The project “ActivatE+U” under “Erasmus+” programme responds to the need to increase the level of active citizenship among the young people and in particular their civic awareness. It is focused on updating the methods used and to learn new effective tools by youth workers to promote the inclusion of young people, including those living in the isolated regions of Europe.
Through the cooperation of partners from Bulgaria, Türkiye, Romania, Serbia and N. Macedonia, efforts were united to train 25 youth workers for upgrading their competences to encourage young people be active citizens and raise their awareness about democratic and EU processes. This was the main aim of the mobility for professionals – the training course “ActivatE+U”, which took place in Varbovo, Bulgaria between 1-7 July 2023. The objectives were:
- To modernise the non-formal methods of youth workers to increase youth participation in democratic life and civil society.
- The youth workers to learn new effective tools to engage young people in EU processes and the opportunities it offers.
- To integrate the use of digital tools and methods in youth work with focus to democracy and active citizenship.
- To share and learn effective approaches for inclusion of young people living in the rural regions of Europe.
As a result of the mobility the youth workers increased their competences related to promotion of democratic values, motivating young people to be civically active, better understanding of EU institutions and mechanisms, increased awareness about role of digital democracy and digitalisation nowadays and their relation to youth work. The participants developed several initiatives for youth with fewer opportunities as well as project ideas. They also produced a special handbook for youth workers, which will be published soon.
The project is in accordance with the Youth Goals, especially the first one to “Foster the sense of youth belonging to the European project and build a bridge between the EU and young people to regain trust and increase participation.”
Partner organisations in the project are Bulgarian Youth Forum (beneficiary), Active EuroYouth (Türkiye), Asociația “Balgarska Radost” (Romania), Local Democracy Center Association (Serbia), Innova Lab (N. Macedonia).
*Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.