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Description
The main objective of the project is to improve the quality of life of young people of Montana including those at risk and disadvantaged people, by establishing a Youth Center, which will provide comprehensive services for youth related to innovative, educational and non-formal trainings, psychological help and support, forums on youth problems and challenges, cultural, civic and sports initiatives. The activities are focused to a wide range of educational modules, trainings and clubs based on non-formal methods. The ultimate objective is to build key competencies and skills for personal and professional development. The activities are aimed at supporting the multicultural approach and democratic values, promoting active participation of youth, both in public life and in the activities of the Youth Center, which will meet the highest standards for youth work of the Council of Europe; exchanging experience and building long-term relationships with the project partner organization in the field of youth policy and work. The target group is youth between 15 and 29 years of age; pupils at risk of dropping out or dropped out of the education system; youth at risk from ethnic minorities; young people at risk living in small and remote settlements or in economically less developed areas; young people who are NEETs; pupils and youth with one parent; pupils and youth from families with low level of education; young people struggling with various addictions; children, parents, teachers and community representatives. The expected general and specific results are related to improving the social and economic development of the Municipality of Montana resulting from to investment and development of the potential of each child; improved and expanded access of young people to a variety of services that meet the modern expectations; fruitful cooperation with the partners from Iceland; attracting people of different ages.
Summary of project results
Lack of a safe space and place for young people in which activities can be organized based on their needs, interests and expectations; lack of conditions for implementing youth policy at the local level, popularization of non-formal education as a method and tool that empowers young people and significantly improves their participation in community life and turns them into engaged and responsible citizens.
The main focus of the project was young people from 15 to 29 years old, including those from vulnerable groups, and offering training and activities aimed at meeting their needs and requirements in order to transform them into responsible and motivated citizens. The activities were aimed at improving the language and digital skills of young people, supporting socialization and communication with other young people from the country, and including them in community life through various festivals and outdoor events. The Youth Centre was built, equipped and furnished to respond the needs of the young people, to provide training rooms, spaces for leasure activities, working spaces, and specialized rooms for different clubs, such as robotics, polyglot, digital compentences, etc. More than 60 trainings in the region of Montana were organized in different topics as democratic citizenship, empowerment, human rights, rule of law. To improve language and digital skills, 5 qualification courses were held with in English, Spanish and computer literacy, also aimed at vulnerable groups. Non-formal training in robotics and new technologies was developed as an innovative activity and in April, 2024, all participants from the club participated in the National Robotics Days, organized by the Robotics Club of TU - Sofia. The youth from the YC Montana were divided into three separate teams and one of the teams was awarded a certificate for worthy performance and participation. Various clubs of interest were established - tennis, badminton, aerobics and volleyball for women/girl to to encourage an active lifestyle and improve the health of young people. Activities for information and support of young parents were implemented, a Parents Club was established. Additional language courses were organized for children with a different mother tongue to improve their readiness to start or continue school.
The non-formal trainings conducted during the project on key topics that are outside the curriculum led to the formation of soft skills, such as presentation, teamwork, leadership, project preparation and implementation, improving financial literacy and acquisition of practical skills for managing personal finances, budgeting, saving and understanding financial products. Digital and media literacy was increased, related to the ability to critically evaluate information, effectively use digital tools and understand the influence of the media. A direct result of the "My Job" trainings is the increased readiness of the participants to join the labor market and skills in writing CVs, presenting at an interview and understanding expectations in the work environment. They indirectly influence potentially better job opportunities, respectively poverty reduction, improved communication skills and public speaking, ability to formulate and defend arguments and increased the level of awareness on topics related to democratic development and developed civic culture, which is a prerequisite for active participation in public life. Overall, participants in nonformal trainings are more active and engaged members of society, contributing positively to local development.
Innovative project activitiy the Robotics Club stimulated interest in science, technology, and developed teamwork skills among participants. In the Polyglot Club, young people acquired a basic level of Spanish and English language proficiency. Organized sports and art festivals led to improved physical fitness and creativity development, as well as higher awareness of opportunities for sports and creative development in the Youth Center and in Montana as a whole.
The effect of the Bulgarian Language Summer School for children with different mother tongue contributed to better Bulgarian language proficiency, facilitating better integration into the general education system and future academic achievements of the participants. It also contributed to better social integration of children from vulnerable groups. The construction of a modern building of the Youth Center provided space for events, meetings and social activities and became an attractive center for young people and provides better access to services that they are interested in and need.
Overall, the initiatives of the Youth Center - Montana contributed to personal development and social integration for more than 1500 young people who beneffited from the project activities.
Summary of bilateral results
Three working visits were organized and conducted by the partner organization - Vocational and Educational Center Hringya in Montana. The partner participated in a regional forum for exchange of experience and good practices with representatives of both the youth center and educational and social institutions in the territory of Montana.Two visits in Iceland were organized with participation of the management team and youth workers and Roma educational mediators to exchange experience and good practices, visits to three youth centers in Iceland were organized, where the team was informed about facilities of the youth centres, planned activities, different kind of funding, activites for social entrepreneurship, etc.A key result for Youth Center – Montana from the partnership is the shared Icelandic experience in the way of pre-planning the educational program of Hringsja and the cooperation between individual specialists. The use of various methods and techniques for the initial inclusion of young people and subsequent socialization through the programs and opportunities of the Hringsjá vocational and educational centerand the state. The partner expressed interest in cooperation in the field of building soft skills.