Crafting Youth Future Engagement

<< Background >>We applied for the Crafts Youth Future Engagement (CYFE) project to address two critical needs. Firstly, there was a significant gap in the transmission of craftsmanship knowledge and skills to younger generations. Secondly, many young people lacked awareness of the diverse crafts professions and their significance.With an aging demographic among craftsmen and the absence of succession plans, there was a risk of losing invaluable skills and experiences. CYFE aimed to bridge this gap by facilitating the transfer of skills from craftsmen to young individuals, fostering new relationships for the benefit of future generations.Additionally, CYFE aimed to highlight the values of craftsmanship, such as expertise, entrepreneurship, quality, sustainability, and cultural heritage preservation. By doing so, we aimed to demonstrate how craftsmanship contributes to sustainability and responsible consumption.CYFE was conceived as a response to these challenges, aiming to facilitate the transfer of skills and crafts from seasoned craftsmen to young individuals. By building new relationships between these two groups, we aimed to lay the groundwork for the continued flourishing of craftsmanship for years to come.<< Objectives >>The project had a clear aim: to revolutionize how European citizens, especially young people aged 13 to 18, viewed craft professions. It sought to underscore the importance of crafts as responsible and sustainable career options in the global market. Utilizing virtual reality and other modern technologies was key to making these professions more appealing to the youth, tapping into their preferred modes of learning and communication.Our objectives were multifaceted. Firstly, we aimed to equip youth workers with effective tools and methodologies to guide young individuals toward craft careers. This meant arming them with knowledge about the opportunities, skills, and significance of crafts in sustainable economies.Secondly, we endeavored to foster meaningful connections between craftsmen and young people. Facilitating mutual learning and the transfer of craft skills was crucial for preserving the continuity of these professions. It was about passing down essential know-how and knowledge about tools and processes to future generations.Lastly, we leveraged modern technologies such as virtual reality to create immersive experiences showcasing the creativity, innovation, and sustainability inherent in craft professions.<< Implementation >>The project aimed to develop educational materials for young people based on consultation with craftsmen through interviews and detailed descriptions of their profession. The project was implemented across participating countries and focused on interactivity to make the materials engaging for young people. The partners used the principles of gamification and graphic design to develop the materials and incorporate high-technological features such as virtual reality tours. To test everything, youth workers received joint staff training to prepare them for the utilization of all the materials, which then were further tested with young people. Multiplier events were held to support the dissemination of the project and to increase awareness of the importance of crafts for a brighter future. The results of the project are to provide young people with engaging educational materials, to increase awareness of the importance of crafts, and to train youth workers on utilizing the materials effectively. << Results >>During the project, CYFE partners aimed to achieve three results to increase the visibility of crafts and improve learning programs, making it a desirable career option for young people. These 3 results are:1. A Guidebook for youth workers provides specific information about crafts professions, their links with real markets, and resources for youth workers to better support young people in choosing their profession. The guidebook is based on interviews with 24 craftsmen in different professions and areas, desk research, and one interactive map that was published on the Mad'in Europe website.2. The youth toolkit is designed to familiarize young people with selected craft professions in an interactive, didactic, and engaging manner. It includes a Short Funny guide printed in seven languages and a set of gamified materials to promote the knowledge of craft professions. The gamified materials consist of two online games and one card game with cards featuring raw materials in all partner languages.3. Virtual tours of 6 craft workshops across the European Union. These tours offer a revolutionary way to introduce young people to various crafts and can be effectively used by youth workers to showcase these professions.Other CYFE project activities:ME1 Presentation of results on Edutainment platform in Czech RepublicME ID 2 - 6 CYFE National seminars in the Czech Republic, Poland, France, Italy, PortugalME ID 7 Final conference in Brussels in BelgiumC1 Youth workers' preparedness training on CYFE in Cieszyn in Poland The outcomes of this project led to improved materials to disseminate craft professions based on sustainability, innovation, and contemporaneity. There could be an increased capacity of youth workers to promote crafts as a future profession, greater awareness of young people about crafts and how they represent sustainability and the green economy, and enhanced knowledge of young people about the different professions and where to go for vocational training.