ID FORUM REPORTThe #IDForum2023 was a space to reflect, share practices, tools and resources, and discuss strategies for driving more inclusion and diversity into the EU Youth Programmes..
At the #IDForum2023 participants had the opportunity to co-create this space for stories, inspiration and togetherness in line with its objectives: |
ID Forum programme participants by SALTO Inclusion&Diversity
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DAY 1 - Celebrate togetherArrivals Day
Day 1 was focused on celebrating achievements in the current EU Youth Programme
OpeningThe Forum was opened with speeches by:
ID Mindset & Motivation
ID Connections: Marketplace
YILDIRIM BEYAZIT UNiVERSiTY (ANKARA, TÜRKİYE
IDENTITY.EDUCATION (TIMISOARA, ROMANIA)
IBB E.V. (DORTMUND, GERMANY)
STAMILY (THE NETHERLANDS)
STICHTING ANATTA FOUNDATION (THE NETHERLANDS)
JUGEND EINE WELT / WELTWEGWEISER - SERVICESTELLE FÜR INTERNATIONALE FREIWILLIGENEINSÄTZE
MASTERPEACE (UTRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS)
GIGOS VZW (GENK, BELGIUM)
ROOTS (FLANDERS, BELGIUM)
AMAIS (BUCHAREST, ROMANIA)
ASOCIATIA DOWN ACTIV MOLDOVA (BOTOSANI, ROMANIA)
FORUM FOR QUALITY FOSTER CARE OF CHILDREN (ZAGREB, CROATIA)
"CHANGING MYSELF...I CHANGE THE WORLD" (VOLOS, GREECE)
AĠENZIJA ŻGĦAŻAGĦ (ST VENERA, MALTA)
KAHRAMANMARAŞ SÜTÇÜ İMAM UNIVERSITY (KAHRAMANMARAŞ, TÜRKIYE)
MALTA CHAMBER OF SCIENTISTS (MALTA)
TUMULT (MECHELEN, BELGIUM)
Volunteers' Centre of Vojvodina (Novi Sad, Serbia)
Bagázs Közhasznú Egyesület (Bagázs Public Benefit Organisation) (Bag and Dány, Hungary)
Las Niñas del Tul, (Granada, Spain)
Children's rights KnowleDGe Centre (Ghent, Belgium)
The Finnish Roma Association (Helsinki, Finland)
Main Activities: The Finnish Roma Association promotes Roma human rights, increases Roma people’s active participation and builds their leadership. Brief Description: The main target groups include the elderly Roma, Roma women in their active ages and Roma youth. The skills and capacities of Roma for social participation have been strengthened by training on human rights, intersectionality, Roma policy, anti-Gypsyism, and others. An internship program has been established to improve the working life readiness and further employment opportunities of the Roma. For Whom? Cultural differences More info: https://www.suomenromaniyhdistys.fi/ Sivas Gelisim Genclik Dernegi (Sivas, Turkey)
ID Connections: Reflections
The marketplace was followed by both group and individual reflections of the experience throughout the day, and peer sharing.
Click on the titles + for further details Group Reflection: "OUR ORGANISATIONS AND THE RESOURCES / NETWORKS THAT SUPPORT US"
Individual Reflection: TODAY'S DISCOVERIES AND TAKEAWAYS
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DAY 2 - Find inspirationDay 2 of the programme was devoted to finding inspiration from various sources - people, cases, and organisations
ID Stories
Josip Luša
Session Report - Rapporteur Marija Kljajic Topic Josip has been in and around Erasmus+ since 2015. Having started out in the field of vocational education and training, he is now in the SALTO team and committed to implementation and development of various activities and outputs (trainings, seminars, conferences, guidelines, reports, tools) that help organisations be more inclusive and diverse in their E+ projects and everyday work. Main points or issues 1. Understanding I&D It’s important to broaden the definition of inclusion, as it’s often see as only disability
Just having an open call is often not enough to get young people with fewer opportunities on board. It’s important to provide additional support, involve parents, peers, etc.
