The festival was an incredible opportunity to raise awareness on the project and on the inclusion of the youth in decision-making processes in regards to placemaking.
After the project explanation, Part-Y’s delegates interacted with guests and passers-by, asking them questions and suggestions on placemaking, on what they would like to change or what is missing in public spaces.
The festival was an incredible opportunity to raise awareness on the project and on the inclusion of the youth in decision-making processes in regards to placemaking
The first edition of the European Bauhaus festival, organised by the European Commission, was attended by more than 100 projects, alongside concerts and artistic and cultural performances in several European cities and online. It was an amazing opportunity to explore the New European Bauhaus values of beauty, sustainability and togetherness, and their power to address societal challenges.
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46 months of activities, 6 partners, 7 concrete interventions to implement Natural Water-Retention Measures, 1 mission: implementing a strategy for adaptation to climate change and flood risk in urban and rural areas, through the active involvement of local communities. This is the project Life Beware, whose results were presented in the final event on June 4th in Santorso.
During the whole day, participants were able to get to know the project’s achievements in depth, and to reflect together on potential future developments and actions that can be implemented as a follow up.
In the morning, Life Beware facilitator Giulio Pesenti held the “Life Beware, e poi?” [“Life Beware, then what?”] workshop using the Open Space Technology methodology. The latter is an innovative way of organizing workshops and laboratories, which fuels participants’ passion and interest by allowing them to choose the ways of working that they find most useful and productive.
“Now we have a great responsibility: accompanying other institutional actors and territories to strongly commit to environmental and hydraulic resilience, guarding the delicate balance between man and nature » (Franco Balzi – Mayor of Santorso)
Moreover, in the late afternoon with the final conference and round table entitled: “Acqua, Resilienza e Territorio. Attività e Risultati del Progetto LIFE BEWARE” [« Water, Resilience and Territory. Activities and Results of the LIFE BEWARE Project »]. During the first part, representatives of the project shared the most innovative and interesting results for the AltoVicentino area from the point of view of their Organization. Furthermore, the second part saw the contribution of representatives from Ispra, ViAcqua, Centro Internazionale Civiltà dell’Acqua ONLUS and Anbi Veneto for a shared reflection on the environmental resilience of our territory and how to best involve citizens on these issues. The actor Diego Dalla Via moderated the event and animated it with short performances on the topic of water and climate change during interludes.
The consortium is really proud of the achievements of the project, and it is also happy to have shared with so many people knowledge, best practices and questions related to the world of climate change, promoting an active and constructive dialogue on the challenges of the climate crisis.
Thanks again to everyone who participated!
***
The final event was preceded by two days of Professional training that took place both online and in-person on the 31st of May and 1st of June. The training targeted technicians and professionals, focusing on stormwater management in urban and agricultural environments for flood prevention and land adaptation to climate change. This opportunity also included on site visits of the NWRM implemented. Professional Training Credits were officially recognized by the Veneto Order of Geologists and the Order of Agronomists and Foresters. The training was led by Prof. Lucia Bortolini, Prof. Vincenzo D’agostino and Dr. Francesco Bettella of the TESAF Department of the University of Padua, Ing. Paolo Ronco of Centro Rive, Dr. Roberto Fiorentin of Veneto Agricoltura and Ing. Laura Di Prima of Consorzio di Bonifica Alta Pianura Veneta.
How far are communities able to support EU Mobile Citizens (EUMCs), and how do the latter experience the move from a Member State to another, especially in terms of accessibility of services in the digital era?
APProach project has successfully responded to these challenges, thus willing to narrow the gap among citizens, and Local Authorities. To do so, a dedicated digital ecosystem has been created, to help EU citizens facing obstacles when deciding to move with their families to another EU country: poor administrative services, social inclusion, schooling insertion, additional requirements to register to vote/stand as a candidate in the European Parliament or the municipal elections. Indeed, the APProach digital ecosystem provides quick access to information concerning voting, education, civic life, social life, as well as how to get started in your host city!
