LEONARDO DA VINCI Partnerships

Readdressing Education in Nourishing Expert Skills

RENEW

Presentation of the magistral lesson

by the Latvian team:

Youth participation in EU projects. The possibility for recruiting the participation of youth. Fostering youth

involvement in EU programmes & projects.

September 20, 2011

Bucharest, Romania

Contents • Youth policy in the EU and Latvia

• Work with youngsters in Ludza municipality, Latvia

• Survey on youngsters’ involvement in EU projects

• Some examples of youth involvement in projects

• “Hints on working with youngsters”

• Video annex to “Hints on working with youngsters”

Youth policy in the EU and Latvia

EU Youth Strategy for 2010-2018 • In November 2009, the Council of Youth Ministers in the 27

Member States of the European Union adopted a resolution which puts into force a new EU Youth Strategy for 2010 - 2018. The resolution outlines the main goals for a long-term strategy for youth: creating more opportunities for young people in education and the labour market and promoting the active citizenship, social inclusion and solidarity of all young people. This strategy will guide both the EU and its Member States in pursuing policies aimed at improving the lives of all young people in the coming decade.

http://ec.europa.eu/youth/index_en.htm

Youth work Some examples of youth work activities:

• youth exchange

• voluntary service in a human rights organisation

• working camps (picking berries, weeding, selling ice-cream…)

• leisure-cultural activities (workshops, cultural events, Drama club, reading circle, sport activities)

• group trainings, courses for developing key competences, communication skills, project management skills, conflict resolution techniques, cooperation abilities

• peer support those young people who face unemployment

• movie producing teaching

• after-school clubs

• attending a youth centre

• long-term membership of a youth organisation

• membership of a youth wings of political parties.

European Commissioner

Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou Androulla Vassiliou is currently European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism, Youth and Sport.

Legal framework for youth policy in Latvia

THE YOUTH LAW • the aim of the Youth Law is to improve the life quality of young people – persons from 13 to 25 years of age – by promoting their initiatives, participation in decision-making and social life, as well as by supporting youth work. • the Youth Law determines the persons involved in the implementation of the youth policy and the their competence in the field of youth policy, youth participation in the development and implementation of the youth policy, as well as the basic principles for granting of financing to youth initiatives, for participation in decision-making and social life and for youth work. • the Youth Law defines that youth work is a set of planned youth-oriented practical measures, which ensure the improvement of their life quality. • the Youth Law was adopted in Parliament on 8th of May 2008 and is in force since 1st of January, 2009 (Amendments in the Youth Law in force since 1st of January, 2011).

BYLAWS TO IMPLEMENT YOUTH POLICY • Regulation of procedure for finance granting in order to promote young people initiatives and participation in decision-making and social life, as well as youth work. It determines open calls for:

• youth organizations’ initiatives; • youth organizations’ administrative support; • youth work of local governments, its’ associations or foundations.

• Regulation of procedure for applying of youth organization’s status. It regulates application procedure and determines functions of the youth organization’s register. • Regulation of competences and training of youth affairs specialists. It determines youth affairs specialists’ training system – education, competences and necessary skills according to Qualification Standards.

• Regulation of the Youth Advisory Council that determines work and responsibility of the Youth Advisory Council.

Legal framework for youth policy in Latvia

Youth policy coordination and planning system in Latvia

In order to achieve the aim defined by the Youth Law the Guidelines of Youth Policy for years 2009- 2018 were created. 3 objectives were set: 1) develop youth policy coordination by promoting cooperation of relevant stakeholders, ensuring coordinated implementation of youth policy and adequate understanding of youth, supporting local youth work, increasing knowledge on youth and developing international cooperation in youth field. 2) increase youth participation in decision making process, youth organizations and youth initiative groups, as well as their participation in voluntary work, physical activities, sport and culture. 3) promote youth social and economical growth, competitiveness and social inclusion. * The Youth Policy State Programme for years 2009 – 2013 was developed to implement the aims and objectives set in the Guidelines of Youth Policy for years 2009-2018 by defining concrete activities and responsible stakeholders.

Youth policy at the national level in Latvia The Ministry of Education and Science ensures development and coordinated implementation of the single state policy in the field of youth. Main functions: • promote co-operation of public and municipal institutions, youth organizations and other

entities involved in the youth work and unity of action in the state policy elaboration and implementation in the area connected with youth activities;

• co-ordinate and organize system of measures for youth work, as well as organize trainings

for youth affairs specialists; • according to the competence organize and realize international co-operation; • develop projects connected with children rights protection, youth work, children and family

rights and integration affairs for co-operation with foreign countries, international institutions and associations, coordinate implementation of the mentioned projects, as well as plan participation in programs of international help and take part in them;

• according the competence provide methodological assistance to municipal institutions.

