"<< Background >>The COVID-19 crisis had consequences in all the aspects of our daily life regardless of age and social differences. The lockdown measures affected all young people who had to face such a limited and uncertain situation in a phase of their development that has already some peculiar difficulties. The gap increases if we consider youth from rural areas and those at risk of social exclusion. Although youth are the major users of digital tools and social networks as a way to stay connected, they have been deprived of elements such as freedom and interaction, that are essential in this phase of life. On the one hand the main negative impacts on youth caused by this crisis are: rise of physical and mental stress with consequences on mental health; increase of isolation and social exclusion; alteration and challenges in family relationships; rise of risk of online pressure and cyberbullying; uncertainty about life plans. A research conducted by the European Youth Forum highlighted that due to COVID-19 nearly 40% of young people across the globe report being uncertain about their future.The CoviPrev survey, published by the French National Public Health Agency, shows that the alteration of anxious status during the lockdown has affected above all young people between 25 and 34 years of age. An investigation conducted by Ipsos and the Italian Ministry for Equal Opportunities and Family, covering a sample of young people aged 18-34, in Italy, Germany, France and Spain showed that in Italy the economic and labour uncertainty has questioned young people's life plans more than in France and Spain. A research of the Psychological Clinic of Aristotle University in Greece shows that 70% of respondents (age group 18-39) declared they faced much higher levels of loneliness and isolation, while 71% declare that they have high levels of anger. The study “My well-being”, conducted by Vilnius University (Lithuania), shows that more than half of the young surveyed were negatively affected by the changed study process during the pandemic, and a quarter indicated that they experienced great stress due to limited access to various services. On the other hand, according to 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development, sport is a tool to enhance mental health by delivering social, psychological and physiological benefits, so it may be a key to overcome critical conditions.The project foresees the application of creative approaches to combatting the psychological issues and the negative consequences of unpredictable and/or traumatic events that may affect young people. It primarily focuses on the empowerment of young people, in particular those living in disadvantaged situations or in vulnerable conditions by helping them overcome stress and discomforts they may face in their daily lives. The project intends to apply dance and other forms of art as effective tools to support youth to concentrate on oneself in order to be able to control one's body, release the stress, regain a balance and consequently to improve the quality of their life and the relations with the others. The project promotes the quality of youth work and the capacity building of professionals working with youth, equipping them with innovative and creative methodologies that can make their work more effective in dealing with youth challenges. During the project, young people will be involved in an online training to develop an educational empowering path. Youth workers and professionals of dance and other forms of art dealing with young people will learn new methodologies and activities applying dance and arts for better addressing youth challenges. They will transfer their knowledge to the organisations' staff, to improve their actions in the field of youth. Finally, an App, with interactive and customisable contents, combining mindfulness, dance and arts, will be developed to support young people's wellbeing and help them in developing healthy habits.<< Objectives >>The project DASS aims to deal with challenges affecting youth, creating an educational path through training applying therapeutic effects of dance and other forms of art, associated with experiences lived through other artistic disciplines, divided into different modules. The project aims to develop a creative approach that may act in the long-term to benefit young people and their well-being while tackling the negative impacts of the current crisis. Objectives: - Foster creative and artistic responses for youth living in difficult situations; - Develop artistic sensibility while promoting well-being and tackling mental and physical stress of youth; - Develop the ability to understand and describe feelings without fear of judgment and the ability of self-expression; - Providing long term benefits for young people by applying methodologies of dance along with complementary artistic tools, for young people who are experiencing stress and discomfort as negative consequences of the pandemic; - Promoting social inclusion, diversity and tolerance, as well as the intercultural dialogue - Foster the positive and educational use of digital tools among young people, creating a safe virtual learning environment; - Enhance competences of youth workers through the training on innovative methodologies to apply in their daily work; - Improve capacity building of youth workers and enhance high quality of youth work; - Enhance the ability of partners’ staff to deal with youth challenges and improve the impact of the organisations in the field of youth.