Make Change Yourselves: Turning Challenges to Your Advantage!

The project is based on an innovative double learning approach which leads to double change! The participants are youth workers who learn to work for change by participating in the programme through workshops, from resource persons and their peers and in practice. At the same time, the participants work for change with marginalised and disadvantaged young people, who themselves learn and change whilst becoming actors for change. The eye-to-eye communication (resource people in the programme- professionals as participants - volunteers and young people) is underpinned by a participatory, asset based approach leading to empowerment which lifts up personal human dignity. Integrity of learning and learning to build up the integrity of personality go hand by hand. Learning, practice and spirituality are closely linked as the learning processes are close to everyday life and work. At the same time, learning and understanding gained throughout this learning and working process will be crucial for further research and developmental activities in the field. interdiac programmes integrate practice/action, learning and research. The added value of this project is that through an international process we can achieve innovative conceptual and practice based learning and produce working material which can be easily adjusted to other contexts, educational institutions and other organizations in the field. The materials will be transferrable to settings of formal and non-formal learning. The blended learning methodology ensures that the programme will be learner centred and rooted in diverse contexts. The recruiting of resource persons from diverse contexts of interdiac partner organisations and University partners will also ensure the relevance of the programme internationally. The contextuality will also be underpinned by reflective practice and the related co-learning through the 8 Mobility Exchange programme. 9 partner countries will participate in this project. The dissemination strategy will involve people and institutions in Europe and worldwide, as the applicant has strategic partnerships with worldwide umbrella organization, LWF. Authentic stories of the transformed young people as well as of participants and their organizations will be the best witness, ensuring a continuing life for the fruits of this project and at same time issuing an encouraging invitation to ‘Make Change Yourselves’.