Opportunities
Challenges
Tudor Paul Scripor
Session Report - Rapporteur Miriam Petra Ómarsdóttir Awad Topic Scripor alphabet and its usefulness in inclusion Main points or issues
Opportunities
Challenges
Main Takeaways Only 10% are born blind. 90+% of people become blind later in life and remember the colors and what they look like. The code is also relevant for those who never saw colours, as they can understand which colours are associated with which things (grass, sky, etc). Being able to differentiate colours is an issue of inclusion: it can mean that you know how to colour coordinate your clothes, you can participate in playing games based on colours, you can recognise different objects that are normally recognisable by colours (red vs green apple, red vs. white wine, etc). Linda Ulane
Session Report - Rapporteur Tony Geudens Topic Youth work in prisons Main points or issues
• Video about the target group (virtual study visit, during corona): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeArOPEkk5Q&ab_channel=VirtualStudyVisit Opportunities
Main Takeaways You need to believe in what you are doing. Change is slow. But in a yearly assessment there was a significant different between young people in the programme and not in programme, less recividive (repeat crime), better communication skills, break less rules, etc. So it works in the long run. I know it works. Katina Anna Ahmad
Session report - Rapporteur - Name Jutta Kivimäki Opetushallitus Topic "Changing myself...I change the world" Main points or issues
Opportunities
Challenges
Main Takeaways
Other remarks Organisation has used Erasmus+ KA2 project to create the tools to help communicative skills of the parents and disabled young people. Lotus Li
Session report - Rapporteur - Name Anja Frohner Topic Representation of young people with people of colour and its challenges Main points or issues
Opportunities
Challenges
Main Takeaways While representing a whole (minority) group can be a burden, it also brings certain opportunities; giving voice to a diverse group of young people necessary to bring change, even if it feels like a long road. Julia Curmi
Session report - Rapporteur Luca Pável Topic
Main points or issues
Opportunities
Challenges
Main Takeaways
Other remarks The Implicit Association Test (IAT): https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html Wendy Broos
Session report - Rapporteur Irja de Heij Topic Since 2021, Wendy supports the I&D Officer of the Dutch NA by doing quantitative & qualitative research regarding inclusion and diversity in "our" projects and organisations, and by translating the results to insights and action steps. It’s a story of asking questions (leading to answers - and more questions), and of trying to capture our colourful and three-dimensional world on paper, with words. Main points or issues
Opportunities
Challenges
Main Takeaways
Other remarks
Julia Stolberova
Session report - Rapporteur Matúš Zibala Topic Running an inclusive private school in Estonia Main points or issues
Opportunities
Challenges
Main Takeaways
Florin Ceparu
Session report - Rapporteur Simona Musteata Topic Inclusion & diversity & youth work in public administration Main points or issues
Opportunities
Challenges
Main Takeaways
Yarima Lugo
Session report - Rapporteur Marjolein Vandenbroucke Topic Art as tool for peace and a sustainable impact Main points or issues
Opportunities
Challenges
Main Takeaways
Other remarks
ID Skills - Case Studies & Workshops
Road 1: Convincing everybody that inclusion & diversity work is important
Main learning points identified in the presentation. The show equals our life and its structure which can be represented by 3 stages: 1. beginning - feelings, characters 2. culmination, peripety 3. ending, leave it open
Road 2: Active outreach to have more young people with fewer opportunities
IDEA DEVELOPMENT
Main learning points identified in the presentation
Road 3: Reducing barriers for young people with fewer opportunities
Main learning points identified in the presentation.
Harvesting (Final presentation after work in small groups)
Other remarks
Road 4: Maximising the impact of European Programmes and European youth projects on I&D
Main learning points identified in the presentation Adapt your activity to the target group:
Harvesting (Final presentation after work in small groups)
Road 5: Mainstreaming Inclusion & Diversity in European Programmes and European youth projects
Main learning points identified in the presentation
Harvesting (Final presentation after work in small groups)
Questions & Answers Section
ID Quest: Field Visits
No. 1 - Scout Edu Hub - Romanian Scouts
Scout Edu Hub is a safe space for the Ukrainian refugee community, a place where children and young people can relax – a welcoming space to socialize, read, participate in workshops focused on developmental stages, needs of the beneficiaries and their particular interests, in line with the vision of scouting (for example, pottery workshops, knot workshops, craft workshops and creative recycling). Scout Edu Hub promotes integration and inclusion through periodical workshops involving Romanian Scouts and the Ukrainian community in ludic activities, first aid workshops, picnics and many more. During the last 6 months, more than 800 children, youth and adults were part of the humanitarian activities. Session report - Brief description of the field visit Scout Edu Hub came to exist in 2022 in the context of war in Ukraine. Was started with the aim to support the refugees.The funding comes from UNICEF. We were showed around the building, saw different working rooms and spaces for children, parents and teens. The visit started with a small dance activity with group of Ukrainian children. This was followed by an presentation and a discussion with hosting organisation. The work of the centre is based on several pillars:
They work with preschool, primary school children, teens and parents. The organisation uses different pedagogical approaches and method, like Montessori, scouting, art, etc., to cover different aspects of development of children impacted by war. Some Ukrainian children and teens already joined the scouts, but for the most that’s difficult due to a language barrier. Ukrainian youth is also included into the scouts summer camps. The Hub is also cooperating with Ukrainian scout organisations. Main learning points identified in the presentation
Questions & answers Section
Challenge: After visiting the space, participants are invited to find solutions to the following questions: How might we ensure long-lasting sustainable intervention through public and private funding?
