"<< Objectives >>1. To provide cultural and performing arts organisations with a new working methodology that favours social inclusion.2. To provide professionals in the cultural and performing arts sector with new digital tools.3. To create a regional, national and international network of entities with shared values of equity and inclusion.4. To favour the full and active participation of people at risk of social exclusion in cultural events.<< Implementation >>Project management and administration. Virtual follow-up meetings.2 transnational meetings (kick-off meeting and final meeting).3 learning activities in each of the participating countries.3 pilot courses for the compilation of learning and methodologies and their effective transfer.12 audiovisual training pills.9 training courses for the transfer of knowledge.3 local days for the dissemination of the project results.<< Results >>1. New training tools and methodologies for cultural professionals working with people with functional diversity.2. Effective transfer of knowledge and experiences between the participating entities, their teaching staff and collaborators.3. Creation of a network at regional, national and European level of social and cultural entities.4. Real access to culture for people at risk of exclusion through the ""ad hoc"" design of a cultural offer."

<< Objectives >>SEN students generally underperform in public education. They face particular difficulties in collaborating with peers, maintaining learning motivation, self-directed learning, emotional engagement and the use of technical tools. The project designs and tests a grassroot mentor system around them, involving parents and all stakeholders of the process, and trains its first coaches in order to alleviate capacity gaps in public education and mediate between school systems, families and counsellors.<< Implementation >>The project focuses on the exchange of experiences, the development of a grassroot mentor system which can be embed the formal education, and the training of its first coaches. Next to initial project management tasks, the work will be carried out in 4 thematic sessions: 1) Problem field specification, 2) Studying examples of parental activism, 3) Examining mentoring tecniques and SEN approaches, 4) Designing the system. The itinerary is followed by learning mobilities and pilot trainings.<< Results >>The long-term goal of the project is to build up a mentoring network embedded in the formal education system. CONCRETE OUTCOMES: *4 theoretical sessions accompanied by 4 learning activities and further pilot trainings. Exchanged experiences. * Trained coaches from min. 12 organisations. Improving pedagogical competences with SEN methods. *Designed and tested mentoring service system for SEN. *A handbook presentig project results. *A multiplier event inviting various stakeholders.

"This strategic partnership among Associació Alba, Handverkstæðið Ásgarður and Jaunuoliu Dienos Centras - organisations that work to meet the needs of people with disabilities - seeks to promote cooperation, to exchange knowledge and to use synergies among the three institutions in order to solve a common problem in all of them: the low variety of creative therapy activities that they are able to offer to their users. Thus, the main objectives in this project are to train people with disabilities to satisfy their own needs, to advocate for the professional development of their educators and to promote self-financing of the affected occupational therapy areas through production and sale of new articles with social value. The three partners have extensive experience both in the implementation of creative therapy activities and in the production of articles with social value and each of them is specialized in a specific field - painting, carpentry and pottery. Therefore, the project establishes for each of the three organizations to send a delegation composed of two young people with disabilities and two educators to the headquarters of the respective partners so that they can acquire certain knowledge and then they can apply it to their own organizations. People with disabilities, together with their educators, will be the main actors in each transnational learning activity in the project, being responsible for detecting the needs that need to be addressed, teaching / acquiring the necessary knowledge to do so and applying it properly together with their peers. Concerning the methodology we use to guarantee the success of the project, special emphasis is place on a selection process based on interests and motivations, a regular and efficient communication flow between the involved parts, an individual and customized follow-up and support of each participant during the whole project - with the reference educator as a key figure - and the promotion of both the sense of initiative and the ""learning by doing"" in each of the activities. In addition, the project foresees the promotion of social inclusion and interculturality concepts through non-formal education actions. CREA aims to have a relevant impact mainly on participants - young people with disabilities and educators -, on partner organisations and on the corresponding local communities. This effect will be perceived as an exchange of knowledge, skills, perspectives and points of view that will result in a discovery of new realities and awareness-raising. In addition, it is expected that the project also produces tangible results through a Guide of Production of articles with social value through creative therapy. On the long run, aa development of the project will contribute to the achievement of the strategic goals that the three partners have as organizations. In addition, we hope that the participant’s example can inspire other young people and workers in the field of youth to participate in similar mobility programs."

