“Erasmus+: Youth” Cyprus National Agency

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Erasmus+ Enriching Lives, Opening minds for 30 years!

Erasmus+ is the EU COMM programme that funds activities at the fields of Education, training, Youth and Sport, for the period 2014-2020. Unified Programme that succeeded former programmes such as Youth in Action and LLP (Erasmus, Comenius, Leonardo etc.) Cyprus National Agencies • Youthboard of Cyprus (youth sector) • Foundation for the Management of European Lifelong Learning Programmes

(Education and Training sector)

Programme Structure

KA1 Learning Mobilities

KA3 Support for Policy Reform

Erasmus+

KA2 Cooperation & innovation for good practices

Special Activities: - Jean Monnet - Sport

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Aims

The aim of Erasmus+ is to contribute to the Europe 2020 strategy for growth, jobs, social equity and inclusion, as well as the aims of ET2020, the EU's strategic framework for

education and training.

Erasmus+ also aims to promote the sustainable development of its partners in the field of higher education, and contribute to achieving the objectives of the EU Youth Strategy.

Specific issues tackled by the programme include:

• Reducing unemployment, especially among young people • Promoting adult learning, especially for new skills and skills required by the labour

market. • Encouraging young people to take part in European democracy • Supporting innovation, cooperation and reform • Reducing early school leaving • Promoting cooperation and mobility with the EU's partner countries

Erasmus+ Enriching Lives, Opening minds for 30 years!

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In the Youth field, Erasmus+: • Promotes Youth Mobility and the Mobility of Youth workers within the

European Union Borders and in some other countries outside Europe with non formal and informal education activities.

• Supports intercultural dialogue and encourages solidarity and tolerance

between young people. • Aims to involve Young Europeans to the shaping of a common future within

Europe.

Applications can be made by: NGOs, Public and private organisations, informal youth groups But NOT from individuals!

Erasmus+ Enriching Lives, Opening minds for 30 years!

What is non formal and informal learning?

Non formal learning

Learning through activities (working groups, workshops, round table sessions, on the spot visits etc)

The activities are planned, facilitated and aim to achieve specific learning goals.

Not part of the official education and training system

Informal learning

Occurs through everyday activities(such as family activities, leisure-time activities, during work etc)

Not organised or structured, not planned, don’t have specific targets, time limits etc

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Erasmus+ Key actions In the Youth Field

Key Action 1 (KA1):

Youth Exchanges

Mobility of youth workers

European Voluntary Service (EVS)

Key Action 2 (KA2):

Strategic Partnerships with other sectors’ stakeholders (education, business world, public sector, local authorities etc) for innovation or for the exchange of good practice

Transnational Youth Initiatives

Key Action 3 (KA3):

Structured Dialogue – Meetings between the Youth and Policy Makers in the field of Youth.

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Youth Exchanges (1/3)

o Suitable for Youth NGOs and informal groups of young people aged 13-30.

o Young people can travel from one country to another and be hosted for a short period of time (a few days) in order to participate at activities designed by them to discuss various youth related issues on priorities set by the EU.

o A youth exchanges activity can involve workshops, discussions, simulations, outdoor activities etc.

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Key Action 1: Funded activities in the Youth Field

Youth Exchanges (2/3) • Duration: between 5 and 21 days. • All travel, board and lodging expenses are covered. • An individual young person should join an NGO or a non formal

group which will organise an activity or be a partner at one. • A non formal group is a group of at least 4 youngsters between

13 and 30 • The group of young people participating in an exchange should

consist of at least 4 young people and a leader over 18

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Youth Exchanges (3/3)

A real project:

“Youth against hate”

Objective: The skills and knowledge development on understanding the term “hate speech” the recognition and fighting of the phenomenon with the use of human rights tools and various non formal training activities

Beneficiary: Cypriot NGO

Partners: Romania, Slovakia, Italy, Greece

Project duration: 7 months

Approved budget: €10.000

Mobility of 25 young people in Cyprus

Mobility duration: 7 days

Activities: get to know each other, intro to YOUTHPASS, training in human rights, what is hate speech and how it is tackled, intercultural activities (party, night out) preparation of a campaign video.

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Mobility of youth workers (1/3)

o Activities that support the professional development of youth workers and may include seminars, training sessions, study visits, job shadowing etc.

o Youth workers participate in such activities in order to contribute to the capacity building of their sending organization.

o Duration: 2 days to 2 months.

o Travel and accommodation expenses are covered

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Mobility of youth workers (2/3)

o No age limit for participants

o An individual person should join an NGO or a non formal group which will organise an activity or be a partner at one.

o A youth worker can also take advantage of the opportunities for training in the field of Youth, by participating at “TCA-Transnational Cooperation Activities”, that are organized by the National Agencies of the Programme https://www.salto-youth.net/tools/european-training-calendar/

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Mobility of youth workers (2/3)

A real project:

“The youth employment crisis: Time for action”

Objective: Training of trainers at the use of theater play for the reinforcement of creativity and entrepreneurship spirit of young people.