<< Implementation >>During the project DASS the consortium will develop three project results, by implementing the following activities R1: Dancing and artistic empowering training (M2- M9) A1.Review of the methodologies, practices and activities (M2-M3) Leader: Essevesse A2.Surveys to understand young people’s discomforts (M3-M4) Leader: Active Youth A3.Creation of the contents for the 5 modules (M3-M5) Leader: CEIPES A4.Online training for young people (M5-M9) Leader: Essevesse A5.Collection of feedback from the participants (M9) Leader: Smart Umbrella R2: DASS Booklet (M10-M17) A1: Collecting feedbacks from the participants to the LTT activity (M10) Leader: CEIPES A2: Collecting the methodologies and the activities. (M11-M13) Leader: Diversity HUB A3: Creation of the Booklet (M14-M17) Leader: Active Youth R3: App ""Mind-yourself"" (M10-M24) A1: graphics of the app (M10-M11) Leader CEIPES A2: content development (M11-M14) Leader: Active Youth A3: content creation - (M14-M19) Leader: Diversity HUB A4: translation of contents (M19-M20) Leader: Smart Umbrella A5: uploading the contents in the app (M20-M21) Leader: CEIPES A6: initial testing of the app (M21-M22) Leader: Essevesse A7: launch and promotion of the app (M23-M24) Leader: CEIPES During the project, the consortium will implement 5 transational meetings: TM1 - Kick-off meeting in France (M1) TM2 in Lithuania (M6) TM3 in Greece (M12) TM4 in Poland (M18) TM5 in France (M24) The staff of the partners will be involved in a LTT activity (M10) that will take place in Italy. Essevesse will train the professionals working in the organisations of the partnership, on the use and application of dance and other forms of art for therapeutic purposes, to develop innovative tools for the empowerment of youth. For the good sharing and promotion of project's results, the partners will organise the following multiplier events: Local Multiplier events in Italy, Poland, Greece and Lithuania (M23) Final event - Festival ""EYTA"" (M24)<< Results >>Project result 1 includes several activities, namely a review of methodologies and practices applying dance and arts for empowering youth, a survey investigating youth's discomforts and the creation of educational modules, aimed to the development of an educational path in the form of an online training, applying dance and movement methodologies associated with experiences lived and other artistic disciplines. The training is divided into 5 different modules, as follows: 1. Analysis of the stressful factors in young people’s daily life, above all those incurred since the pandemic began, and introduction to the methodologies of dance and movement; 2. Tailoring the therapeutic approach according to the issues raised. Working on stressful situations, distress, fears and the reactions; 3. Working on expressing the feelings and developing processes of defusing, for one’s self and the interaction with others; 4. Working on creating positive physical and mental responses; 5. Evaluating the positive effects and contributing to the creation of a booklet with methodologies applied and some exercises for maintaining long term benefits. The training will provide long-term benefits for young people living stressful situations and facing the consequences of the restrictions due to the pandemic. Project result 2 will consist of a Booklet containing methodologies, practices, activities to tackle negative feelings of stressful events, addressing youth workers, educators professionals from dance and arts field working closely with youth. The Booklet will provide creative and effective tools that will enhance the quality of youth work and increase the effective response to youth challenges. Project Result 3 will comprise a self-help mobile application for youth combining mindfulness, dance and art. The activities to create this tool include the brainstorming, development, construction, testing, and launch of the app. The App provides customisable paths for young people, suggesting artistic activities, audios, videos and informative tabs that can support the users in improving their well-being and their daily habits."

The success of any company is affected by the satisfaction of employees. Employees who are satisfied with their jobs are more committed, productive and more likely to stay with an organization (high satisfaction implies lower turnover and absenteeism).The research conducted before the project proved that employees of small companies feel less valued and perceive different satisfaction factors than those in big companies. Employee satisfaction is not being measured and managed in adequate manner amongst the SMEs because of: insufficient tools and actions; high costs and level complexity of available tools and not enough skilled owners and managers. Additionally, the labor market situation in Europe after coronavirus pandemic might be very difficult or even critical for SMEs what justifies special efforts for this sector to support them to compete with big companies. All this proves the need to provide small companies with adequate knowledge and tools to measure and manage employee satisfaction in small business.Therefore SATISF_ACTION! project aims to enrich the work-based learning offer for SMEs by designing, testing and disseminating innovative and practical programme for managing employee satisfaction in small companies (incl. use of ICT) within 6 countries by the 31.12.2022. Direct aim reflects further objectives which are:• to develop knowledge and skills of owners and managers of small companies to assess and manage employee satisfaction;• to raise the awareness of the business advantage of managing employee satisfaction and creating satisfying working environment;• to build social inclusion through the growing number of companies which take care of employee satisfaction and offer inclusive workplace. Project is expected to last 26 months (11.2020 – 12.2022), is undertaken by 6 partners from 6 countries: Poland – ORANGE HILL, Malta – IIF International Integrity Foundation (previously: Foundation for Empowering Gender Equality), Spain - INDEPCIE, Czech Republic – INTITUT INPRO , France – LENO FRANCE and Greece – SMART UMBRELLA. Projects results with complex work-based learning programme for managing employee satisfaction in small companies consisting of: • whitepaper presenting the results of mapping employee satisfaction management in small companies in partner countries on European background and promoting best practices in the field;• work-based