After months of its conclusion, its contribution is still worthwhile and useful for the entire community… but let’s take a closer look.
Starting in 2018, and willing to increase the knowledge on EUMCs rights, as well as sharing information on the bureaucratic steps those citizens will encounter, APProach project saw the commitment of six municipalities gathering together in order to provide support to new European comers.
APProach digital ecosystem: the go-to source to get access to information concerning voting, education, civic and social life
Despite the challenges foreseen and tackled within the project, a greater one affected this initiative as it did with many others: COVID-19. Hence, the entire project was greatly impacted by this tremendous health crisis, yet without dauntening the partners of the project.
Hence, from a general perspective, achievements can be summarised into five main pillars:
Community and network: have an added value per se, especially in reflecting and analysing the the efficiency and challenges of the Local Authorities when welcoming EUMCs;
The Digital Ecosystem: represents a new communication tool and the ultimate go-to source for EUMCs and municipalities;
Visibility and communication: several outputs have been implemented, from small videos to reports and news, willing to spread the value and mission of the project;
Training: to Local Authorities and civil society, contributing to a better understanding and implementation of “European Citizens” definition;
Concreteness: 60 people within the municipalities’ staff have been engened, thus benefiting, as a spillover effect, 7500 EUMCs (as the indications of the application).
If the above-mentioned pillars were specifically related to the peculiarities of the project itself, it is worth mentioning also some single actions conducted by the partners and related to the overall achievement of the APProach aims.
Related to the fifth pillar, concreteness, in the framework of the EU parliament and administrative elections, for example, APProach provided great support to the EUMCs in the Milano Municipality.
Similarly, Erasmus students in Lisbon do represent a great percentage of Mobile Citizens in the Portuguese capital: therefore, the municipality, considering the positive tool developed by APProach, targeted the latter exactly in support of those new students.
In addition, but more on the CSOs side, in light of the the role of ALDA within the Conference on the Future of Europe, as well as a key stakeholder in democracy promotion and civic engagement, the Association took the positive experience of APProach as a best-practice example when it comes to the relation between democracy and digitalization, especially in terms of citizenship. Thus, in its flagship initiative European Support for Local Democracy, the project represents the perfect in-between of “the need to meet the top-down approach coming from the various institutions and bottom-up approach coming from the citizens, the civil society organisations when digital tools are in question to improve the exercise of the citizens’ rights.”
Overall, despite the incidental crises posed by COVID-19, partners managed not only to achieve the initial goals, but also single partners got inspired by this project, fully implementing it at local level, while empowering EU Mobile Citizens.
On May 24th-25th, 2022 a Transnational Partners Meeting of the 3STEPS project was held in Athens, Greece, with partners both on site and online.
During the meeting, partners discussed the implementation of the piloting phases for both methods of inclusion of disadvantaged migrant youth in the 5 implementing countries through a training of educators/trainers/teachers and the training of mentors. Moreover, partners shared good practices in implementing the youth training with young refugees and migrants at local level while continuing in discussing the creation of the 3 STEPS Network and dissemination/exploitation of the project.
Transnational Partners Meeting of the 3STEPSproject was held in Athens, Greece, with partners both on site and online.
Therefore, the meeting was the occasion for the whole consortium to discuss the progress and reflect on the effective promotion of developed materials and methodologies to support the integration of migrant and refugee learners!
The project combines the motivating effect of ethnic role models with a blended mentoring approach that was especially developed on the basis of migrants’ needs.
*** About 3STEPS
3STEPS – Fostering Education and Inclusion of disadvantaged refugee and migrant learners is a EU project funded by Erasmus Plus KA3 which involves partners from 5 countries, namely Italy, Greece, Turkey, Spain, and France. The project aims to upscale two methods: first good practice is known as “Basic Education” and the second good practice, “TANDEM NOW” which involves Ethnic Role Model Mentors and aims at helping youth with a migration background develop social and professional skills as well as the support needed to stay in school.
