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Description
The objective of this project is to establish a Youth Center in Gabrovo, which will offer comprehensive services for youth between 15 and 29 years of age including young people from vulnerable groups, meeting the high standards of youth work and the needs and desires of young people. For this purpose, a reconstruction of the summer theater complexes in Gabrovo is envisaged through performing the necessary construction and installation works, purchase and installation of the necessary equipment and furniture. The initiatives and activities will be developed and implemented in five main areas: “Attractive for young, active and enterprising people – Youth Center (Open Youth Zone)”, “Youth Leadership”, “Culture, ecology and creative activities”, “Sports and physical activity”, and" Health and wellbeing”. The activities will support the multicultural approach, protect the democratic values and promote active public participation; they will be aimed at active participation and empowerment of young people; opportunities for non-formal education in the field of democratic values, human rights, youth participation and social rights of youth will be provided; activities are envisaged to provide educational support to young people who are still in the education system but are at risk of dropping out; individualized services for social inclusion of youth from vulnerable groups; ensuring active interaction with the community, stakeholders, local public authorities to develop coordinated policies and actions for youth including those from vulnerable groups. The main target groups of the project are youth between 15 and 29 years of age; pupils at risk of dropping out or who have dropped out of the education system; youth at risk living in small and remote settlements or in economically less developed areas; other persons involved in the activities of the Youth Center including children, parents, teachers, community representatives.
Summary of project results
The project is aimed at solving the following problems and challenges: lack of social spaces for young people, suitable places for meetings, exchange of ideas and social activities; limited opportunities for personal development and lack of non-formal education programs, workshops and training courses to develop skills such as leadership, teamwork and entrepreneurship. A poorly developed support network for young people confronts them with problems such as unemployment, social isolation and lack of motivation. Need for integration of vulnerable groups from different social, ethnic and economic groups, creating an environment of tolerance and inclusion.
The Youth Center in Gabrovo was established in accordance with the standarts for quality for youth work: Fully equipped for the purposes building of the Youth Cener, with spaces for the staff and for the young people to meet, learn and for their free time, accomodations, catering, etc. Hired staff - youth workers, Roma educaional mediators, manager of the YC, trained to work in accordance with the requirements for youth work. Formed Youth Advisory Council - Gabrovo. Developed and implemented program for capacity development of young people and youth organizations, created an innovative youth internet platform for active youth dialogue and promotion of services to support young people. Developed and implemented various forms of youth volunteering, incl. of social and civic responsibility and initiative. Organized youth festivals about the role of young people in a dynamically changing global world.
Programs were developed for active volunteering, healthy lifestyle, prevention of the use of harmful substances, professional guidance and realization, development of key competences and skills, inclusion of vulnerable groups and prevention of social exclusion, incl. program for entrepreneurship and employment, for non-formal education and development of key competences, programs for the reintegration of school leavers, for supporting the achievements of young people in the field of innovation, entrepreneurship and social innovation, organizing information campaigns / orientation towards professional exchanges of young people people etc. Youth initiatives were developed by the young people and the YC supported their implementation.
More than 1750 young people were part of the activities implemented during the project.
The results of the project are a shared workspace for collaboration and common activities between youth, community, teams, etc. The Youth Center is an open area in the space of the Gabrovo Youth Center, which provides opportunities for various forms of youth involvement, support and expression, for the development of youth volunteering through various forms of social and civic responsibility and initiative. The Youth Center is accessible to all young people, supporting youth participation, youth empowerment and youth development in all areas of youth interest, including arts, science, social inclusion and active citizenship. The trained staff of the YC prepares and implements training for young people with the methods of the non-formal education, works together with teachers in the region to increase the reach of young people, motivate them for continued education and prevent dropouts from the educational system. And finally, with the support of the project, one of the most recognizable youth spaces in the municipality of Gabrovo was rebuilt, reopened and became accessible again - the youth theater, which is now part of the open space of the Youth Center.
Summary of bilateral results
Throughout the entire project implementation period, the beneficiary has maintained continuous and meaningful communication with the project partner - University for Green Development in the city of Bryne. Numerous discussions, meetings and exchange of correspondence with the Norwegian partner were done. The partner and the PP discussed the differences in the youth policy, assessed strengths and weaknesses, identified stages and methods of support from the partner, created a schedule and main goals in the partnership and the development of relationships. A study visits by the Norwegian partner was carried out in Gabrovo, with paticipation of 3 experts and 10 students, who conducted a training seminar on creating communities with the participation of the Youth Center team and young people from Gabrovo. As part of the visit, a demonstrative youth zone was also created at the Uzana Polyana Fest ecological festival. A study visit of 35 young people and youth workers to the University for Green Development in Bryne, Norway was organized. The participants were introduced to the Norwegian system of youth volunteering activities and the Norwegian Trekking Association (outdoor life organization), which organizes various activities for young people in nature, through which they support their personal development, civic activity, sense of belonging and responsibility for environmental protection. The young people of Gabrovo had the opportunity to become part of this reality through an experience - aiming at developing skills and knowledge of how important cooperation, teamwork skills, empathy and attention to the environment are.