SymfoS for Youth Care Erasmus Project

Project Title

SymfoS for Youth Care

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 vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Access for disadvantaged; Youth (Participation, Youth Work, Youth Policy)

Project Summary

Initial situation and project idea
“SymfoS for Youth Care” is an innovative counseling method based on the approach of
Symbol Work. Their implementation in the youth welfare system would significantly improve the integration chances of disadvantaged young people (NEETS) in Europe. They are increasingly excluded from social participation due to lack of integration in many areas of life.
With the methodical approach of Symbol Work (by Wilfried Schneider), an innovative funding instrument is developed in this project, which enables youth leaders in youth welfare to effectively support disadvantaged young people.
The innovative aspect is the transfer of the previous method from vocational guidance to youth welfare and the extension of the SymfoS educational approach with web courses on initial education (Higher Education) at universities (social care).
In youth welfare services, working with symbols offers young people an additional, universal language. In short, symbolic work means getting a person to reach for themselves. Symbols are helpful in situations that are difficult or impossible to describe using other means of communication.

Primary target groups
1) Youth welfare workers or psychologists and social workers who work with the young people listed above (e.g. social services of youth welfare offices, youth welfare services)
2) Decision makers in youth welfare, VET providers and universities in the field of social welfare,

Indirect target groups
1) Disadvantaged young people (15-25 years) with problems of integration, which are hardly reached by existing methods of youth welfare (young people with multiple problems, NEETS).
2) Educational policy makers responsible for recognition tools for qualifications.

Project partners
The partner community consists of 7 partners from 5 European countries:
Sozialwerk Dürener Christen (Leadpartner) -DE
Hafelekar – AT
University of Gloucestershire – GB
Asociacion Caminos – ES
Colegio ColpolsocA – ES
Associacao A3S – PT
Instituto Politecnico Porto – PT

Decisive for the selection of the partners were their project-relevant competences and experiences. Three partners already have common cooperation experiences from another EU project.

People, target groups and organizations reached by the project
Direct target groups:
youth leaders from youth welfare, university students in:
– Transnational Trainings – 28
– National Trainings – 280
– National pilot projects 130

Indirect target groups:
Young people in practical casework at least 80 per partner
Network partner in youth welfare for dissemination of project content -150

Project products
The following Intellectual Outputs (IO) will be developed during the project:
IO1 Scientific bases and national adaptation plans for the implementation of symbolic work)
IO2 SymfoS f YC – Intervention Set
IO3 SymfoS f YC – Blended Learning Approach
IO4 SymfoS f YC – Development of a correspondence training course
IO5 Symfos f YC – Development of an F2F training
IO6 SymfoS f YC – Guide for Support and Peer Buddy System
IO7 Transfer Manual

Project activities
-10 multiplier events – 6 national workshops for stakeholders; 4 closing events in different countries
-2 Trainings / courses (5-day SymfoS Train-the-Trainer Courses)
-5 project meetings (1 per partner country)

Project impact
on youth welfare workers (primary target group):
Extension of professional competence in working with NEETS

to decision-makers and politicians (indirect target group):
Education policy and youth policy supports the implementation of the method as an offer in the vocational training of youth welfare workers (VET) and as part of study programs at universities (HE). Recognition and certification of training curricula

on disadvantaged young people (indirect target group):
Improvement of personal and social integration

Implementation, dissemination and sustainability measures
– “Train-the-Trainer Courses” and correspondence training courses for youth welfare workers
-National pilot projects (at universities; with specialists from youth welfare offices, youth welfare institutions.)
– permanent implementation as a qualification offer for VET providers and in degree programs (universities) beyond the duration of the project
– Online platform for dissemination (curriculum, materials)
-recognition and certification of the method / curriculum
-Transfer manual
– Dissemination in practice by university graduates
– Multiplier Events for stakeholders in all partner countries
– Dissemination to youth welfare institutions, educational institutions, counseling centers and schools through integration into partners’ networks
– Formation of a SymfoS Trainer Community
– Final events in all partner countries
-Public relations

Project Website

http://www.symfos-youth.eu

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 350963,89 Eur

Project Coordinator

Sozialwerk Dürener Christen & Country: DE

Project Partners

• HAFELEKAR UNTERNEHMENSBERATUNG SCHOBER GMBH
• ASOCIACION CAMINOS – ASOCIACION PARA EL INTERCAMBIO EDUCACION Y DESARROLLO SOCIAL
• UNIVERSITY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE
• Colegio Oficial de Ciencias Políticas y Sociología de Andalucía
• ASSOCIACAO A3S
• INSTITUTO POLITECNICO DO PORTO