VIVID training course KA1
Vivid Ideas for Valiant Dynamics
Video Summary of the Project
Why this project
Social entrepreneurship supports driving new ideas, new visions and acts as a real catalyst for social transformation, especially in times where various sectors – including the youth field – are looking for alternatives to the dominant economic models and systems. It also supports overcoming traditional ways of working, of thinking and of envisioning solidarity.
Citizen’s creativity to strive, thrive and develop new forms of solidarity is emerging nowadays as a possible response to the so-called ‘economic crisis’ and the current political and social climate that particularly affect vulnerable youth groups and migrants. Social economy and – linked to it, social entrepreneurship - can be seen as one of the strategies for enhancing and promoting the well being of those youth groups in many countries.
In the youth field, social entrepreneurship can also be a real boost, offering young people new ways of participation and of engaging in their local community, to act not only on their personal and professional development, but also on the collective one, through targeted projects and initiatives, in a sustainable manner. Young people are leading projects that develop parallel to the mainstream economy, hence called by some ‘alternatives’. Those collective actions address social and environmental contexts; create economical opportunities and new professions in social economy. Thus, it also supports working on other approaches to young people’s employability.
Hence, how to address those dimensions of social economy with young people? How to empower them to transform their ideas into social projects that cannot only impact their local communities but also contribute to earning a living? How to provoke and sustain a collective creativity to build up new projects in social economy? How to support these new ‘change-markers’ in the most adequate way, still ensuring that they take possession of the space that is theirs?
Among others, youth organisations and local youth centres can provide a frame and a secured environment for such initiatives to blossom and grow.
Objectives
The objectives of the VIVID course were:
· To introduce the framework of social economy and social entrepreneurship with a clear focus on their values and practice in a youth work context;
· To exchange on the current situation in the partner countries with regard to social entrepreneurship and similar citizen’s initiatives;
· To exchange good examples of practices of social entrepreneurship including visits to local projects in Belgium;
· To explore the use creativity, graphic/non verbal methods, motivation techniques and peer support in promoting social entrepreneurship projects with vulnerable youth groups and/or migrants;
· To support shaping projects ideas on social entrepreneurship to be implemented by participants in their work with vulnerable young groups and/or migrants.
Participants
The training was addressed to youth trainers, youth and/or social workers and other professionals working with vulnerable youth groups and/or migrants.
Number of participants (including the trainers’ team): 34 pax
Division by countries: Belgium -4-, Spain -3-, Bulgaria -3-, Greece -3-, Italy -3-, Portugal -3-, Romania -3-, Slovakia -3-, FYRO Macedonia -3-, Turkey -3- and Montenegro -3-.
Venue
The VIVID training course took place from the 11th to the 18th of January 2015 (arrival and departures days) in Brussels at:
HOSTEL DE WATERMAN
Rue des Ateliers, 3
1080 Brussels (Molenbeek)
Gallery
Getting to know each other
Introduction to the course
Expectations from participants
NGO presentations
Vulnerable Groups
Session on vulnerable groups
Creativity
Creativity for solving conflicts
Creativity and expression
Graphic facilitation - Presenting designs for a logo
Graphic facilitation - group mural
Graphic facilitation - Presenting designs for a logo
Results of the project
The results of the VIVID course in terms of the competencies developed by participants were:
- Understand and facilitate individual and group learning processes: creating an inspiring learning environment, supporting learners in identifying and pursuing their learning needs, stimulating active participation, strengthening the self-confidence of participants, etc.);
- Learning to learn and self-directed learning;
- Cooperate successfully in international teams ;
- Intercultural learning competence;
- Design educational programme;
- Knowledge on social economy and entrepreneurship;
- Knowledge about creative and graphic methods to work with vulnerable groups and/or migrants
- More resources regarding the topic of inclusion of young people and how to work with the target groups;
- A better understanding of innovative approaches through non-formal learning and creative learning;
A very important result is that all participants developed a social entrepreneurship project to be developed in their context according the needs of their communities.
Impact of the project
The impact mainly lies in the multiplier effect of the course at the level of the partner organizations. Participants went back home with new skills, new competencies and concrete project proposals. This could be listed as follows:
- new ways of dealing with the needs and potentials of their target groups;
- new methods and methodology in dealing with young people in situations in exclusion, at risks and/or migrants;
- new methods for promoting and supporting social entrepreneurship;
- new ways of using graphic and creativity tools;
- new working methodologies that often lead to new approaches and solutions;
- new project proposals.
The project was organized by
Taaluma is an international non-for-profit organisation (AISBL) based in Brussels. Taaluma was founded in 2012 by Gisele, Diego and Miguel; three experienced trainers and facilitators with a large experience at international level.
The objectives of Taaluma are:
· To support formal and non formal education and the development of competences at European and international level. This objective focuses on young people and adults education with a specific attention to people with fewer opportunities, in a situation of exclusion or at risk;
· To improve the quality of educational programmes (formal and non formal) at European and international level;
· To promote cooperation and synergies with other actors in the field of education such as associations, training centres, institutions and educational structures, and networks, at European and international level.
Project funded by
DISCLAIMER
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This document reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.