Social ecology – a model for sustainable European development in the 21st century Erasmus Project

Project Title

Social ecology – a model for sustainable European development in the 21st century

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; Youth (Participation, Youth Work, Youth Policy) ; Environment and climate change

Project Summary

CONTEXT
Based on the Von der Leyen Commission’s strategic vision for the climate neutrality of Europe by 2050; the Paris Global Climate Agreement and the EU’s leading role in it; the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027; the Erasmus +, KA2 objectives for modernizing education, training & youth work, as well as the strategies for internationalization of the activities of
Bulgarian Memory Foundation, EcoCenter, Hungary, and Association for Macedonian Bulgarian Freindship, RN Macedonia, young representatives of the two organizations have generated the idea for this project on the topic:”Social ecology – a model for sustainable European development in the 21st century”.Тhe project пропосал is built upon the concept that the only way of dealing with environmental challenges is to rethink men’s attitude to nature through a strong personal commitment to this global cause:
avoiding consumerism, environmental pollution and waste of resources.

OBJECTIVE:
The main objective of the project is, through an interdisciplinary approach, to develop an innovative methodology for building socio-environmental and eco-entrepreneurial knowledge and skills, to be developed and tested with 15 youth workers and 60 young people (50% of them in disadvantaged position), *contributing to their socio-educational and personal development and active civic participation, and *becoming an educational resource with free access.

SUB-OBJECTIVES:
*Analysis and synthesis of good European practices on social ecology and revealing the horizontal nature of eco-challenges, linking them to the social component;
* Development of an innovative methodology for social ecology applicable in formal and non-formal education;
*Incorporating digital tools into non-formal education through the creation of an online platform (in accordance with the methodology) with activities
and practical exercises for positive environmental impact, which will be an OER;
*Testing the methodology among young people,youth workers,students,teachers & stakeholders,encouraging their involvement&civic participation;
*Improving the level of key competences & transversal skills of the participants in the project activities, incl. future-oriented skills, initiative and creativity;
*Development of eco-entrepreneurial mindset and skills;
*Development of civic & intercultural competences;
*Stimulating the connection between research & practice in the field of social ecology;
*Enhancing the international dimension of partner organizations’ activities.

NUMBER AND PROFILE OF PARTICIPANTS:
*15 youth workers (24-30 years) – 5 from each organization;
*60 young people (16-24) – 50 $ of whom will be in the disadvantaged category due to ethno-religious /socio-economic factors.

ACTIVITIES DESCRIPTION:
The following 5 main groups of activities are envisaged:
1. Preparation;
2. Implementation, including:
– preparation of a Report on good European environmental practices;
– events for creating a new methodology for the development of socio-environmental and eco-entrepreneurial competences through methods of non-formal education;
– creation of a digital toolkit for practical application of the methodology-an online platform (OER);
3. Promotion of project results;
4. Analysis of results and possibilities for their multiplication & sustainability;
5. Final report.

METHODOLOGY FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT:
The methods used will meet the specifics of each activity:*organizational management methods;*communication methods;*non-formal education methods: discussions,active,interactive methods,simulations;*ICT tools;*analytical methods;*selection methods;*methods of data collection & analysis;*coordination methods;*analytical,administrative & accounting methods.

EXPECTED RESULTS AND IMPACT:
The expected results for the participants, target groups, applicant organizations and stakeholders are in line with the above-mentioned general and specific objectives of the project. The positive impact sought at local, regional, national, European and international level is through: transferring of good European practices; formation of socio-ecological & eco-entrepreneurial skills; raising awareness in the field of social ecology; stimulating the links between formal & non-formal education;developing,testing & application of new methodology & digital instruments as OER,

POTENTIAL LONG-TERM BENEFITS:
This Strategic Partnership can be upgraded in subsequent projects, involving educational institutions,NGOs and businesses engaged in sustainable development.The horizontal nature of socio-environmental challenges enables them to be viewed from different
perspectives:scientific,social,economic,political,intercultural,national,European,global.Thus, project outcomes can be adapted & used long after the completion of the project.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 103445,01 Eur

Project Coordinator

Fondacia Bulgarska Pamet & Country: BG

Project Partners

• Ecocenter Alapítvány
• sdruzenie za makedonsko-balgarsko prijatelstvo