How can we improve our approach with regards to funding alternatives?
No. 2 - Ukrainian Youth Hub - Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation (RAA)
In June 2022, with the support of NRC and UNICEF, RAA started the youth work component, one of the most needed and appreciated activities, embraced with enthusiasm by staff and volunteers. In the first months, the youth hub activities were organized twice a week to a space at the Romanian National Library where Ukrainian youth engaged in non-formal education activities, attended Romanian and English classes and met Romanian volunteers. City hunt activities, different workshops and trips complemented the activities in the national Library. Since the end of December 2022, a dedicated space for the Youth Hub has been identified and rented so that activities can be co-designed with young people, and organized on a daily basis. The Ukrainian Youth Hub is a social and recreational center that supports opportunities for young people aged 13 – 30 years old to develop their physical, social, emotional, and cognitive abilities and to experience achievement, leadership, enjoyment, friendship, and recognition.It offers organized activities such as arts, science, crafts, theater, photography workshops, trips, English and Romanian classes, debate clubs and many other activities. Moreover, the youth center also offers unstructured activities such as game playing, socializing, club meetings, and outdoor activities.The Youth HUB is open daily from 12.00 to 19.00 and a team of 5 youth workers (Ukrainian and Romanian) and also invited volunteers facilitate life skills workshops on a regular basis.Over 500 young people attended the youth hub by the end of March.As RAA is also an ERASMUS accredited organisation for youth, young people, volunteers and youth workers are part of the youth exchange planning for 2023. Session report - Brief description of the field visit We visited the youth hub and had interactive activities with the youth workers/volunteers. Main learning points identified in the presentation
Challenge: After visiting the space, participants are invited to find solutions to the following questions: Youth Hub is a place where teens are spending a lot of time. Spending so much time with other young people, sometimes conflicts can arise. Given the diversity of age and nationality of the young people who come to the Hub, how would you solve this challenge?
There are periods when young people lose interest and motivation in volunteering and even in participating in open youth hub activities. The causes of this phenomenon are multiple, among them we identified: the large workload for school or the influence of the friends’ group. How would you solve this challenge and keep them engaged on a long term?
No. 3 - FNT Youth Centre - National Youth Foundation
The center was inaugurated on July 12 2022 and the activities carried out target Romanian, Ukrainian and international youth. National Youth Foundation (FNT) is an umbrella organization whose members are represented by County Youth Foundations around the country and it was founded in 2007. The FNT Youth Center is a location that has the role of providing a safe space for young people, where they can benefit from activities and services specific to their needs (non-formal educational activities, recreational activities, Romanian and English language courses). There are a wide range of very specific workshops and activities for youth, from game nights, stand-up comedy and art therapy sessions to workshops related to personal development, gender roles and sexual education, support in identifying a job and the list goes on.The center is open daily, functioning as both an educational space and a relaxation space for young people. Young people can come spend time, make new friends, learn new things, develop themselves and also make a change in the local community! Session Report - Brief description of the field visit During the field visit to FNT Youth Centre, we explored the facilities and activities offered by the center. The center, which started in 2007 and is supported by the main FNT structure, caters to both Romanian and Ukrainian youth. The visit provided insights into the center's goals of offering meaningful activities and fostering an intercultural environment. Main learning points identified in the presentation
The field visit showcased the dedication of the FNT Youth Centre in supporting young people and creating opportunities for their personal development. Despite challenges, such as limited resources and language barriers, the center remains committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for youth. The visit also highlighted the importance of good human resources in the youth field and the potential of social media platforms to engage and empower young individuals. Overall, the FNT Youth Centre serves as a valuable resource for youth in the region, aiming to make a positive impact on their lives and foster intercultural understanding. Other remarks:
Challenge: After visiting the space, participants were invited to find solutions to the following questions: How can we better promote the activities of the center to local youth?