<< Background >>Volunteering is an important expression of active citizenship; it builds social capital, contributes to social cohesion and solidarity, provides valuable economic benefits to society and enables individuals to realise their potential. Volunteering plays a key role for individuals as a facilitator for inclusion, empowerment, skills building and networking. (EESC, 28.3.2012). Through volunteering people with disabilities (pwd) have access to new learning opportunities and get the possibility to help shape our societies. At an individual level, volunteering can be a means for citizens to acquire social skills, to play a useful role and to connect or re-connect with society. At the societal level, it can be a tool for the empowerment of people, especially for disadvantaged groups in society.” (EC, Brussels, 20.9.2011 COM (2011)). But volunteering is also a human right (European Treaty Series - No. 175). At European level voices demanded therefor that volunteering providers have inclusive recruitment processes for volunteering activities in place, identify barriers, and develop measure to overcome them. They should provide necessary support for specific target groups of potential volunteering, such as people with disabilities or mental health problems, so that everyone, who wants to volunteer is able to do so (see European Youth Forum, Volunteer Charter (2012, Art. 33, 42).So politically the importance of inclusive volunteering is recognised for quite some time, and the “Diversity and Inclusion Strategy” of the new Erasmus+ programme shows how the importance of this matter on European level. Nevertheless too little had been done so far to put these strategies into practice. One prominent commonality in all European countries is the disparity between the declaration of inclusiveness with most of the volunteer involving organisations (VIOs) and the actual situation: most of them do not systematically involve people with disabilities as volunteers or have a strategy and activities on inclusive volunteering. And all across Europe people with disabilities (pwd) are less likely to volunteer and lack of opportunities to do so. A comprehensive approach to promote, support and for implementing inclusive volunteering is still missing. Opportunities and the benefits of volunteering are not used to its full potential by and for people with disabilities as many barriers prevent: a) organisations and staff: lack of experience, being fearful of involving pwd in volunteering, stereotypes of pwd being just user of volunteering, foreseeing a lot of challenges and difficulties that are time consuming. b) potential volunteers with disabilities (pwd): not being aware of the opportunities of volunteering is an opportunity for social inclusion and personal development. about available volunteer positions and self-perception of being helpless, restrictions as most places are not barrier free. Through our comprehensive European model Improve 2.0. we want to overcome existing barriers and increase the number of people with disabilities volunteering and becoming active citizens in their local communities. We want to showcase: Inclusive volunteering can be normal across Europe.Our objectives will be:-develop and pilot-test support structures for pwd wanting to volunteer by counselling and training them and setting up a system of “Inclusion buddies”. -Organising own volunteer activities for pwd-develop and pilot-test quality measurements as well as counselling and training measure to make ViOs more inclusive and create more volunteer opportunities for pwd on community level-develop and pilot-test info-sessions, trainings and counselling services for parents and caretakers of and institutions for pwdsdeveloping campaigns to change the perception of the general public on pwd: everyone can volunteer – no matter what restrictions – pwd can contribute and participate actively in their local community.<< Objectives >>The main objective of our project is to empower people with physical, mental, intellectual and learning disabilities to volunteer and to use volunteering an important pathway into social inclusion in their local community and society in general. As they are often excluded from mainstream society and community life, and from volunteering, we want to identify and pilot-test effective ways on how to include them into volunteering and becoming active volunteers. We strongly believe all people should have the same opportunities to participate in community life, and to become an active citizen. Our goal is to give everyone the chance to do useful things for others and for the community. Everyone - meaning also people with disabilities or other restrictions - should be able to contribute and volunteer actively. Our vision is that volunteering is for everyone and that volunteering of people with disabilities should be normal.But there are barriers to volunteering and active participation for a lot of people with disabilities and other restrictions. Therefore we want to tear down walls of resistance and we want to avoid prejudices, stereotypes and stigmas. The general view on people with disabilities should be changed: they are truly not only receivers of volunteer