On 7-8 of June, ALDA took part in the CAMELOT project event hosted by Porto Metropolitan Area, Portugal (AMP). During two-days meeting, partners shared experiences regarding the management of Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI)
The event started with the intervention of Manuel Pizarro, Member of the European Parliament, who presented the role of Integrated Territorial Investments in metropolitan areas, underlining the importance of local and regional governments in the functioning of the EU institutions.
António Cunha, President of the North Regional Coordination and Development Commission, presented the experience of his region in designing and negotiating the North 2030 Operational Programme which gather EU funding for the territory. According to him, and within the framework of implementation of a new legislation on decentralization in Portugal, ITI will gather stakeholders, the same vision of development.
Echoing Cunha’s presentation, Filipe Ferreira, Metropolitan Executive Officer Lisbon Metropolitan Area (AML) and Vicente Pinto, Metropolitan Executive Officer AMP presented the results of the 2020 Strategies as well as their expectations for 2030 ones.
Similarly, participants from the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona, the Metropolitan City of Milan, the Metropolitan City of Bari, the City of Zagreb, the Stuttgart Region and the Craiova municipality presented their experience in managing ITI as well as their concerns regarding the trend toward centralization of EU funding. ALDA invited the participants to join its working group on Local Democracy, advocating for necessary evolutions of ITI management modalities and to deepen the involvement of citizens in the development and implementation Integrated Territorial Investments funded projects.
ALDA advocates for necessary evolutions of ITI management modalities and to deepen the involvement of citizens in the development and implementation of Integrated Territorial Investments funded projects
On Wednesday 8 June, the second day of the meeting, the group visited the Leça’s Green Corridor project. The 29-mile-long River Leça springs in Santo Tirso, at an altitude of 475 m, and flows into the sea in Matosinhos. For several decades, it was considered one of the most polluted rivers in Europe. In 2016, the four municipalities through which the river flows – Matosinhos, Maia, Valongo and Santo Tirso – joined forces and began working on the consolidation, strategy and definition of a plan for the Leça Corridor, at an early stage within the Porto Metropolitan Area, and then by themselves.
These municipalities presented « Leça’s Green Corridor », an environmental and mobility project, with strong cultural, economic, touristic and social character, which will allow the landscape and environmental improvement of the River Leça and its banks, while contributing to territorial cohesion, connecting coastline and inland through a specific channel dedicated to soft transport modes.
In addition to that, the project foresees the construction of a pedestrian and cycling path, creating a mobility alternative on foot and by bicycle for daily travel among the surrounding areas. « Leça’s Green Corridor » will be the first step towards the river’s full depollution and the amelioration of the river banks’ landscape, transforming them into leisure areas. The improvement and revitalization process has already begun, supported by European Community funds through the Urban Development Strategy Plans (PEDUS) of the municipalities involved.
Finally, partners gathered in the Church and Museum of Porto’s Misericórdia (MMIPO). Located in Porto’s historical centre’s Rua das Flores, in the building that headquartered the institution from the mid- sixteenth century to 2013. Over the centuries, the building has undergone several changes, the most recent being its adaptation for museum functions. The Museum has the double goal of spreading Porto’s Santa Casa da Misericórdia’s history and its institutional purposes, and of displaying its art collections, by providing a set of resources representing the memory and identity of this organisation, and projecting it into the future. A visit to the Museum is also an opportunity to learn more about the past and present of this area of the city.
As the ongoing war against Ukraine continues to be endangered, dreams continue to be broken and days are flowing by, ALDA believes that it is its responsibility to bring the attention to those that are now fighting to ensure their safeguard of rights and freedoms.
In its commitment to reinforce the Local Democracy Agencies, the Association invites the community of Local Authorities and Civil Society Organisations to the conference entitled “Supporting the Local Democracy Agencies in Ukraine”. Aimed at giving a reliable update on the situation on the ground in Ukraine, as well as on the activities that ALDA has implemented in order to provide support to civilians and people in need, the conference will also be the occasion to focus on the on-going activities, as well as possible future ones, that need further support.