No. 4 - Temporary Emergency Hosting Shelter - CARUSEL Association
The Emergency Hosting Shelter offers shelter, food and non-stop assistance for 40 refugees / day. The shelter is managed in partnership with DGASMB - Bucharest Social Assistance Direction and the Faculty of Sociology and Social Assistance, and is based on the relentless work and great experience of Carusel Association in offering emergency services to Romanians facing homelessness and extreme situations, (such as night shelters, basic services, support on the street). Carusel supports over 2500 people a year, including those who are homeless, people living with tuberculosis and HIV, sex workers, and people with substance abuse problems. On International Refugees Day in 2022, 3 months after the war started, Carusel representatives were saying: “A few months ago, we would never have imagined that we would be taking care of a refugee shelter. That we will cry, we will laugh with them, that we will look for papers, flights and baby food, that we will celebrate birthdays and barbecues together, that we will play with the children and learn a few words of Ukrainian. It caught us off guard and we mobilized quickly. Because we knew there was a need and that refugees are now some of the most vulnerable. That they need support, assistance, empathy. Since we opened the Şerban Vodă Shelter for refugees, a few days after the outbreak of the war [in the first 3 months of the crisis], more than 300 people have crossed our threshold. Some stayed a day, some more, and some have been here for over two months. Almost without exception, the shelter's 40 places were always full.” Session report - Brief description of the field visit 13 participants of the ID Forum joined this field visit, together with one facilitator. They were hosted by Marian Ursan, the executive director of Carusel, together with a volunteer and a second staff member. Participants found out about the activities usually run by Carusel (acting as a social provider for vulnerable people from the metropolitan area of Bucharest) and how they integrated hosting the refugees in their activities. The place used to be a winter shelter for homeless people; in the winter of 2021-2022 it was not functioning (because of the pandemic) and once the war started, it was turned into a shelter for Ukrainian refugees. 382 refugees benefited from the center's services since it was open - some of them for only a few nights, transiting, some of them for long periods of time. The centre features the following:
They also shared some of the challenges of the refugees they have been working with
Participants had a tour of the shelter and could also talk to one Ukrainian refugee. Main learning points identified in the presentation
Questions & answers Section
Other remarks The Carusel representative shared their belief that human dignity should stay at the basis of the social intervention and caring about people. People should not be put in uncomfortable situations, beyond their dignity (like asking for an ID to a homeless person for a formal registration). Challenge: After visiting the space, participants are invited to find solutions to the following questions: How can we ensure sustainability of places that offer basic services to the people facing extreme situations (war, homelessness)?
How could we increase solidarity and change the image of disadvantaged groups to the general public?
No. 5 - Ukrainian Refugee Center (Student Dormitory C2) - Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest (UTCB)
The Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest has not been indifferent to the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine. The C2 Dormitory was thus renovated and reopened, with over 100 rooms and a capacity of 300 spaces for refugees and persons who escaped Ukraine. The primary services provided are continuously updated in accordance with different needs and include everything from housing refugees, cleaning, distributing food and other basic necessities to obtaining temporary permits that carry medical insurance for each beneficiary under the public system, registering them and accompanying them to the doctor. All of these tasks were handled by students. Most frequently, the shared objective agreed upon by all parties concerned is accomplished: integrating the people from the center into Romanian society and giving support so that they are aware of their rights and have access to all resources made accessible to them. Education continues to be a top concern because minors make up more than half of the center's beneficiaries. The entire activity of the center has been documented in various articles published by partners, in video or audio reports and in interviews such as: ’From the engineering class to running a shelter for more than 200 Ukrainian refugees | UNICEF Romania’. In cooperation with all public and private institutions involved in this crisis, the UTCB-C2 Ukrainian Refugee Center continues to operate in compliance with the laws currently in effect. The lives of volunteer students, hundreds of people, partners, associations, organizations and 2400 Ukrainian beneficiaries, with different ideals and dreams, get to write together the STORY of the UTCB Refugee Center, a story that promises to continue regardless of circumstances. Session report - Brief description of the field visit
Main learning points identified in the presentation
Questions & answers Section
Challenge: After visiting the space, participants are invited to find solutions to the following questions: How would you handle situations where there is a limited supply of medicine or other basic products and high demand from refugees? What steps would you take to ensure fairness and equal distribution of medicines or other basic products to all refugees?
Given that a community of more than 150 people from various ethnic and national backgrounds always lives in the center, there may be disagreements or disputes. How can we handle these situations more effectively and how can we tackle them collectively? What strategies should we use to facilitate better communication and understanding between refugees of different ethnic backgrounds? How should we ensure that the needs and perspectives of all ethnic groups within the refugee center are being taken into account?
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DAY 3 - Look into the futureDay 3 aimed to look ahead to future challenges and opportunities to drive more inclusion into the EU youth programmes during the morning sessions
CLOSINGBy utilizing Mentimeter to reflect on the journey of the ID Forum, participants were able to gather the following significant highlights and key takeaways:
To conclude, two initiatives in the field of youth work were briefly presented paving the way to the future of I&D:
YES - Youth EcoSystem
Strategic Partnership for Inclusion (SPI)
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