Youth policy at the national level

The National Agency „Agency of International Youth Programmes” (under supervision of the Minister of Education and Science) promotes youth activity and mobility in voluntary youth work, youth non-formal education and youth information programs and projects, and to promote youth non-formal education in connection with lifelong education. Main functions: • provision of information; • organization of training activities, • coordination of the implementation of the EU non-formal education

programmes, grant programmes and other initiatives for youth.

Youth policy at the regional and local level in Latvia

Youth centres (youth initiative centres)

In the beginning of 2011, in Latvia 80 youth centres were operating, 39 were developed by support of the state budget (blue).

Youth policy at the regional and local level in Latvia

Network of municipal youth affairs coordinators (youth workers)

In the beginning of 2011, there were 53 municipal youth workers, who work according to the Qualification Standard and are included into the network.

Youth information system in Latvia

In order to establish a unified information system to provide young people with quality, timely, comprehensive, holistic, and their interests and needs relevant information the youth information portal (www.jaunatneslietas.lv) was created.

331,472 visitors a year, today around 1,000 visitors a day.

The portal contains every day updated information on current events in youth policy, youth policy matters, different projects, youth organization and youth affairs coordinators’ data base, possibilities to express opinions and recommendations to involved in youth policy implementation, as well there is ensured possibility to feedback between portal users and the Ministry of Education and Science.

The portal serves to youngsters as guide where on one spot wide range information is available regarding youth policy and all necessary and interested information on employment, education, participation, culture, sport, fashion, new technologies, music, camping, dancing, research, healthy lifestyle, etc.

Youth information system in Latvia

Youth information portal

www.jaunatneslietas.lv

Work with youngsters in Ludza municipality

Ludza municipality

• Area 966 km2

• Number of inhabitants 16,465 people (youngsters – about 2,000 people)

• Density 17.04 inhab/km2

Lithuania

Belarus

Russia

Estonia

Ludza municipality

Ludza, Latvia Ludza is one of the most ancient towns in Latvia. It was first mentioned in Russian chronicles dating to 1173 or 1177. Now it is the administrative centre of Ludza municipality. There are about 9,000 inhabitants.

Traditions in Ludza municipality

General information about education

in Ludza municipality

In 2010/2011 school year in Ludza municipality there are 8 institutions of general education. In total 1,797 children and youngsters are obtaining comprehensive education.

Extracurricular/interest/hobby education curricula are offered by: Ludza Children & Youth Centre, Ludza Art School and Ludza Sport School.

Profession-oriented curricula are offered at: Ludza Art School, Ludza Music Basic School and Ludza Sport School.

Education expenses make 40% of the municipal budget.

Work with youngsters in Ludza municipality

• In January 2011, Ludza Municipality’s politicians appointed Ludza Children & Youth Centre to be the responsible institution for youth work in the municipality. A specialist in youth affairs was recruited.

• Contribute to development of possibilities of informal education for youngsters in the municipality

• Work out the Development Strategy for work with youth in the municipality

• Ensure information accessibility for youngsters and about youngsters

• Collaborate with youngsters’ NGOs, youth initiative groups, self-governments and contribute to their mutual cooperation

• Participate in development, implementation and coordination of municipal, regional, national and EU projects and programmes

• Coordinate international cooperation in the youth sphere

• Coordinate work of camps during summer holidays in Ludza town, organise international camps

• Provide schools, informal education institutions

with information about various possibilities offered

in projects and events

• Consult youngsters about possibilities of informal

education and voluntary work.

Duties of the youth worker of Ludza municipality

Possibilities for youngsters to get involved into projects in Latvia

• EU Youth international programme agency www.jaunatne.gov.lv, programme “Youth in Action”

• It implements 4 basic programmes, 7 actions

• Youngsters’ exchange projects, youth democracy projects and youngsters’ volunteer work.

• Project submission: 4 times a year.

• It is the most popular youth project programme in Latvia.

• Lifelong Learning programme: – Comenius – Ludza schools’ children and youngsters are

actively taking part in exchanges and in project work;

– Erasmus – universities’ students obtain higher education experience in EU countries (Ludza’s youngsters took part in exchanges – studied in Rimini);

– Leonardo da Vinci and Grundtvig are also opened for youngsters NGOs and youngsters, but our youth is not using it for a full extent.

• Youngsters’ business start up programmes:

Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, various banks, the international programme “Junior Achievement – Young Enterprise Latvia” offer consulting, training and financial support for youngsters to start up their own business.