Beneficiary: Cypriot NGO

Partners: Portugal, Estonia, Latvia, Spain, Romania. France, Germany, Greece

Project duration: 7 months

Approved budget: €28.000

Mobility of 34 youth workers in Cyprus

Mobility duration: 9 days

Activities: get to know each other, team building activities, discussions, theatrical games, team work

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European Voluntary Service (ΕVS) (1/3)

o This activity gives the opportunity to young people aged 17-30 to work voluntarily for NGOs or local authorities abroad, in the fields of social work, environment, youth information, culture, sports etc. It is open to all young people and there are no prerequisites.

o EVS should not substitute payed work

o Only accredited organizations can send or host volunteers

o Duration 2-12 months (except special cases) 14

European Voluntary Service (ΕVS) (2/3)

o A young person can participate only once in an EVS project

o All expenses are covered including an insurance plan for the volunteer.

o A volunteer can receive linguistic support for the working language of the hosting organization.

o Τthe volunteer receives a monthly allowance as pocket money, depending on the hosting country

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European Voluntary Service (ΕVS) (3/3)

Steps to go through in order to participate in an EVS project: • Find a Cypriot accredited organization which will act as a sending

organization. • Decide on the subject of volunteer work and find an accredited

organization abroad to host you To search for the above go to http://europa.eu/youth/volunteering/evs-organisation_el)

o Prepare a CV and a letter of interest and send it to the hosting organization.

o If chosen, be prepared! Get in touch with former volunteers and be in constant contact with both the sending and the hosting organizations.

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Strategic Partnerships in the filed of Youth (1/3)

o Projects that promote cooperation between organizations active in various fields such as youth, education, enterprise world, local authorities etc in order to exchange good practice and produce innovation..

o At least two partners from two different countries are required. These two could be NGOs, universities, private enterprises, local authorities etc.

o The partnerships could be cross sectoral or concern only the youth field. 17

Key Action 2

Strategic Partnerships in the filed of Youth (2/3)

• Duration: 6 months – 3 years

• Aim at: o Cooperation and networking o Quality and innovation o Exchange of good practice o Development, recognition and validation of non formal education skills o Entrepreneurship o Etc (more in the Programme guide)

• Main activities in the field of youth: • Production of innovative intellectual outputs • Transnational initiatives in the youth field with participation of at least two partners

from two countries • Cooperation with other fields for exchange of good practice

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Key Action 2

Strategic Partnerships in the filed of Youth (2/3) Real project:

“Become a successful entrepreneur”

Objectives – Outputs:

• Creation of a 3d video game, where participants could virtually go through all the steps in order to become entrepreneurs

• Suggestions and reports for change in the Education system in order to promote entrepreneurship.

Beneficiary:Cypriot private education institute

Partners: Universities in Cyprus and Greece, a Business Consultants private agency

Project duration: 20 months

Approved budget: €137.000 (expenses covered: organizational, intellectual outputs production, travel and accommodation for training sessions, multipliers events and exceptional costs)

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Keu Action 2

Structured Dialogue – Meetings between young people and policy makers in the field of youth (1/2)

o Projects that promote active participation of young people in European Democratic life and the development of dialogue with decision makers.

o The participation of at least 30 young people is required.

oNo age limit for decision makers and experts.

Main activities of a KA3 project:

o National and transnational meetings between young people and policy makers to discuss Structured Dialogue related issues and the participation of young people in general.

o European Youth Week related activities that promote dialogue between young people and decision makers.

o Simulation of democratic and policy making institutions suck as the EU Parliament, a local Parliament and various other EU institutions.

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Key Action 3

Structured Dialogue – Meetings between young people and policy makers in the field of youth (2/2)

A real project:

“EU Youth council”

Objective: Familiarization of young people with the decision making process and work of EU institutions, through games of simulation and other non formal learning methods, with the participation of 50 young people aged 16 -30.

Beneficiary: Youth NGO in Cyprus

Project duration: 6 months

Approved budget: €5.800

Main activity duration: 3 days

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Why participate? What is there to gain?

Lifetime Experiences

Social inclusion Equal

opportunities

Empowerment

Get to know other

cultures

Better CV and networking

Skills and knowledge

development

Participate in decision making

become active

citizens

… and all of this funded by the European Commisson!

What is Youthpass; Another thing to gain!

EU tool for recognition of learning outcomes that occur through the participation of young people and youth workers in Erasmus+ projects.

Tool for self-evaluation of the non formal learning skills gained

More at www.youthpass.eu

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How to get involved in Erasmus+ ;

Apply for a project via your organization or be a partner in a project of another organization

Find vacancies in projects and EVS opportunities through or Facebook Page or Visit the European Youth Portal http://europa.eu/youth/volunteering/evs-organisation_el

Read about the European Solidarity Corp, the new initiative for Voluntary Work in Europe, which is realized through EVS (https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity_en)

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Useful Information

Erasmus+ EU website: http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/node_en

Cyprus National Agencies common website: www.erasmusplus.cy

Erasmus+ Projects Results Platform http:// ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/projects/ Partner finding tool “OTLAS” https://www.salto-youth.net/tools/otlas-partner-finding/

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Contact us at:

Website: www.erasmusplus.cy

Facebook: www.facebook.com/erasmusplusyouthcy Email: Erasmusplus@onek.org.cy

Tel: 00357 22402644

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www.onek.org.cy

“Erasmus+: Youth” Cyprus National Agency

Questions ?

Thank you for your attention

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