work but can be volunteers themselves. Our ambition is to make the communities we live in more inclusive by creating opportunities for volunteering for people with disabilities. We’ll convince and support volunteer involving organisation to be open for volunteers with a disability. We’ll also work with parents and caretakers and institutions of pwd as they are most often gatekeepers for social inclusion, as a lot of our beneficiaries depend on their support. All together we want to create an atmosphere on community level, where volunteers with a disability will be welcome. But of course, pwd will be our main focus: we’ll like to empower them to become volunteers themselves. Our aim is to make volunteer work attractive to them. We explain them in easy language a) what volunteering is, b) what are the benefits of volunteering and c) how important it is, that they become volunteers themselves. We’ll support them in providing inclusive volunteer training and learning opportunities, upgrading their skills and qualification, finding the right volunteer work, organising the matching procedure and empowering people with intellectual disabilities to become volunteers. Moreover, this project is about diversity: There are lots of different people in the world, with different qualities, limitations and capacities. All of them live in our society and everyone has the right to volunteer and to be an active member in their local community and have a meaningful participation in our society. If they make the choice to volunteer, they have the right to do so. And of course, if they do not want to volunteer it is also their choice to make.<< Implementation >>We will develop and implement a volunteer buddy system to provide volunteers with disabilities (pwd) with additional support, assisting and developing them in their role. We will develop and implement inclusive volunteering strategies within volunteer involving organisations (ViOs), as well as the provision of recommendations and practical advice on how to create more inclusive volunteer programmes and environment. At the end of this project more volunteering opportunities for pwd will be available.We will inform and support parents and caretakers in allowing their children or clients to participate in volunteering when they wish to do so, and motivate them to support their children/clients to volunteer.And consequently, we will develop appropriate tools and training structure to support pwd in becoming active volunteers in their local community. Through campaigns and PR work, stakeholder meetings, events and gatherings we want to change people mind-sets and perception on pwd: not to see them only as receiver of support and help, but as active members of their community, who could contribute in a positive way to society.<< Results >>The result of IMProVE 2.0. will be a comprehensive approach to promote and support volunteering of pwd and increase their participation rate in volunteering. To achieve this, these results will be achieved: IO1 “Acquisition, training and support of voluntary “Inclusion Buddies”: We will develop and implement a volunteer buddy system to provide volunteers with disabilities (pwd) with additional support, assisting and developing them in their role. Results: job description and standards for the voluntary buddies, training curriculum, 2 pilot trainings, 40 trained Inclusion Buddies IO2 Provision of inclusive volunteer programmes and good quality volunteer management in volunteers involving organisations (ViOs): We will develop and implement inclusive volunteering strategies within ViOs, and provide recommendations on how to create more inclusive volunteer programmes and environment. Results: good practice collection, research report, guideline on involving ViOs successfully, pool of 20 (total 80) inclusive volunteer opportunities on local level, promotional material for ViOs (video and brochure), pilot trainings and training curriculum for volunteer coordinators , recommendations for ViOs, policy recommendations on how to promote and support inclusive volunteering in the volunteer world (e.g., inclusive online data bases, cooperation with local volunteer centers etc.), local networks on inclusive volunteering among ViOs IO3 Development of promotion tools, trainings and support structure for enhancing in disability facilities and among caretakers and parents of pwd As pwd usually need the support of caretakers and parents, it is necessary to convince them to empower their clients/children, if they want to volunteers. We will pilot test the 8 trainings (2 in each country) with at least 150 parents/ care takers/ students in total. With the other activities we will reach at least 60 parents and 150 caretakers directly, and 120 and 300 caretakers indirectly. Results: curriculum for staff development training on inclusive volunteering, counselling services for parents and staff, curriculum for info session and parent talk, good practice collection on supporters of inclusive volunteering, meaning staff and parents (testimonies, videos, talks), promotional material and videos for parents and caretakers, policy recommendations on how to inclusive volunteering in support services for pwd.IO4 