– www.jal.lv

– www.altum.lv

– www.hipo.lv

Youngsters, who establish or participate in NGOs, have various possibilities to take part in projects and programmes:

• Grant scheme “Strengthening civil society and promotion of the integration of society 2011” www.lsif.lv – youngsters’ NGOs can increase their working capacity, renovate premises and implement different civic society strengthening initiatives.

• The Latvian Community Initiatives Foundation www.iniciativa.lv – gives a possibility to purchase equipment and renovate NGO’s premises.

• Soros foundation, Latvia www.sfl.lv finances projects directed towards society integration, equality, discrimination prevention, etc.

• Rural Support Centre www.lad.gov.lv administers European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development; NGOs can acquire equipment for their work.

Survey on youngsters’ involvement in EU projects

Why do youngsters wish to get involved into projects?

Methods that youngsters prefer

Sources available for youngsters in Latvia

What kind of project work advertising does attract youngsters’ attention?

Some examples of

Youth involvement in projects

Children and Youth Centre of Ludza Municipality (CYC)

Established on January 1, 1956

• Aim: to facilitate the development of a positively oriented, mentally rich, creative and curious personality, who will be politically active, live and competitive in the changing world.

• Objectives:

– Working out and implementing interest education curricula;

– Organisation of events for children and youngsters in Ludza municipality;

– Participation in local and state events, activities, competitions, festivals.

• Participants: children and youngsters aged from 5 to 25.

Non-governmental organisation “Ludza Youth Club “Umbrella”

Ludza Youth Club “Umbrella” was founded on September 10, 1998 with the aim to facilitate youngsters’ involvement into the district social and

cultural life, to help youngsters realise their place in the society, to ensure their self-actualisation.

Organisation’s strengths

• Enthusiasm, creativity and responsibility; • Motivation system for youngsters; • Training for youngsters in project development and implementation; • Experience in project implementation; • Various partners – NGOs and youth organisations in Latvia.

Active and educated

youngsters

Project “ES par Latgali” (2008)

• Project budget 7,921.04 €; financing provided by the National Agency of International Youth Programmes was 6,629.57 € within the frames of the EU programme “Youth in Action”.

• Youth recruitment: it was youngsters’ idea, they worked out the project, looked for materials, organised events and wrote reports themselves. • They obtained good experience in project realisation. • Those youngsters are implementing their own independent projects now.

Project “Promotion of youngsters’ entrepreneurship in Ludza municipality”

(2009-2010) • Financed by Soros Foundation, Latvia; total budget 4,540.49 €

• Project team included youngsters, who organised informative lessons at schools and involved 56 participants.

• The participants got knowledge about business communication and correspondence, about body art techniques, project development, fund attracting, development of a business plan.

• The project helped Ludza’s businessmen to get acquainted with the local youth. A businessman said: “We must think how to increase our competitiveness – the young are pushing up!”

• Many youngsters, who had been involved in the project, became members of the NGO Ludza Youth Club “Umbrella” and now they are thinking about attracting financing for other ideas.

Public cooperation of Latvia and Bulgaria reģions for integration of children with special needs into educational

process / LABU for CHILDREN

• Project was financed by the Lifelong Learning Programme’s Comenius Regio Partnership Action.

• The Beneficiary was Ludza Town Council, and it involved other institutions into the project, including the NGO Ludza Youth Club “Umbrella”

• 5 youngsters organised a survey, wrote articles, made a video for the methodological material and took part in international project meetings in Bulgaria.

Building a sport ground for youngsters (2010)

• Financed by the Ministry of Education and Science of Latvia.

• Ludza Municipality made a sport ground for youngsters in one of the town yards and the “Umbrella” organised the final project activity “Old games on the new playground” involving youngsters’ teams from other parts of the town into the competitions.

Projects supported by the European

Agricultural Fund for Rural Development

• 2010-2011 – purchase of music equipment for the Ludza Youth Club “Umbrella”. Now the equipment is used by the youngsters’ vocal instrumental rock groups.

• 2011-2011 – “Creation of a

movie studio in Ludza municipality”.

Readdressing Education in Nourishing Expert Skills RENEW

• Project supported by the EU Lifelong Learning Programme, Leonardo da Vinci Action; Latvian project budget: 17,000 €

• The Latvian project team includes 8 youngsters

• Youngsters’ duties:

to develop the homepage of Ludza Children & Youth Centre (programming and design);

to make the video annex to the material “Hints on Hints on working with youngsters;

to take an active part in the project mobilities.

