This project proposal comes from the idea to follow up the Edu-Action project, a CBY implemented from August 2016 to September 2017, in order to capitalise the results of the experiences of the first-round participants (youth workers). The general aim of this proposal was to promote transnational non-formal learning mobility between Programme and Partner Countries with a view to improving participants' level of competences and fostering their active participation in society involving youth organisations aiming at increasing school attendance.The participating organisations are Per Esempio (IT), Asociación Uruguaya de Difusión del Español como Lengua Extranjera (UY), Asociación Mundus – Un Mundo a tus Pies – (ES), Resource Hub for Development (KE), Seiklejate Vennaskond (EE), Campaign for Change (NP). The partners have been combating school drop-out and working for the promotion of education through community development for years.The project lasted 24 months (8 months more than the applied proposal due to the Covid-19 pandemic), starting from September 2018. The Capacity Building activities were: 1 kick off meeting in Italy; 2 study visits in the countries (Kenya and Estonia) where the youth work is formally recognized; 1 social media management meeting in Uruguay; 1 final meeting in Italy (deleted in presence due to the Covid-19 pandemic) virtually implemented. Concerning the mobility activities, altogether 10, instead of 12, youth workers participated in two seminars before and after a one-month-long job shadowing period spent at one of the partner organisations. The activities foreseen were implemented using informal and non-formal learning methods such as learning by doing, peer education, active participation through a socio-educational approach. A transversal activity to all the project was the conduction of a research with the general aim of investigate the impact of non-formal education as well as of youth work on formal education and on the prevention of early school-leaving. The publication as final deliverable is structured into 4 parts: the first is the introduction to the project. The second part is focused on the description of the methodology of the study. The third part is focused on reporting the main findings of the study, highlighting also the similarities and the differences between the countries of the partnership. The fourth part consists in final conclusions and recommendations for improving the impact of non-formal education and youth work on formal education and prevention of early school-leaving.The sample was composed by teachers, educators and youth workers dealing with youngsters aged between 6 and 18 years in all partner countries. Data was collected through quantitative methods and qualitative methods (interviews and focus groups). Their questionnaires were administered through google modules and/or paper-pencil format. Some focus groups and the interviews were conducted during the projects meetings (international setting) as well as in other period of the project at local level (national setting). Data collected during the survey was analyzed through quantitative and qualitative methods. The publication is available on digital and hard copy and translated into the languages of project partners.An awareness raising campaign was produced to foster the importance of education focusing on the consequences of early school leaving, develop a positive activism. Besides the professional development of youth workers dealing with the issue of ESL and school attendance, in general the project fostered the enlarged capacity of the participating organisations and the development of quality youth work offered by other actors in the field, strengthening the European dimension of their actions.

Most of the agriculture in developing countries can be characterized by the use of rudimentary tools and the lack of funds for modern, high-performance equipment. These shortcomings make the agri-businesses non-productive and non-competitive in international markets. Moreover, in isolated rural areas, in arid regions, in the mountains or on islands, farms and many rural communities are not connected to electricity, making the development of small businesses even more difficult. In these economic conditions, poverty is threatening local population and no job opportunities are available. Young people are often in the worst situation, as they are willing to work but end up being forced to relocate to larger cities or to immigrate to developed countries due to the lack of local employment opportunities.Because of the above, the situation of young farmers has to be improved; this project will contribute to the development of small businesses in agriculture and will help young people to modernize their farms by giving them the knowledge and the skills necessary to design and to make their own farm equipment that uses renewable and free energy sources. The project aims to teach young people, who in turn will teach other young people from their communities, to start small businesses in agriculture or to boost their already existing businesses by using renewable energy sources in agriculture in order to increase productivity. They will be taught to assemble simple water pumping and irrigation systems using photovoltaic panels, to cultivate energy crops which will provide energy for their farmhouses, to create windmills and watermills which will provide energy for their farms.During the project, curricula and teaching-learning material will be prepared, tested and adapted for 3 different countries and natural environments: Nepal, with mountain landscape, Brazil, with both forest vegetation and semi-arid regions, and Fiji, which is an isolated island. Agroenergy incubators and training centers will be created in these countries, where local young people will be learn to construct simple equipment for the farms and will be able to start small agribusiness. These incubators will be endowed with systems which functioning can be observed and components which will be used to teach young people to construct renewable energy based agricultural equipments.Also local trainers will be trained, in order to teach other young people at the incubators.