Development of promotion tools, training and support structure for enhancing volunteering of pwd We will like to train at least 60 pwd to become volunteers and at least 50% of them volunteering long-term. Results: 2 concepts for info session for people with i) intellectual and ii) physical disabilities for promoting volunteering, accessible promotion material (videos, a photobook), pool of volunteer taster sessions for pwd, 8 own volunteer activities on local level involving pwd  recommendations for their local communities on how to be more inclusive, volunteer training curriculum for pwd, development and pilot testing of new matching methods and procedures, ongoing support of the volunteer work of pwd IO5 Development of promotion tools for inclusive volunteering to specific, but also the general public The perception of pwd just being receiver needs to be changed, and therefore it is important to showcase, that they can be not only receivers of help but helping themselves and being active volunteers. Results: traveling exhibition, social media & PR campaign, policy recommendations for stakeholders and policy makers, 24 “Stakeholder Breakfast”, 1 international conference in CZ for experts from volunteer and disability sector, 2 project videos (for experts +general public). All these different elements will contribute to a comprehensive approach of promoting inclusive volunteering. These elements will be available in English, German, Czech, Italian and Lithuanian and will be disseminated on local, regional, national, and European level.

"Despite the progress made there is still a significant gap in the opportunities that young adults and adults with intellectual disabilities in European countries such as Greece, Poland, and Lithuania have for education and training or for participation in the social and economic spheres of life. Among the contributing factors are: a) the lack of trained educators or other staff working with people with intellectual disabilities on text transformation processes in forms that are adapted to the needs and language skills of such persons, and b) the low utilization of ICT for learning purposes with the use of adapted materials, both because of lack of educators' awareness about and availability of suitable digital tools and because they lack appropriate knowledge and skills.In response to this problem is proposed the transfer knowledge and experience from experts of the Swedish governmental agency for accessible media MTM on the use of the ""easy to read"" method, which facilitates the transformation of text into forms that are easily understandable by people with limited capabilities in reading. The expertise of the Rix Research of the East London University (UEL) in Britain, which is a pioneer in the development of applications friendly to people with disabilities, is also utilized to integrate the use of the ""easy to read"" method in environments designed specifically for people with limited reading comprehension capabilities. The Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH) from Greece, which also has extensive experience in the development of related applications, will further contribute to this effort.The main part of the project focuses on training professionals from Greece, Poland and Lithuania who work in agencies providing educational services for people with intellectual disabilities. These bodies are doing exceptional work and are well networked in their countries. An international team of 12 professionals will be trained in two short training sessions by the MTM specialists on the ""easy to read"" method and by the UEL specialists on how to exploit the potentials offered by new technologies for people with intellectual disabilities. During the project there will be developed a manual on the ""easy to read"" method and learning material with the latest developments in the field of electronic applications for people with intellectual disabilities. Research will further be conducted in Greece, Lithuania and Poland to assess the needs of people with intellectual disabilities for information and learning on human rights issues. The above will lead to the development of an e-learning platform and mobile application with information and learning materials in ""easy to read"" format on human rights issues, and finally to the design and pilot testing in EL, LT and PL of a series of lesson plans that utilize the ""easy to read"" method for the education of people with intellectual disabilities on their basic rights. The implementation of the project is expected to motivate more professionals and organizations to develop their skills and use ""easy to read"" texts through electronic applications for the benefit of people with intellectual disabilities. It is also expected to produce important information / educational materials and tools in ""easy to read"" format, for free use by any person with difficulties in reading comprehension. The benefits of the project are significant and extend beyond the end of its life-cycle. It is expected to empower significantly professionals and organizations in the field and widen considerably the learning opportunities of people with difficulties in reading comprehension."