YOUTH IN AFRICA: Sharing visions, improving realities

The project “YOUTH IN AFRICA: sharing visions, improving realities!” is a Capacity Building in the field of Youth project coordinated by Aventura Marão Clube (AMC) from Portugal, a local association, created in 1993 which is the leader of non-formal education in the region, and well-experienced working with youth (especially hosting and sending EVS volunteers and social entrepreneurship). This partnership involved also partner organizations from other 4 European countries –Italy, France, Greece and Romania and 3 ACP countries – Cape Verde, Benin and Ghana which are all directly connected to youth and volunteering. The main objectives were:- Deepening cooperation (strategic partnerships, working methods, management and internationalization) between partners in order to facilitate non formal mobility learning schemes (mainly EVS and Workcamps);- Introduce sustainable approaches for management and youth work and to open new synergies and opportunities with other stakeholders (other NGO’s, public authorities, business sector, etc.);- Foster the cooperation of EU-Africa in the youth field, empowering the youth workers and it´s associations from Africa and Europe to tackle social and cultural issues under NFE methods;- Develop skills and competences in project management and NFE methods, through which the youth workers from African and EU countries will improve the quality of their activities in local communities;- Empower youth associations, promote volunteering and participation, active citizenship, intercultural dialogue, entrepreneurship skills and solidarity between EU and African countries, and;- Develop new training methods and tools such as spots, videos and storytelling brochures which disseminate the project results and the new knowledge base gained among the networks of EU and African countries.Youth in Africa project focused on capacity building through, entrepreneurship skills, project management tools and strategies (Fair Trade, Workcamps, Sustainable tourism) and NFE methodologies. The project, was developed between the 1st November 2017 and 31st July 2019 (21 months), with the following main activities/mobilities:- 1 Workshop in Cape Verde (knowledge about project management, volunteering and NFE);- 3 Mid-term evaluation and EVS preparation Meetings in Cape Verde, Ghana and Benin (knowledge into practical scenarios);- 3 EVS projects (EU to Africa) in Cape Verde, Ghana and Benin to experience, practice and learn;- 1 Mobility for Youth Workers in Benin (skills about Fair Trade, Workcamps and fundraising);- 1 Mobility for Youth Workers in Ghana (evaluation and follow-up);- 1 Final meeting in Portugal (follow-up activities and project reporting).