE NA NA RABOTESHTITE S HORA S UVREZHDANIYA
• VIENNA ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATION VOLUNTEERS
• Voluntary unit Plovdiv 112