Developing Motivation in Youth Participation by Non-Formal Education-DeMoYouth – empowered by NFE
In this very enriching project in which we have participated we had the following objectives:
To develop the capacity of the young participants to engage in dialogue with decision-makers through non-formal learning tools during the project period.
To develop the active participation of young people in European democratic life through non-formal learning tools during the project period.
To develop the active participation of young people in social life through local (Hungarian, Romanian, Romanian, Greek, Polish) activities during the project period.
The program began with an online kick-off meeting, consisting of two sessions, each lasting 3 hours. During these sessions, discussions took place with partners regarding the program, communication plan, finances, responsibilities, and the formation of working groups.
A crucial part of the project was the preparatory mobility, which took place in Budapest. Group leaders played a significant role in mentoring and supporting young individuals in creating sessions. Therefore, we collaboratively sought alignment on perspectives and knowledge levels while providing assistance with tools and knowledge to facilitate the mentoring process.
Given the importance of participants’ and group leaders’ mental health, opportunities for online mentoring, coaching, and supportive conversations were available throughout the project. Group leaders underwent individual coaching as a mandatory part of the program, and towards the end of the project, there was a group coaching session for collectively addressing challenges, sharing experiences, and learning from each other.
The project included four online sessions. The first session involved participants mapping their learning journey and motivation, focusing on media literacy. The next two sessions aimed to enhance participants’ knowledge of democracy using non-formal methods, with decision-makers from partner countries leading activities such as forum theater, poster creation, scene enactment, and hot seat discussions.
The final online meeting before mobility covered practical aspects, discussing the venue, travel, and preparing participants for the democracy-themed workshops they would conduct for their peers.
The mobility in Szentendre at Pap Sziget Camping comprised a diverse program emphasizing team building. A Trainer’s Handbook developed during an Erasmus Plus Strategic Partnership and our own facilitation expertise guided the activities. Each day began with energizers for participant engagement and ended with reflections facilitated by group leaders, who received prior training during the preparatory mobility.
Inter-cultural evenings, game nights, and social events were integral to the program. Subsequently, participants took a more active role, focusing on democracy in the mornings and using non-formal methods in the afternoons, with facilitators providing guidance. The sessions drew from established resources like the Compass: A Manual on Human Rights Education with Young People and Democracy through Drama: Open Education Resources Guidebooks, aligning with Erasmus Plus objectives.
Following these foundations, participants, with support from group leaders and facilitators, created sessions in international teams. They then tested these sessions with the local community, adapted them to local needs in subsequent sessions, and sought mentorship and consultation from Euroactive during this period.
The project’s outcomes were presented in an online event, including interactive games for participants.
The activities we carried out throughout the project can be found in the guide: open guide in new window
