“Diverse Youth Identities”

Asukoht: Thessaloniki, Greece

Toimumise aeg: 17.06.2019 – 24.06.2019

Saatvaks organisatsiooniks on Avatud Ühiskond MTÜ. Koolituse eesmärk on tuua kokku üliõpilased, noored, vabatahtlikud, õpetajad, õppejõud, koolitajad, õpipoisid, noorsootöötajad, ja haridustöötajad, et arutada ühiselt seksuaalsest orientatsioonist ning LGBT kogukonna õiguste mõtestamisest noorsootöös. Osaleja peab olema vähemalt 18 aastane ning vanuse ülempiir puudub.

Õpiränne on üheks programmi Euroopa Noored kandvaks ja arendavaks jõuks, sest selle kaudu kujundatakse tulevikku silmas pidades noorsootöö kvaliteeti. See toimub peamiselt läbi rahvusvahelise kogemustevahetuse ning noorsootöötajate täiendkoolituse, aga ka rahvusvaheliste võrgustike ja partnerlussuhete arengu toetamise. Noorsootöötajate õpirände kaudu edendatakse väga erinevaid tegevusvorme – alates diskussioonidest Euroopa noorsoopoliitika päevakorralistel teemadel ja lõpetades konkreetsete projektide teostuseks vajalike partnerlussuhete arendamisega.

Noorsootöötajate osalus õpirändes panustab samuti organisatsiooni tegevussuutlikkuse arengusse.

Aastal 2018 pööratakse Erasmus+ programmis erilist tähelepanu noorsootöötajate pädevuste arendamisele ja meetodite jagamisele, mis aitavad edasi anda meie ühiskonna põhiväärtusi ja ära hoida noorte radikaliseerumist.

Projekti töökeel on inglise keel ning sellest lähtuvalt on projektiga seonduv informatsioon ning registreerimine lisatud vastavalt. Korduma kippuvate küsimustega on võimalik tutvuda siin. Kõikide küsimustega võib meie poole pöörduda eesti keeles: info@uhiskond.ee

General information and description of the project

The training course “Diverse youth identities” is organized by „PRAXIS GREECE” in Thessaloniki, Greece, during the period of, 17.06.2019 – 24.06.2019, including three team members from Estonia. There will be 33 participants in total from Greece, UK SCOTLAND -, Cyprus , Bulgaria, Poland , Lithuania, Estonia, Italy, Romania and Spain.

This Training Course aims to explore Sexual Identity and Gender Expression/Identity for those unfamiliar with the LGBT+ collective. The TC will provide participants with the necessary competencies to include Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression perspectives in Youth Work Practice and to combat prejudice and discriminatory attitudes.

The project is addressed to youth organizations who are interested to develop youth workers/leaders competences in the field of Sexual Identity and Gender Expression/Identity to give them proper tools and methods to help young people to adapt with the situation of “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity” level in all its aspects. We seek youth workers who are interested in promoting accessible and inclusive youth work, and who are committed to developing their own practice. The training course will also provide an opportunity to build relationships and to help youth workers to network with youth work practitioners from across Europe.

The objectives make this aim more specific:

• To provide the necessary competencies to include a positive approach to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression in youth work practice.
• To explore the specificities and challenges of working with LGBT+ young people in Education settings and European activities.
• To look at the difficulties that LGBT+ young people face and how practitioners can become facilitators for positive change or growth.
• To provide a framework of action and a series of tools to challenge discrimination on the basis of SOGI. “Sexual orientation and gender identity” (SOGI) is a term used by the BC Human Rights Code to describe an area of prohibited discrimination. It is an inclusive term that encompasses all individuals regardless of where they identify on the sexual orientation or gender identity spectrums, including lesbian, gay, and bisexual.
• To offer a space for inquiry and personal growth of participants.
• To raise awareness and acceptance of LGBTI people across the European Union – To reach citizens, foster diversity and nondiscrimination
• To support key actors responsible to promote and advance equal rights for LGBTI people in the EU
• To use Erasmus+ programme as a tool to carry out projects that promote LGBTI Rights, Human Rights and equality.
• The course methodology in this training is based on experiential learning and non-formal education, in an atmosphere where participants can learn from each other (peer learning) and feel empowered to share their experiences, and critically examine their practice.
• Some sessions will be worked in small groups and the theoretical topics both in a plenary and small group. Spaces for participants to share experiences will be provided in order for the participants to be more actively involved in the course.
• Additionally, online live interviews, videos, graphic facilitation and storytelling methods, the way of the council and open space activities, will support the flow of the Training Course.

Learning objectives and needs of the training course are:

The identified needs are mainly focused on:

• The need to promote moments of socialization among LGBT minorities and other young people in favour of social inclusion.
• The need to create relational bridges between young people from LGBT minorities and other young people to reduce discriminatory social and cultural rights barriers;
• To share and explore together the different elements of LGBT’ cultures in different countries;
• To find the impact on LGBT’ culture in the mainstream culture in order to recognise the mutual intercultural learning between general and LGBT communities;
•  To share methods and techniques on working with LGBT people together in order to break the stereotypes and prejudices;
•  To build a solid partnership among represented organisations.

Specific objectives:

1. Raise awareness about social problems and the needs of youth from LGBT communities;
2. Increase awareness of “inter-culturality” and diversity in society;
3. Promote new actions of social inclusion aimed at LGBT minorities through participatory methodologies, such as non-formal education (NFE);
4. Ensure social values such as tolerance and respect for others, through inclusive practices;
5. Promote the inclusion and social participation of young people from  in society;
6. Promoting intercultural dialogue and cooperation between European organizations;
7. Promote access to European opportunities for social inclusion; personal and social development

The methodology of the training course is:

Experienced trainers will prepare the methods based on the expectations and needs of the participants. They will provide participatory and creative methods which will ensure the participation of experienced and less experienced participants. Some methods we will plan to use: individual, pair and mixed group work, drawings, montage/collage, group discussions, brainstorming, role play, methods’ market, preparing a booklet, visit to good practice project, idea and project development, etc.

Who can participate in the training course:

✓ Youth workers, youth leaders who directly work with young people with different cultural backgrounds e.g. refugees, migrants, foreign kids, young people coming home from othercountries, minorities, Roma young people, etc.
✓ Youth workers, youth leaders who have already run at least one international youth project experience, preferably youth exchange, or were already group leaders in youth exchange;
✓ Having organisational support to further cooperation;
✓ Open to recognise own stereotypes and prejudices and work on these;
✓ Willing to adapt intercultural education into their youth work realities based on the needs of their target groups;
✓ Ready to take part in the whole project;
✓ To be able to communicate English language.

Relevant information:

The Erasmus + Programme will cover 100% of the accommodation, food and activities and will reimburse 100% of the travel costs for the participants – up to 360 euros. It is recommended to have a disposal for small expenses. Take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions. Please fill in this form to apply and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch: info@uhiskond.ee.

Participants will receive a  “Youthpass” certificate which describes and validates the non-formal and informal learning experience gained during the project, to be attached to the CV.

Registration deadline:  As soon as possible