The conference will take place on the 22nd June 2022 at 2.30 PM in Brussels at Residence Palace
Thus, ALDA will present the possibilities to further empower the network while explaining the local governance system that is currently in place. Living in a period of uncertainly, Local Democracy Agencies are a powerful instrument for supporting communities affected by crises and by the war.
Specifically, the conference will take place on the 22nd June 2022 at 14:30 – 17:30 in Brussels, Belgium at Residence Palace, Wetstraat 155, 1040.
Bruno Julian Hamm – Pütt, Konrad Adenauer foundation Kyiv will give its opening speech, thus preparing the scene for the beginning of the conference. The latter will be designed into two panels, each of which addresses the different aspects of the topic at the centre of the meeting: the Local Democracy Agencies (LDAs).
Moderated by Antonella Valmorbida, ALDA Secretary General, the first panel will focus not only on the testimonies from the LDAs, but also on the methods undertaken by the latter in terms of democracy promotion and people’s engagement.
Among the keynote speakers of this first session:
Tetjana Lomakina, Adviser-representative of the President of Ukraine on the barrier society issues and delegate of the Local Democracy Agency in Mariupol
Moving on to the second panel, the last part of the conference will be dedicated to the specific supports and needs of the Agencies. Following the format of the first debate, the second one will be moderated by Alexandru Coica, Regional Coordinator for Eastern Partnership at ALDA’s, having among its keynote speakers:
Inna Volkova, Member of Odessa Rayon Council
Anzhelika Pylypenko, Delegate of LDA Dnipro, and representative of the municipality
Dzenana Dedic, Delegate of LDA Mostar
by Olha Oliinyk, head of NGO “Ideas for People” and deputy head of the Secretariat of VOAOMS in Vinnytsia (Ukraine), potential new LDA Host
Overall, ALDA knows that local governance supporters are also willing to commit, by telling the Ukrainian Local Agencies that their courage is a reminder not to take democracy, peace and freedoms for granted.
In the Paris Declaration of 2015, European Ministers of Education have re-announced their commitment for an inclusive education as an important door opener of social inclusion, therefore migrants and refugees shall be helped to ensure their full participation in society, good education and transition to the labour market.
To increase the chances of migrants and refugees to remain within the educational and vocational system of their host country, the 3 STEPS project is aiming to provide them basic skills as well as a stable grounding for further personal achievements.
The practices promoted through the project (Basic education and Tandem Now) aim to standardise a valid and adaptable teaching method in the various countries involved.
3 STEPS Network
The goal is to provide channels through which the necessity of social inclusion of migrants and refugees in terms of education and vocational training increases its visibility and strength in the five countries of implementation (Spain, Turkey, Italy, Greece and France) across different entities, among those Universities, private organisations, social businesses on education, schools that are pursuing an agenda of inclusion and are committed to promote successful methodologies for inclusion.
The expected result is to obtain a well-established network of schools, public authorities, NGOs and volunteer organisations, important influencers and decision makers as well as transnational institutions able to call for policy reform.
Partners believe that joining the 3 STEPS network means having a communicative, trustworthy and empowered relationship with all the people interested in the project, and which we want to maintain until the end of its existence.
If you are a stakeholder in the field of migration, working at local, national or European level in one of the 5 implementing countries (Spain, Turkey, Italy, Greece and France) to foster inclusion of young disadvantaged refugees and migrants, join the network!
It is easy, you just need to contact the 3 STEPS partners through the website and we will reach out to you: https://3steps.eu/contacts/
Sending inspiring and universal messages to the community, once again, about 40 youth with disabilities took the stage on May 31th, 2022, in Kairouan, Tunisia and presenting a great variety of performances. The event was organized by the LDA Tunisia within the project “Starting with You” for the rehabilitation of people with disabilities and their inclusion in the society.
Among the 40 participants, 30 performers were Tunisians from Kairouan city, while 10 were Italians students, part of the association « Mettiamoci In Gioco », who traveled from Italy to Kairouan specifically to join the show and perform in the event!
