<< Background >>Youth workers play a significant role in the personal, socioeducational and professional development of youth. In fact, the EC’s common framework for the further development of youth work has identified that youth work can result in a range of positive effects for youth which enable them to enhance competences, reinforce their network and social capital and develop positive relationships. Yet, working with youth is not an easy task. It requires youth workers who continuously develop their competences, embrace and practice a life-long learning, strive to get qualified and better address the needs of the youth while also managing to keep their own personal-professional balance. All these underline the need to focus on the personal and professional development of the youth workers as a means to achieve better and sustainable impact on youth in general.The Youth unemployment rate in January 2021 in all partner countries was quite high, especially in Italy and Cyprus: IT: 29,7%, CY: 20,1%, LT:18,2%, PT:14,3%, PL:14,3% (EUROSTAT) - there is a noticeable increase during the pandemic period in comparison to last year.“Youth unemployment and the integration of young people into the labour market” report issued by the Contact Committee of European Union Supreme Audit Institutions on April 2018 indicates many problematic fields like:- education sector produces graduates who can't find employment and there is insufficient correlation with the needs of the labour market,- the range of courses remained limited due to qualification standards and educational tools inconsistencies or incompatibilities,In fact, the authors of the Youth Work Report conclude stating “There is an identifiable need for clear learning opportunities for youth workers as an essential part of professionalizing the delivery of youth work. Incomplete learning paths and a lack of identifiable routes of study and training compounds the problems of unstable working/volunteer conditions within the sector.”This project is designed to support the development of quality youth work in the participating countries. As known in many of EU countries the youth sector is in the initial stage of development. Youth policies are under development and no national strategies for Youth work exists. However, in all countries in the cooperation between NGOs, educational institutions and government authorities (ministries and agencies) are made steps in the sphere of development of the youth sector. In this context, projects like this are important for building high quality standards and the development of youth work. This is particularly important as the digital skills are more required in the labour market in changing in post-pandemic Europe and youth unemployment levels have risen again.<< Objectives >>Opp4YOUth is a response to the demands of the labour market and youth workers. Increasing the competence of teachers working with a youth will directly affect the professional development of youth worker. In addition, the project will develop innovative tools to support teachers and the learning processes. On the other hand, increasing the skills of youth workers and the use of positive psychology will strengthen their position on the labour market and meet their professional ambitions. Staying on the labour market and cooperation with other young people will contribute to reducing unemployment in the European Union.OBJECTIVESThe objectives of the project are:1. To reduce the gap between the personal and professional needs of the youth workers, towards more fulfilling careers in the youth field.2. To develop innovative approaches (methodologies, digital tools and practices) for personal and professional development of the youth workers for better serving the youth in general and disadvantaged youth in particular.3. To use innovative approaches (positive psychology, education and eco-centric development) in professionalization of youth workers and to adapt this approaches for better services of disadvantaged youth.4. To increase the on-going support and lifelong learning for the personal and professional development of the youth workers)TARGET GROUPS- Teachers (mentors, tutors, managers in companies) of youth workers- Youth workers from partner countries trained by using the tools and materials elaborated within the project- Stakeholders: companies, social economy organizations, local/regional/national authorities.Opp4YOUth is a transnational cooperation project as its framework, needs, aims and target groups are shared by all involved partners and countries. Though the specific context of each partner country may vary the main features are shared. The proposed solution would be meaningless and ineffective if applied only by one partner/country.<< Implementation >>The general methodology that the project will follow includes the following activities:A1. Project Management and Coordination (M1-M24): planning of activities and resources for each result; distribution of tasks and responsibilities and coordination of work, covering:- development of Project Gantt chart and Risk Management Plan- management and coordination of financial, human, material resources within the project duration;- coordination and collaboration within the project and monitoring progress- hosting of project meetings and events- provision of progress/interim/final reportsA2. Dissemination and exploitation (M1-M24): ongoing distribution of information about project activities, progress, results, to ensure wider visibility of the project and involvement of stakeholders at each stage of the project life. It includes:- conduction of Multiplier Event – National conferences in Lithuania, Poland, Cyprus, Portugal and the final Valorisation Conference In Italy - development and ongoing update of D&E Strategy- development of templates for reporting of dissemination activities- preparation of texts for dissemination (press releases, articles for media publications, etc.)