Homepage of Ludza Children & Youth Centre

• www.ludzasbjc.lv

• General information about the institution

• Information about extracurricular education possibilities in the municipality

• Information for youngsters

• Projects

• Youth involvement

• Youth policy

Hints on working with youngsters

“Hints on working with youngsters”

Introduction

– since their childhood Latvia’s youngsters are brought up to be dedicated, result committed;

– a comparatively new thing in Latvia is the informal education, where everything is organised according to youngsters’ interests and rules – they choose what and how to do themselves and adults are only consultants, advisors, but not teachers.

– The material includes a short overview of youngsters age groups, 6 basic methods and the description of various methods of informal education.

• Specific features of youngsters’ age groups

– 15-17 years old. At this age youngsters want to do

everything as they imagine it. They want to combine all styles and invent their own, that is why they admire everything new, creative and extreme.

– 17-20 years old. Youngsters start think about their place in life and profession more seriously. They take the liberty to show their individuality.

– 20-25 years old. Youngsters know what they want and they know how to do it or where to find information. It is a perfect time to start up a business.

• Motivation of youngsters

– Group making. The best method is “youngster to youngster”.

Youngsters’ favourite social sites, meetings or actions in the open air. Adults can use some youngsters’ slang words thus showing that the people who are organising an event know youngsters and respect them.

– First impression. Clothes. First words must not be banal, but at the same time the adult must show his/her pleasure to see them, the words must be creatively encouraging. The first activity – a cheerful acquaintance game.

– Raising interest. The second activity is oriented to getting information about youngsters’ wishes, skills and needs. It must be also organised in a creative way. And the third activity is drafting future plans.

– You mustn’t promise things that you can’t fulfil; don’t suppress the initiative, but at the same time remember your real possibilities.

– Together with youngsters outline specific work to be done until the next meeting – they mustn’t be too big, but important for achieving the aim.

– At the end it’s good to organise a joyful activity.

• Discussions at a tea table

– Common tea drinking is nothing new, it helps to open out, ease up. You can discuss different events, know more about your youngsters, ask them what you want, just pay attention to their needs.

It is important to allow youngsters to explore themselves, to speak about funny events in their life, to joke.

• Informal environment – The meeting place must be informal. Youngsters must

have a possibility to choose furniture, its colour, they can paint something on the walls.

– Decrease age and social status differences. The adult must make the communication free, allowing to ask any questions, even provocative ones. They must have a possibility to address their adult leader in a simple way, even thinking of a nickname.

– Mistakes is an integral part of the human life and a useful phenomenon. Everyone can make mistakes, you just have to learn from your mistakes. The adult leader also can’t know everything, and if the leader is able to admit his/her mistakes, the adult shows his/her humanity and decrease youngsters’ internal strain and fear of mistakes.

• Team building

– For purposeful active work you need a team. A group of people becomes a team, if they work and develop together. There are 10 principles for team building: • Purposefulness and regularity principle.

• Principle of performing the team’s functions or the principle of useful activity.

• Principle of the team’s function maintenance or the principle of the team spirit.

• Principle of the team management.

• Cooperation development or team development principle.

• Principle of solidarity and amicability.

• Principle of competence integration.

• Principle of flexibility and creative approach.

• Principle of work transparency.

• Principle of source attraction.

• Respecting opinion

– All ideas are good! This work principle shows youngsters’

significance and they feel that their opinion is important for you. But it’s a long way from the idea to the project/event. There must be time for discussing, specifying the idea, finding weak and strong sides.

– Youngsters often deviate from the subject and the adult leader must facilitate associative thinking without strict returning to the previous topic. That’s why it is important to devote time for conversations “about nothing”, about everything what comes to light during the discussion.

• Giving a possibility

– In Latvia youngsters have many possibilities to learn to be

active. The adult leader’s role is to provide them with information, help them see the possibilities in routine activities and help them realise the plans.

– There must be a permanent contact with youngsters, you must be informed (“to be in the know”) about their interests and wishes. It is an eternal investigation process, which is going on in the municipality, country and in the world.

– Cooperation with schools, centres of extracurricular education and free time, informal groups and other responsible institutions.

• Methods of informal education

– Acquaintance games

– Ice breaking activities

– Dividing into teams

– Team building

– Brainstorms

– Encouraging games

– Simulations

– Presentations

– Farewell activities

• Conclusion – The adult leader must be creative, supportive,

knowing, self-confident and with good sense of humour.

– The adult must be always here at the moment.

– Improvement of personal qualities is a continuous work with oneself, learning one’s shortcomings, organisation of trainings.

– The most important method in work with youngsters is to allow them to act!

Work with youngsters –

with inspiration and multicolour!

Thank you for attention!