The show was designed as follow: 7 different performances from mime and sign language to a fairytale play, and from singing and dancing to corporal expression. The themes varied, yet interrelated through both the Tunisian and the Italian anthems, emphasising the idea of participation, friendship, empathy, inclusion, and the sense of belonging and community. Also, the music was also varied and marvelous that added a wonderful energy and enthusiasm to the scenes.
Aged between 7 and 35 years old, the performers are currently engaged in three local centers, each of which focuses on different characteristics: physical, mental, and auditive. All together, based on the potential and abilities of each participant, one of the dance performance proved how inclusion is possible, while breaking social exclusion.
This initiative marked a further step in building a bridge for communication, while highlighting the productive, creative, autonomous and confident skills of the performers
Once again, this initiative marked a further step in building a bridge for communication, while highlighting the productive, creative, autonomous and confident skills of the performers.
Hence, the event brought to the fore the need to further reinforce the rights of people with disabilities; especially in a city like Kairouan, which poses several barriers to citizens, being not fully accessible. In light of this, theatre thus became a source of advocacy, while raising a voice and breaking stereotypes. In the show the people portrayed a novel image where they were delighted, energetic, vivid, and active. They brought movement, energy, art, and wit to the scene. Coming from different backgrounds; local authorities, directors and staff of centers for rehabilitation, ONGs, Tunisian and Italian parents, media, students, youth and artists; the audience, engaged during the whole event, got the vibe and was deeply moved
From a general stand point, the event also emphasized the role of theater as a tool for improvement, capacity building, and personal growth, resulting from a seven-months of theater workshops, where youth actively participated working on their artistic capacities, discovering their abilities and empowering their skills.
Concluding, this event highlights the LDA Tunisia role and contribution to creating an inclusive community and reinforcing citizenship and participation of people especially those who belong to vulnerable groups. It also foregrounds the agency’s commitment to sensitize the stakeholders and the community about the rights of people with disabilities and contribute to creating a solid ground for communication and participation through artistic expression.
The event was unique and unprecedented in the community which made it standout. The LDA Tunisia team ensured that the event received the deserved public attention and national and local media coverage. The cultural and artistic event “Theatre for everyone” is the second round and the LDA Tunisia is looking forward to organizing more shows in the future. The agency is the regional responsible for the project in Kairouan, thus it actively seeks an effective, innovative and participatory solutions platform.
On 21-22 June 2022, Brussels hosted the European Development Days 2022 (EDD), Europe’s most important forum on international partnership organised by the European Commission.
Entitled “Global Gateway: building sustainable partnerships for a connected world” this year’s edition was dedicated not only to the European Strategy as such, but also on how to improve and foster it in terms of digital, energy and transport. The latter, especially, was the realm within which ALDA+ will provide its contribution!
Hence, ALDA+ joined this international event by actively participating with a stand addressing “Urban development, smart & interconnected cities. Together for fostering Good Governance at Local and Global Level”.
Concretely, based on the positive example of AUTREMENT project, currently implemented in the Tunisian cities of Kairouan and Mahdia by the ALDA office in Strasbourg, the stand showcased project’s good practices on sustainable urban mobility, which can be taken as an example for other cities.
ALDA+ joined the European Development Days 2022 by participating with a stand addressing “Urban development, smart & interconnected cities
Despite its paperless format, our stand engaged participants through digital tools and tricks: not only informative slides presenting ALDA and its spin off ALDA+, but also an interactive quiz on soft mobility and sustainability! Thus, a participation under the banner of sustainability and… discovery!
Last but not least, theEuropean Development Days aim to bring the “development community together each year to share ideas and experiences in ways that inspire new partnerships and innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges”.
For this reason we are extremely glad and proud to take active part in such a dynamic and crucial event. More, the EDD2022 were the perfect spot to showcase, once more, ALDA’s flagship initiative the “European Support to Local Democracy”, since it provides a complete overview on ALDA’s expertises in all target regions and underlines the fundamental role of cooperation.