Organic production is an overall system of farm management and food production that combines best environmental practices, a high level of biodiversity, the preservation of natural resources, the application of high animal welfare standards and a production method in line with the preference of certain consumers for products produced using natural substances and processes. According to the FAO no Latin American country has subsidies or support for organic production in spite of the fact that Latin America - one of the biodiversity reservoirs of the world, is just beginning to take cognizance of the enormous possibilities of organic agriculture. It has the farming traditions, the fertile lands and the varied climatic zones that allow it to produce almost anything in an ecological way, helping the much needed greening of the planet.NGOs are playing the most influential role in the emergence of organic agriculture, usually by promoting alternative models of production among farmers . They have also played a major role in supporting small farmer associations in the adoption of organic methods of production and in selling organic products.The project applicant would like to transfer the know – how developed by the consortium from EU countries (Slovakia, Hungary, Spain, Romania) consisted of NGO working with Youth, University,Technology Center and Research Institute and to introduce innovative educational and training methods including Open Education Resource with the introduction of innovative training opportunity - Communal Organic Farms in the partner countries – Antigua and Barbuda (ACP), Costa Rica (LA) and in Nepal (A) for youth and workers with youth. The project’s aims is to increase capacities of the entities from Partner countries for education, training and quality in the work with Youth in the field of organic farming and to increase mobility for workers with Youth into the Project partner countries. Among the targets is development of the Open Educational Resource with sophisticated training forms and professionalized processing methods in order to introduce innovative production of organic products by Youth and relevant organisations and such support their entrepreneurship of Youth and organisations working with Youth. The mobility of workers with Youth from EU countries to 3 partner countries will increase the capacities of the partner organisations working with Youth and also the mobility of participants from EU countries will bring the expertise in the fields of Youth work and organic farming and processing from this specific countries with wide range of plant variety. In order to support the partners capacities the Regional Strategy Platform meetings in 3 Partner countries, School Campaigns and Final Conference Networking meeting in Barbados will be organized where the Youth production and the Fair trade principles will be promoted for the overall region with success story presentation from other partner countries.

Project title: BOCOTO - Boosting Community-based Tourism and Youth Work for Global Sustainable DevelopmentDuration1/11/2018 - 5/5/2021The project proposed an international capacity building program by exposing participants to various aspects of “community-based tourism” & youth work from different countries & organizations from Italy, Spain, Nepal, Vietnam, Turkey, India & Kenya. Through a transnational approach, the project was examining concepts & practices underpinning “community-based tourism - CBT” & its potential in the youth field in all targeted local communities & regions. Perspectives on CBT was explored through a holistic concept of protection & valorisation of biodiversity, cultural diversity, local development and the promotion of human rights. The project was engaging youth organizations & stakeholders to work together to develop & promote CBT as a catalyst for inclusive & sustainable economic growth, youth employment, social inclusion, well-being & poverty reduction, while at the same time protecting cultural values and the natural heritage.Target groups- Youth workers and young leaders who work in community-based projects with & for young people & that are interested in community-based tourism and sustainable development.Final beneficiariesRural communities involved in the project, who can benefit from increased touristic activities bringing local economic & social benefits.General objectiveTo strengthen the capacity of youth organisations & local communities to promote community-based tourism in rural and remote areas.Specific objective- To enhance the socio-professional development of youth workers and organisations to promote CBT in their local communities and regions.- To encourage the exchange of experiences, community approaches and organisational cooperation among youth organisations from EU, Asia & Africa in the field of youth work and CBT.Results achieved- Increased socio-professional development of youth workers who are equipped with knowledge, key competences & employable tools on “community-based tourism & sustainable development” through different cultural perspectives, educational approaches and community experiences from different regions of the World.- Increased transnational cooperation, exchange of good practices and capacity building between youth workers, organizations and NGOs active in the sustainable development field from different World context.Outputs- BOCOTO learning platform: an open educational resource targeting young people and youth workers and serving as a key tool in the awareness-raising on the CBT concept, in the promotion of 'community-based tourism' packages and in reaching the audience of young people & responsible travellers interested in taking part. - Sustainable Development and Community-based Tourism Training Manual: presenting a full learning module of non-formal learning activities on Sustainable Development and Community based tourism, designed for international context for the benefit of youth workers and trainers who aim to enhance the competences of young people on SD and CBT.- BOCOTO Catalogue: including CBT packages developed and offered by partners (2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months duration) characterised by holistic discovery of cultural diversity, natural products and gastronomy, while giving opportunity for travellers in the engagement of local social, educational and environmental initiatives.- Country analyses on CBT in 7 partner countries: SWOT analysis of resources & good practices in the local contexts.Mobility activities including a TC & a final seminar in Italy (Caltanissetta), study visits in India (Bhubaneswar & Odisha), Kenya (Kisumu), Nepal (Palpa), Spain (Elche), Turkey (Istanbul), Vietnam (Hanoi & Ha Giang).