Best practices exchange for non-formal education and inclusion of youths with Down Syndrome Erasmus Project

Project Title

Best practices exchange for non-formal education and inclusion of youths with Down Syndrome

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 2018

Project Topics

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

Project Summary

The project “Best practices exchange for non-formal education and inclusion of youths with Down Syndrome”, acronym “Don’t let me Down” has as OVERALL OBJECTIVE: Contributing to the inclusion of people with Down Syndrome in European societies. The SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE is: supporting operators working with young people with Down syndrome through transnational networking, best practices exchanges and new tools so to improve non-formal education of youth with Down syndrome producing positive effects on their social life, increasing and strengthening their social skills and self-confidence.
The project foresees the participation of 194 youth workers (since now YWs) and 101young people coming from 3 European and Mediterranean countries: SPAIN, ITALY and GERMANY. YWs will be selected among the staff of the bodies partner of the project, associated partners and among the associations working in the sector of inclusion of youth with disabilities/lower opportunities. The Action, indeed, wants to enhance the participation in society of young people with Down syndrome, not only developing activities FOR them but also WITH them. Young people will be selected by each organization among their beneficiaries and respecting the gender balance (50% male and 50% female). They will also be selected by partners taking into account their attitudes.
In order to reach the objectives of the project, the following RESULTS and ACTIVITIES are foreseen:
E R.1 -Capacities of n. 196 youth workers have been strengthened and built through best practices exchange
A.1-1 preliminary situational analysis in the territories involved in the project
C.1 -1st plenary short-term joint training event -Palermo
C.2, C.3 & C.4 – applied methodology mobility events
A.2 – Adoption of new best practices and Virtual tutoring phase
E.R.2 – A new common model for non-formal education for inclusion and autonomy of youths with Down Syndrome has been developed, tested and partially implemented at national and transnational level with 96 young people with Down Syndrome
A.3 – Analysis of the first results of the best practice adoption by partners and drafting the common model and tools for verification of its effectiveness
C.5 – A 2nd plenary meeting will take place in order to analyze the application of the best practices in the new contexts and inputs from partners for the elaboration of a common model.
A.4-National Implementation of the model by partners
C.6 -Transnational implementation of the model in an intercultural Campus
A.5 -Final Evaluation of the model and relevant adjustments
E.R.3 – Results, outputs and in particular the common model have been disseminated among European stakeholders (CSOs and bodies dealing with education of people with Down Syndrome).
C.7- Final presentation in Palermo
A.6 -Dissemination of the model and relevant tools for verification
YWs will be involved in each activities though successful methods such as LEARNING BY DOING and PEER-TO-PEER learning. The both are very participative and require the active participation of individuals involved.
Young people will be involved by using different approaches depending on the kind of activity. The cross cutting one will be the PARTICIPATORY APPROACH.
The project aims to produce a significant IMPACT (at short and long-term levels) on lives of young people with Down Syndrome by promoting a successful inclusion of people with Down Syndrome in European society. In this process, a key role is played by YWs as they are the professionals able to promote and stimulate life skills for inclusion and autonomy.
The SHORT TERM IMPACT is expected as follows:
1) on YWs participating to the applied methodology mobility events is to Increase their capacity in sharing on the common model.
2) on Young people with Down Syndrome (participants) is to increase their self-confidence and autonomy even in a multicultural environment.
The MIDDLE AND LONG-TERM IMPACT is expected as follows:
1) on Young people with Down Syndrome not directly participating in mobility of activities but benefitting from the new model is to improve their inclusion in society and their independence in daily life.
2) on Associations/bodies partners, associated and participating to the projects is to increase the quality of services in successful non-formal education for inclusion and autonomy of youth with Down Syndrome.
3) on European CSOs/bodies dealing with Down syndrome other than partners is to promote the adoption ofa successful model, providing them with new useful tools.
4) on families of young people with Down syndrome, not only at emotional/psychological level (they will feel comforted and satisfied knowing their children are more integrated in society) but also at practical levels as the pressure in terms of providing cares for their children would decrease.
5) on YWs dealing with people with Down Syndrome is to improve ability of the YWs to stimulate self-confidence, independence and inclusion of youth with Down Syndrome.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 67120 Eur

Project Coordinator

ASSOCIAZIONE CULTURALE COOPERAZIONEINTERNAZIONALE SUD SUD & Country: IT

Project Partners

• UNIVERSITAT DE GIRONA
• Bottroper Werkstätten gGmbH
• ASSOCIAZIONE FAMIGLIE PERSONE DOWN