Finding strength in unity and sharing common values: PBL and Values – based learning Erasmus Project

Project Title

Finding strength in unity and sharing common values: PBL and Values –
based learning

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 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy; Youth (Participation, Youth Work, Youth Policy)

Project Summary

The project was developed in response to deficits common to the two countries, identified by representatives of the target groups: 1) Relatively high% of young people with secondary and lower education who are not involved in any form of education, training or employment, so called NEETs (37.5%, Bulgaria and 38% – Lithuania), defining the need for opportunities for developing entrepreneurial, social and civic competences; 2) Low levels of tolerance among young people in both countries and the need to counteract this by promoting European values – according to a report (EP, 2016) “the lack of knowledge among young people about democratic values is a potential factor for radicalization among them”; 3) The GDP for both countries per capita is smaller than the average for Europe, respectively 50% of it for Bulgaria and 78% for Lithuania of it, which reveals the unused opportunities for entrepreneurship and imitativeness.

The project aims to create an innovative and integrated methodology based on problem-based and value-based training and the implementation of digital technologies in non-formal education, as well as to develop the capacity of youth workers to apply it, to train young people and to transfer best practices among representatives of other youth-related sectors.

The project’s specific objectives are:
1) Developing an innovative training methodology (targeted at young people at risk of marginalization), including training materials building upon the good practices of the partner organisations;
2) Skills development in young people and youth workers, including initiative and entrepreneurial competences, social and civic competences.
3) Developing values in young people and youth workers by promoting a positive attitude towards the European Project and comprehending the power of shared European values
4) Тransfer of good practices and the training methodology among representatives of
others related to youth activities, sectors: formal education – school / university; social services; entrepreneurial ecosystem; informal education;

The target groups of the project include: 1) Young people (15-24 years of age) from Bulgaria and Lithuania, including disadvantaged people due to different ethnic and cultural backgrounds and / or low social status, originating in remote areas; 2) Youth workers originating in remote areas of both countries; 3) Representatives of others related to youth activities, sectors: formal education – school / university; social services; entrepreneurial ecosystem; informal education.

The following activities are envisaged:
1) Gathering good practices and developing an innovative training methodology incl. training materials, a handbook, online-based educational platform;;
2) C1 “Training, 5 days for 20 youth workers”;
3) C2 “Blended mobility” training, 7 days for 40 young people from Bulgaria and Lithuania;
4) C3 “Training, 5 days for 20 youth workers
5) Dissemination of results and communication.

Expected results and impact:
1) Created an innovative and integrated methodology building upon the good practices of the partner organisations specifically targeting young people at risk of marginalization including a handbook and an online –based educational platform;
2) Held two trainings for youth workers and developed of 2 groups 20 youth workers each to apply the methodology;
3) Developed skills and competences for 40 young people (ages 15-24) from Bulgaria and Lithuania, including disadvantaged young people due to (different ethnic and cultural backgrounds and / or low social status);
4) Encouraged cross-sectoral interaction through transfer of the developed training methodology and good practices to minimum 40 representatives of youth related
sectors: formal education – school / university; social services; entrepreneurial ecosystem; informal education;

Expected long-term positive results:
1) Encouraged social inclusion in both countries, contributing to the building of educated, open-minded, innovative, enterprising and inquisitive young European citizens;
2) Promoting quality and innovative approach in youth work;
3) Provision of educational resource with free access from anywhere in Europe and the world: an innovative teaching methodology for working with young people (specifically targeting young people at risk of marginalization), as well as accompanying training materials – a guide and online training platform.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 64180 Eur

Project Coordinator

Fondacia Bulgarska Pamet & Country: BG

Project Partners

• Problem-Based Learning Institute
• sdruzenie za makedonsko-balgarsko prijatelstvo