On 31 May & 1 June, 2022, the partners of the SMELT project – Skilling Marginalised people to Enter the Labour markeT, gathered together in Nicosia (Cyprus) for their third Transnational Partners Meeting, the first one face-to-face!
After having worked together for almost two years, the first in-person meeting of the SMELT partners represented a great opportunity both to discuss the achievements of the project obtained so far and to get to know each other.
The SMELT project, started back in 2020, aims at facing the paradox of business sectors experiencing workforce shortage and the high number of vulnerable people unemployed, by supporting marginalised people in acquiring and developing key competencies, strategical for the labour market.
The project involved the execution of 3 different Intellectual Outputs – project activities that result in tangible and meaningful outputs – and, during the meeting, the partners discussed the achievements obtained from the implementation of the first Intellectual Output (IO1) titled “Develop social and entrepreneurial skills” which consisted in the preparation of 150 vulnerable people to face the labour market with a basic knowledge of their rights and possibilities and, to increase their knowledge with regards to job offers, CVs, Job centers, organisations offering employment assistance, etc.
The IO1 resulted in the creation of an Easy Handbook, which was also an object of discussion during the meeting.
The gathering ended by establishing the next project goals to be achieved in the following months and by getting acquainted with the interesting Cypriot culture.
Are you a Municipality who is sensitive to sustainable food production and consumption patterns and wants to work with young people? You still have a chance to get your activity funded by the Food Wave Project!
The Food Wave Project – co-funded by the EU under the Development Education and Awareness Raising Programme (DEAR) and promoted by the Municipality of Milan together with ActionAid Italia, ACRA, Mani Tese and 25 project partners in 16 countries, including ALDA – will support grass-root initiatives in the field of climate-friendly food consumption behaviors and involve smaller youth organizations interested in joining the action but lacking the necessary means to do so.
The first call for proposals of the Food Wave Project was launched and directed to youth-led small Civil Society Organizations promoting sustainable production and consumption patterns to fight climate change. Now it is time for the second round of the second call addressed to Cities and Municipalities to support grass-root initiatives in the field of climate-friendly food consumption behaviors!
Don’t miss your chance to participate, as at least six Municipalities will be funded thanks to the second round of this year’s call for proposals!
What is the main objective of the call of proposal?
The project will support actions developed by Cities and Municipalities dealing with the topic of sustainable food consumption and production and targeting young people (15-35 years old).
What is the main objective of the call of proposal?
Any submitted proposal must be of max 5.000 EUR. Each applicant will benefit from a financing of 75% of the total of the action up to a maximum of 3.750 Eur. The remaining 25% of the action (a minimum of 1.250 Eur) will be provided by each applicant as co-funding. The financing and co-financing % always remain the same even if the overall cost of the proposed action is lower than 5.000 EUR. The general action carried out by the Applicant can be higher than 5.000 EUR, but in this case the remaining budget of the overall costs of the proposal will be covered with The Applicant’s own financial resources.
Which is the thematic focus?
Each proposed action needs to address the nexus between food and climate change! Different types of activities can be eligible for the sub grant: activities with schools, communication activities, promotion and dissemination activities, awareness raising activities, training, art projects and initiatives, initiatives against food waste etc.
Where can the project be implemented?
Activities must take place in one of the following EU Member States: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK.
How to apply?
Read the full call for proposals to have all the information about the call and how to apply! The call will be open from May 31st to July 11th 2022 at 23:59. Here is the link to send your application. ❗️DEADLINE POSTPONED TO 11TH JULY 2022
The applicants will receive support by the Food Wave team during the proposal writing process. The questions have to be sent to the to this email address (click here to send the email)
If you are interested in topics like climate change, sustainability and diversity, and you would like to explore other countries while studying, you should take a look at the Master course in Climate Change and Diversity: Sustainable Territorial Development (CCD- STeDe), within which ALDA has been partners since 2014!
STeDe prepares researchers and professionals to be able to help organisations acting in the territory, be they enterprises, local communities, civil society organisations or public administrations to draft sustainable development policies for adaptation to climate change combining economic, social, environmental, international and intercultural dimensions.
