KOOLITUS
Name of the project: “EmpowerED: Youth citizenship educators for inclusive democracy” Training Course
Date: 15th – 22th July, 2024
City/Country: Recoaro Terme (Vicenza), Italy
What was the main topic of the project?
Maria Smonina – Social inclusion and European citizenship.
Sandra Laur – The primary focus of the project was to explore and implement strategies for increasing societal involvement among young people and marginalised groups who face discrimination.
Killu Simson – Train and empower young leaders, who will work with new competences in order to encourage active participation and inclusion of young people, especially those with fewer opportunities, in the context of active citizenship and European citizenship.
What were the biggest learning moments of the event for you?
Maria Smonina – I have experimented and developed new learning practices and methods.
Sandra Laur – The biggest learning moment for me during the project was understanding the pivotal role of effective communication in fostering inclusion and engagement. I realised that creating open and respectful dialogue spaces allows young people and those discriminated against to voice their opinions, share their experiences, and actively participate in societal processes. This approach not only empowers individuals but also enriches the community by incorporating diverse perspectives and solutions.
Killu Simson – Since the project involved a visually impaired person, learning through him and with him was an amazing insight in how to later in my career help kids and young people with disabilities feel included.
Do you have any plans to continue being active in the field? If yes, in which way?
Maria Smonina – Yes. I will use the learning outcomes of this project in future Erasmus plus Youth exchange projects and I will incorporate more non-formal education methods into my practice.
Sandra Laur – Yes, absolutely. I plan to continue being active in this field by participating in more projects focused on youth engagement and inclusivity. I aim to contribute to initiatives that promote effective communication, provide education on citizenship, and support marginalised groups.
Killu Simson – Yes, I want to take part in many more projects and volunteer to work with disabled people to further educate myself.
Would you recommend this experience to your friends? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Maria Smonina – Yes, I recommend to participate in Erasmus plus trainings because it is a good possibility to acquire knowledge and specific know-how from good practice abroad.
Sandra Laur – Yes, I would definitely recommend this experience to my friends. The people involved were incredibly welcoming, creating an inclusive and supportive environment. Additionally, the project was highly educational, providing valuable insights and practical skills for promoting inclusivity and active citizenship. It was a rewarding experience that I believe would benefit anyone interested in making a positive impact in society.
Killu Simson – Yes, it helped me gain a lot of insight and cultural knowledge, in addition to all that, I also had a great time after the daily learning tasks were over and gained many new friends.
Other comments or anything else you would like to share? You can answer in your mother tongue, if you want!
This Project was financed by European Commission’s Erasmus + Programme
