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Description
While appreciating the importance and role played by formal education, we believe that there is still too little emphasis on non-formal education and its beneficial influence on young people. Our Association was founded, among others in order to help young people find themselves, their calling, their talents. We know that it is not always possible and easy for them in the school environment, where their possibilities are severely limited, and rigid frames often kill creativity. That is why we give young people (especially young people at risk of social exclusion) an alternative in the form of non-formal education, classes, workshops, trips, meetings or support in obtaining funds for their own ideas.
Inspired by the activities of our partner from Norway, we would like to go a step further and implement the idea that sprouted in our heads already some time ago: to develop an inclusive educational program accessible to young people with fewer opportunities aged 18-30, thanks to which they will be able to take part in volunteering abroad, visit, travel, help others, at the same time getting to know themselves and discovering their possibilities. We know that graduation from high school is often such a turning point for a young person. A moment when not every young person already knows what they would like to do in life, what to learn or where to work. We know from our own experience that it is often a very good time to travel abroad through, for example, an internship or volunteering, which opens up new perspectives for young people. This type of non-formal education is a great opportunity to broaden one''s horizons, find one''s way and become independent.
Summary of project results
The study visit took place between the 24th and 28th of February 2022. We actually managed to implement the visit in almost exact same dates as we planned when writing the application.
Because we were lucky to be accommodated in our partner''s headquarters, in the hotel run by DRH Norway, we could really observe their work and daily duties from up close and also we didn''t waste time on commuting.
Our partner discussed and presented in detail the history of the organisation, from the very beginning and we could understand how and why their activities and priorities were changing with time. We were also told about their methods of non-formal education with young people who are often in danger of social exclusion. We also heard about the strategy, vision and future plans of our partner.
We also met current and former volunteers of DRH Norway. We visited as well two local high schools to get to know the local context a bit better: Nansenskolen in Lillehammer and Arbeiderbevegelsens folkehøgskole Ringsaker.
We proceeded to discuss together potential future project that we could co-create. What is very importnat for us, thanks to this visit we applied together with our Norwegian partner for an Erasmus+ project which was, by the end of June, accepted. We are thus looking forward to our 2-year cooperation on this new project, which we will be starting soon.
Summary of bilateral results
Partner Norway is a trustworthy, reliable and dependable partner. We could count on him when our flight was delayed and when we needed help with airport transportation. Our cooperation and communication has been flawless from the beginning of the project, and continues to be, as we are involved together in a 2-year, just-approved Erasmus+ project that will involve youth at risk of exclusion.