learning online tool dedicated to owners and managers of small business to assess employee satisfaction and to guide the process of implementing improvements in organisation;• coursebook on employee satisfaction consisting of videoguide and 12 podcasts with written one-pager materials;Educational resources will be made available online as open educational resources and will be published in 7 languages: English, Spanish, French, Polish, Czech, Greek and Maltese. Results will be disseminated through 6 national multiplier events and through active engagement of environment and promotion.Further expected results of the project are:• Developed knowledge and skills of owners and managers of small companies on how to recognise (assess) and manage employee satisfaction and to build satisfying workplace;• Increased awareness of the need to manage the employee satisfaction and practical knowledge on how to do it;• Implementation of aware employee satisfaction management procedures and policies in organisations taking part in the project;• Building social inclusion through growth of number of companies which take care of employee satisfaction and offer inclusive workplace;• Raised awareness of EU and Erasmus+ positive impact on small companies. Project is addressed to owners and managers of small companies (up to 50 people), who are direct users of projects’ results and are intended to implement project solutions in their organisations. Group of users is expanded with all organisations and individuals who are offering advisory and training services (18 companies will take part in project implementation and testing but through dissemination and engagement of many stakeholders project is intended to reach hundreds of potential users).Indirect target group are employees of small companies and in general the community of small business - all those who benefit from implementing solutions raising employee satisfaction and this way making more inclusive workplace.

<< Objectives >>*Promoting environmental education through hands-on activities to involve students in local heritage, culture, ecology, and experiences*Increasing student participation in place-based learning activities to gain environment-friendly behaviors, moral values, cooperation, emotional maturity, self-discipline,design-based thinking, and understanding democratic processes. *Raising awareness of place-based education to encourage teachers & students to use the schoolyard, community & public lands<< Implementation >>WP1Project ManagementWP2School to Farm Competency Framework in the context of the STEAM discipline + TPM1WP3Game-Based and STEAM-focused Learning Resources to be used in Farming Education+LTTWP4Digitally-enriched educational games in the context of farm-based environmental education+TPM2WP5Engagement of Results & Sustainability+TPM3*Local & International level -Developing a Project Management Handbook -Developing a Project Website- a joint LTT -5 Multiplier events-visual materials<< Results >>*WP11-Competency framework defines the concept “use of farms as an ecological and pedagogic educational environment” and becomes school-to-farm literate citizens. *WP22-Open Educational Resources to be used in educational environments while having place-based learning(extracurricular lessons plans(12 modules-24 weeks) to be used in farm-school collaboration)*WP3-Digitally-enriched educational games in the context of farm-based environmental education. (at least six interactive digital games)

<< Background >>The European Union deploys many forces and is strongly committed to achieving gender parity through policy instruments such as the Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025.However, a needs analysis carried out by the project partners through online questionnaire addressed to municipalities has found out that:- the knowledge of the EU Gender Equality Strategy on the part of public administrations is very limited, as it is the recognition of the importance of promoting gender culture and equality, especially when it comes to the design and delivery of services. In particular:- administrators’ and Municipalities employees’ knowledge on gender-culture related themes is still weak (58%)- specific training on gender equality is mainly let the “personal interest” of administrators/civil servants (53,5%)- structural training will make the difference in enabling local administrator in the gender-equality challenge (73%) - practical tools for supporting public bodies in achieving gender equality are missing (69,5%)- support and networking with civil society is an added value and a strong input for Municipalities (100%) - need to overcome lack of cooperation among Municipalities on gender-related issues from an operational point of view 88,5% (vs from a policy point of view: 42%).E-QUALITY project will therefore address the need to actively work toward ensuring women’s participation in society, starting from the environment where political decisions and measures are taken, namely Municipalities.<< Objectives >>The project general objective is to create the conditions for continuity of actions on gender culture at a policy-making level, in order to improve and raise awareness on women’s position in society, promoting their social inclusion, civic engagement and participation.In order to bring a significant change and achieve the before-mentioned goal, the project will aim at:- increasing administrators’ and Municipalities employees’ knowledge on gender-culture related themes;- developing practical tools for supporting public bodies in achieving gender equality and contributing to social and territorial planning by spreading project results.The training of municipal employees will be designed to include a priority focus on gender issues within the subjects of interest for the social planning of the territory administered<< Implementation >>Main activities to be implemented within the project will be the following:WP1 - Project management and coordinationWP2 - New curricula on gender