- collection and reporting of D&E activities and the issuance of consortium D&E report - coordination of the work of external subcontractors for promotional materials and project visual identityA3. Quality management (M1-M24): ongoing monitoring and evaluation of all aforementioned ongoing activities; assignment of corrective and preventive measures with regard to reducing perils to the project implementation and boosting quality of both work and results, including:- elaboration of Quality Management Plan and templates for internal evaluation- provision of input for evaluation e.g. filling evaluation forms- conduction of internal evaluations- evaluation of activities and results and the issuing of internal evaluation reports- communication and coordination of work with external evaluatorDevelopment of project results (M2-M22): execution of planned activities with the resources allocated within defined timeframe.RES1: Research among youthworkers and teachers about areas for personal and professional development1) Selection of 24 (4 x partner) young people and 12 (2 x partner) teachers who will be involved in project activities2) Carrying out an interviews and researches3) Review and experts discussion on partners’ thematic reports4) Elaboration of research summary report about areas for personal and professional developmentRES2: Methodology for personal and professional development based on non-formal learning1) Development of Opp4YOUth methodology and manual2) Opp4YOUth methodology testing during workshops for teachers3) Refinement of Opp4YOUth methodology and manual4) Digitalization of Opp4YOUth methodology and manual using web-platformRES3: Tools for personal and professional development for youthworkers1) Elaboration of the first version of training programme2) Cross-check of the developed training material3) Evaluation during training workshops for youth4) The final version releaseLearning/teaching/training activities are planned to held in this project:- LTT1 - Training workshops for 12 teachers in Cyprus (M11-M12)- LTT2 - Training workshops for 24 youth workers in Portugal (M18 -M19)<< Results >>TANGIBLE RESULTSA1. Project management:• Partnership contracts, Risk Management Plan and Project Action Plan – will serve as a tools for monitoring and allocation of responsibilities as well as official statement of partners’ commitment towards achievement of the project goals.• Interim and the final report–will be issued in M12 and M24 by V-S based on the inputs from all partnersA2. Quality Management• QMPlan: to be developed by V-s (M1-M2). The document will define the evaluation and monitoring procedures, tools to be applied and indicators to ensure quality of the work • Internal and external evaluation reports will be based on the evaluation procedures for quality assurance.A3. Dissemination and exploitation• D&E Strategy reports: developed by EduPlus, defining dissemination channels, tools and ways to reach target groups• Project website with platform with access to all results developed by EdiTC with EduPlus and will be maintained active at least 5 years after the project’s closure• Project visual identity: done by external design company subcontracted by EduPlus. The aim is to create a distinguishing and memorable image of the project across Europe• Opp4YOUth promotional materials & exploitation Pack: long-term marketing materials for dissemination purposes will be produced and will be circulated around Europe• Multiplier events intended promote and disseminate the project results: 4 small conferences in every project country: in total 120 participants and Project Final Conference - in total 60 participantsRESULTS:• RES1 - Summary report of the research among youth workers and teachers about areas for personal and professional development (EDS-FNS)• RES2 - Methodology for personal and professional development based on non-formal learning (VEM)• Manual including the developed intellectual materials (VEM)• RES3 - Tools for personal and professional development for youthworkers- training programme and materials including online platform (EDITC)• Testing workshops for 12 teachers (EDITC) and 24 young people (EduPlus)INTANGIBLE RESULTS- Exchange of know-how and good practices: all partners come from different professional fields and backgrounds and will exchange ideas and experience that will be useful in their work- Improved staff qualification- Improved organizational capacity: by implementing project activities, partners will improve their organisational skills and gain valuable experience for organisation of future large-scale initiatives and events- Extended network: partners will collaborate with stakeholders on national and EU level, which will lead to the creation of new and sustainable partnerships.- Increased the on-going support and lifelong learning for the personal and professional development of the youth workers- Reduced gap between the personal and professional needs of the youth workers.Among the intangible results there are also:1)Training activity (LTT1)-the initial version of methodology and manual in the international environment of teachers involved in the project will be tested. All participants will share their expectations, express opinions on the practical use of methodology and manual, validation process, remarks.2)Training activity (LTT2)-the participants will develop their competences in various areas:- will gain knowledge, skills and attitudes related to positive psychology, positive education, values, principles and quality standards in youth work at European level.- will enhance their capacities in the topics of Eco-centric development in youth work, in pedagogical tools, innovation and evaluation of results.- will enrich their competences on the topics of implementation, testing and evaluation of educational plans, self-directed learning, self-motivation for development and innovation.3)After training activities (C1, C2) the participants will train other youth workers in their countries (20 per country) In each of the countries involved in the project.