Diversity & Inclusion: Building Strengths Together Erasmus Project

Project Title

Diversity & Inclusion: Building Strengths Together

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: Youth (Participation, Youth Work, Youth Policy) ; Inclusion – equity

Project Summary

Erasmus+ project “Diversity & Inclusion: Building Strengths Together (DIVE-IN)” is delivered by 5 partner organisations from 3 countries: Valmiera Development Agency from Latvia, YC “Vinda” from Latvia, NGO “Natura Hungarica Foundation” from Hungary, a school “Kiskunhalasi Szakképzési Centrum Kiskunfélegyházi Közgazdasági Szakgimnázium” from Hungary and NGO “Innovation Office” from Lithuania.

As European Union Youth Strategy 2019-2027 highlights, 1/3 young people in Europe are at risk of poverty and social exclusion. So, the project seeks to find youth STRENGTHS and to enable and ensure the INCLUSION of all young people in society. DIVE-IN project focuses on: 1) to strengthen the capacities of educators to work with youth having fewer opportunities; 2) to ensure that all young people have equal access to formal and non-formal learning environments, addressing all the dimensions of inclusion; 3) to provide more spaces, opportunities, resources and programmes to foster dialogue and social cohesion, and combat discrimination and segregation. The project also refers to Inclusion and Diversity Strategy in the field of Youth (2014) as it actively involve young people with fewer opportunities (providing tailor-made preparation, support and follow-up) in local activities and the project will be mainly focused on youth workers/leaders working with young people having fewer opportunities, while finding these persons strengths (talents) in their diversity. The European Union Youth Strategy 2019-2027 acknowledges: young people are not a homogenous group, and thus have diverse needs, backgrounds, life situations and interests, promoting activities and policies that are inclusive for all young people, especially those with fewer opportunities. Project priorities are focused on social inclusion, promoting quality, innovation and recognition of youth work and supporting educators, youth workers, educational leaders and support staff.

The project lasts 19 months and during the period we are planning to share good practices in the field of youth. All partner organisations are looking for better approaches and methods to use in daily work that will help to support young people in their life and career choices, and motivate them to work hard and independently. Participating organisations have very similar mission and approach, but they are acting in different environment and reality. They are facing problems which have the same roots, when examining them in depth (bad career orientation, learning difficulties, fewer opportunities because of social, economic background).

The main aim of the project is to develop the knowledge and skills, the set of tools and methods used by youth workers/people working with young people. Thanks to this development daily youth work will impact positively and reach young people in the local community and will develop deeper inclusive attitude finding their strengths.

Two topics what project DIVE-IN addresses are – STRENGTHS and INCLUSION that will be discussed and developed deeper during this project. Discovering and „strengthening” strengths is more crucial as basis regarding inclusion. Motivation is also the factor for sustainability of inclusion and success but, to find and start inclusion and acceptance of differences is strength.

To achieve our aim there are several objectives:
– to develop youth workers/leaders competences;
– to share practical methods and tools replicable in partner reality;
– to cascade and test methods at local level;
– to share results and collect them into a toolkit useful in youth work, focusing young people with fewer opportunities.

There will be 2 trainings organised for youth workers/leaders. Between these trainings, local activities and transfer of knowledge to other colleagues will be delivered. Main questions we want to get answers:
– how to discover the strength of a youngster,
– how to empower youth by awareness of their strengths,
– how to show the youngsters that diversity, having different strength contributes to a higher, team success, that he/she could have reached alone,
– how to show that different people, activities are compulsory to each another, and the result will be complex and holistic.

Project partners have different background and experience in project topic but all of them will acquire certain results based on their needs. Common results will include:
– stronger international cooperation between organizations on the quality of youth non-formal education;
– improved knowledge and skills of youth workers and youth educators on inclusive education, the use of innovative practices in youth work;
– enhanced staff competences;
– enhanced quality and diversity of youth youth work approaches that also broadens youth horizons, motivation and strengths.
– increased readiness to engage more in international projects;
– an attractive project toolkit has been developed and made accessible to a wider audience.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 54914 Eur

Project Coordinator

Valmieras Attīstības aģentūra & Country: LV

Project Partners

• VSI INOVACIJU BIURAS
• Kiskunhalasi Szakképzési Centrum Kiskunfélegyházi Közgazdasági Technikum
• Valmieras Jaunatnes centrs “Vinda”
• Natura Hungarica Alapítvány