TOPs! Caribbean Erasmus Project

Project Title

TOPs! Caribbean

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 : Capacity Building for youth in ACP countries, Latin America and Asia

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Youth (Participation, Youth Work, Youth Policy)

Project Summary

The aim of this project is to improve this situation of vulnerable youth and youth at risk in Curaçao, Suriname, the wider Caribbean, the Netherlands and Germany by promoting, piloting and expanding the TOPs! non-formal learning programme. To achieve this aim 3 overall objectives have been identified: – Promoting strategic cooperation between youth development organisations, the educational sector, public authorities and the private sector (employers) in the Caribbean and Europe – Through a series of seminars and expert meetings, informing stakeholders of the TOPs! concept, its relevance for youth and how it can benefit their organisation – Optimizing and demonstrating the TOPs! approach by implementing a series of short pilots in Curaçao and Suriname; promoting the socio-professional development of youth workers and trainiers; online promotion. This will result in less young people with behavioural problems and a direct improvement of the capabilities of the youth sector. The project methodology is designed to take into account cultural factors and optimize and deliver the TOPs! programme in Curaçao and Suriname. TOPs! is a new non-formal learning training module, for young people between 12 and 24 years old, based on the EQUIP-programme (USA). Developing social skills, anger management and moral reasoning are central components of TOPs. More specifically, the TOPs methodology is based on positive thinking and motivation; recognizing problematic behaviour; learning from each other; social language training; and intercultural cooperation. TOPs is an excellent instrument to tackle the socio-economic challenges. The methodology has 3 distinct yet complementary components: a. Knowledge sharing and collaboration with sector stakeholders to create broad support for the programme, in the Caribbean and Europe b. Optimizing the TOPs! programme, adaptation to the local context c. Demonstrating TOPs! through small pilots in Curaçao and Suriname In order to achieve the project objectives the following activities are proposed: 1) 3 TOPs! seminars / conferences (Cur. and Sur.) 2) expert meetings 3) targeted project communication 4) Translation of TOPs training modules (for Curaçao). 5) TOPs! train-the-trainers pilots: 3 in Curacao and 1 in Suriname; + expert training in NL 6) Project evaluation and reporting This project has been design to realise optimal impact during and after the project phase. The strong project consortium will be able to deliver the project outputs and results to the target groups. Target groups are: trainers in the field of youth development, youth trainers, youth and sport coaches and teachers who work with vulnerable youth and youth at risk. Indirect target groups are: policy makers, for creating support for the implementation of youth development policies and funding; and health care workers, child protection services, youth councils and correctional officers who work with these young peoples.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 150000 Eur

Project Coordinator

FUNDASHON FONDO PA DEPORTE I RESPONSABILIDAT SOSIAL & Country: CW

Project Partners