Learning to Participate

"=> CONTEXT, NEEDSLearning to Participate (LEAP) is a strategic partnership project for youth involving youth organisations and universities. Findings reveal that youth participation in social and political matters is low in comparison to other age groups and addressing it is a priority in all the countries participating in the project. The assumption of this project is that behind low youth participation there are structural factors, such as the lack of opportunities and means that fit young people's definition of participation itself.""How does Project-based learning empower young people and foster participation in non-formal education?"" is the research question of this project.Although a single accepted definition of Project-based Learning (PBL) does not exist (Pecore, 2015), the project takes into account the work of pedagogists such as Freinet, Kilpatrick and Dewey on this model. PBL is understood as a model that organises learning around projects, that is learner-centred and driven. PBL can promote youth empowerment, social inclusion and skills development of young people. This can counter low participation in social and political matters. In the framework of the project, empowerment is understood as the ""capacity for action"" intended as the opportunity, the space, the power and willingness to act. This definition is retrieved from the work of Yann Le Bossé who uses the term empowerment to refer to the capacity of people (in an individual or collective way) to exert a bigger control on what matters to them, their circle or the community/ies they identify with. =>PARTNERSFive organisations participate in this project: - University of Vienna, Austria coordinators of the project - University of Hannover, Germany - CSC Danilo Dolci, Italy - Sapere Aude, Austria - Udruga Mladi u EU, Croatia. The project lasts 2 years and ends in January 2021. =>OBJECTIVESGeneral objectives: -Promoting youth-centred pedagogical approaches in non-formal education youth organisations.-Reinforcing young people's empowerment intended as capacity for action.Specific ones: - Introduce Project-based learning as work practice in non-formal education youth organisations.- Support young people in the development of a social and civic competences (as defined by Key competence framework). - Strengthen common European values about youth participation. - Reinforce intercultural dialogue and respect for diversity amongst young people in the participating organisations. - Establish a new form of collaboration amongst formal and non-formal education organisations participating in the project. =>METHODOLOGYIn order to achieve the objectives of the project and to complete the results of the IOs, the implementation will follow a matrix of consequential steps:1/ During the first step the goal is to impact project partners and support them in the acquisition of knowledge about PBL. This will be led by the University of Vienna, which has expertise on PBL and how it is applied in other settings. This will happen in the first month of the project and during the first Transnational Meeting.2/ Within the second step, project partners will complete the first intermediate results within IO1, 2 and 3. The second step is to allow partners to train PBL to their youth workers. This will happen during the piloting of the training offer. 3/ During the third step, youth workers will implement PBL with young people during the learning mobility. This three-step approach, is understood as a systemic approach since it involves the direct target groups of this project (project partners, youth workers and young people). It is a systemic approach since it allows to address the key actors that have the role and the tasks to promote changes in their work with youth.=> ACTIVITIES, RESULTS AND PARTICIPANTS In order to achieve the previous mentioned objectives, the partnership will elaborate a set of tools that will be experimented in the elaboration of youth mobility projects. To support the development of knowledge and skills of youth workers, the partnership will elaborate a Pedagogical Booklet on Project-based learning (IO1), a PBL Methodology for education professionals (IO2), a Training offer for youth workers (IO3), a Charter on Youth Participation and Guidelines on PBL application for young people (IO4). These results are mainly intended for youth education professionals and young people. The profile of education professionals vary in terms of age, gender, origin, background and diplomas acquired in the youth work field. Around 350 people will participate as target groups within the project.=> IMPACTSThe project will impact: - Partner organisations, their staff members, their resources and work practices. - Young people/youth workers skills.- A systemic level in the sector of youth in terms of youth-centred pedagogies.The project is expected to produce lasting effects in terms of youth practices and youth involvement."