equality for public bodies> including cross fertilization training between partners to set up the training modelWP3 - Transnational training on gender equality for municipalities> testing of the training within municipalities at local levelWP4 - Digital interactive platform and guidelines to achieve gender equality> Assessment of national and European framework> Collection and drafting of materials> setting up of the PlatformWP5 - Communication and dissemination activities<< Results >>E-QUALITY project is going to develop 2 main results:1 - Realization of a NEW TRAINING CURRICULA FOR PUBLIC BODIES specifically addressed to provide their employees with new knowledge and skills on gender equality2 - Development of a DIGITAL INTERACTIVE PLATFORM & GUIDELINES TO ACHIEVE GENDER EQUALITY containing guidelines and best practices for European municipalities and public bodies on how to train public workers in order to reach the EU Agenda for gender equality and EU regulations, recommendations and policies.Above-mentioned results will lead to the following outcomes:- Providing municipalities and their employees with useful tools and skills to address gender and women's equality issues within their working environment and by promoting civil society actions and initiatives;- Increasing the soft and hard skills of municipal employees to upscale their working performance;- Increased knowledge among beneficiaries on key topics related to gender equality and how they can be declined and incorporated into local policies and regulations.

Practitioners in Social Work (PSW), and mainly those from disadvantaged areas as rural areas or small villages, face a strong need to develop approaches that respond to the new social challenges of the disadvantaged communities, but mostly to the burn-out phenomenon they often face. This reality lead the project consortium to develop a joint non-formal framework for empowering PSW from rural areas of 7 European countries in increasing their participation to the rural community life and in developing complementary skills that help them facing current social problems of the vulnerable groups from their community.The direct target group consisted in 84 social workers and people that work in social work field, but without a diploma in social work, who work in disadvantaged areas, called during project Practitioners in social work (PSW). The indirect target group consists in other PSW from other regions of project partners, regional community stakeholders, other scholars and practitioners in social work across Europe. In order to achieve the project goal, the following objectives and approaches (activities and methodology) were followed: 1. To improve the knowledge and abilities of 84 PSW from the project partners regions and to enable and encourage them to use the community resources and ICT technologies for a better assistance of the vulnerable groups from the rural communities where they work and most of them live. This was achieved by participating to 7 national short-term training sessions about how to develop community and professional networks, evaluation of impact and how to use the ICT tools created in the project and by developing and administrating a virtual community of practice that will rely on peer-to-peer communication, informal learning and developing competencies by exchanging experience. 2. To provide to those 84 PSW the opportunity to create a culture of self-care and reflective practice and to develop and implement innovative practices related to management of stress, frustration from failures and moral distress that occasionally occur in their professional activity and could lead to burnout and compassion fatigue. This was achieved by participating together to 7 intercultural and transnational practice-research-workshops (face to face and on-line), by creating together a handbook with tools and techniques that could be used by any practitioner in social work field when needed and by disseminating the information acquired into the wider community of practice, through the online platform created in the project. 3. To foster collaboration and networking within the European social work community and to strength the institutional capacity of 7 European institutions, active in the field of social work education/intervention, to develop a non-formal educational network in rural social work research and practice and to create and sustain an effective support mechanism for PSW from rural areas in addressing their professional needs, by conducting a study research for a comparative analysis on the perceptions and the needs of the PSW from the rural regions of the project partners about burn-out phenomenon. This objective was achieved by organizing 2 international conferences about rural social work, 2 short-term joint staff training events in partners countries, informing seminars and focus-groups with the stakeholders from the rural communities of PSW about the need to work in network for supporting social work activity, by developing regional rural networks in social work field and by disseminating the project results into the wider community of practice and into the regional/national and European virtual communities. The new methodologies and tools used in the project encouraged and improved the PSW participation to their personal and professional development and taught them how to work in network, using the on-line platform of discussions and the handbook with tools. The targeted PSW facilitated the contacts between the partners staff and the stakeholders from their communities, in order to involve the members of those communities in playing a more active role in supporting PSW in their work. The project learning activities created an open communication climate that gave to PSW the opportunity to experience intercultural communication in a real-life situation and developed the framework for transfer of good practices among project partners, in order to reduce the gaps in development and intervention at rural community level.