Hence, the Master programme is organised in four semesters, three of which foresee a period of international mobility in several countries all around the world.
Students can choose among four academic paths, which combine different languages and flexible teaching modalities; face-to-face, online and blended. More specifically, the courses are developed as follow:
Climate change, sustainability, development at University of Padova and Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar – Sede Ecuador
Regional and local studies at University of Padova and University of Madeira
Territorial management at University of Padova and Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo
Environmental Management at University of Padova and University of Johannesburg
CCD-STeDe is a world leading programme in the field of sustainable territorial development in the context of climate justice. This Master course is aimed at training researchers and professionals to support organisations acting in the territory and to draft sustainable development and climate adaptation policies for economic, social, environmental, international and intercultural management.
Within the GEM IN project, a stakeholder advisory committee was established in France by ALDA in 2022 to provide advice during the piloting and further adaptation of the GEM IN educational programme in formal and non-formal educational environments. The Committee France included 3 members (1 educational stakeholder, 1 non-formal education stakeholder and 1 stakeholder in the field of policy-making) and had for objective to provide inputs and feedbacks on whether the project is reaching its objectives and results and contribute to the development of future exploitation opportunities of the GEM IN educational programme through their direct experience and knowledge.
The first meeting on 8th of February was held online and counted with the participation of representatives from several French actors in the field of cultural and non-formal education. This meeting allowed members to get acquainted with the project and the tools developed, especially the educational framework and the game to be used as an educational resource by all interested parties. An explanation of all the steps that were taken to create the game and its contents, keeping in mind the values and the methodology, was presented in addition to the rules of the game.
Stakeholder advisory committee: established to provide advice during the piloting and further adaptation of the GEM IN educational programme
During the second meeting on 25th of April 2022, members discussed the results of the piloting phase organised in the five other countries of the project. Following this presentation and the general conclusions from the piloting, a reflection on the method “learning by playing” including example used by ALDA and the members of the Committee was conducted. This resulted in a discussion on the recommendations that were drafted in the operational pack and comments from the members of the Committee, receiving positive feedback, indicating that there was a clear understanding of the current situation of intercultural education and the lack of resources for teachers and educators.
The meeting was concluded by inviting members to attend and participate actively in the Final Conference in Strasbourg on the 5th of May 2022.
→ Discover GEM IN websiteHERE and follow the project on FacebookHERE
Are you a Belgian youth association who is sensitive to raising awareness on the effects of climate change and understanding the links with migration?
We are looking for you! Lead the change and participate in our call for proposals with your project idea!
The Climate of Change project – co-funded by the EU under the Development Education and Awareness Raising Programme (DEAR) and promoted by the italian NGO WeWorld-GVC together with 16 project partners in 13 countries, including ALDA – will support grass-root initiatives in the field of raising awareness on youth role in fighting climate change and involve smaller youth organizations based in France interested in joining the action but lacking the necessary means to do so.
What is the main objective of the call of proposal?
The project will support actions developed by youth organisations in Belgium committed in the field of environmental awareness raising, especially climate change induced migration, and targeting young people (15-35 years old).
What is the main objective of the call of proposal?
Any submitted proposal must be of max 5.000 EUR. Each applicant will benefit from a financing of 70% of the total of the action up to a maximum of 3.500 Eur. The remaining 30% of the action (a minimum of 1.500 Eur) will be provided by each applicant as co-funding. The financing and co-financing % always remain the same even if the overall cost of the proposed action is lower than 5.000 EUR. The general action carried out by the Applicant can be higher than 5.000 EUR, but in this case the remaining budget of the overall costs of the proposal will be covered with the Applicant’s own financial resources.
Sub-granting call will be open until 19 June 2022
Which is the thematic focus?
Each proposed action needs to address the nexus between climate change and induced migration! Different types of activities can be eligible for the sub grant: communication activities, promotion and dissemination activities, awareness raising activities, training and learning-by-doing activities, art projects and initiatives, etc.
One activity will be compulsory which is the promotion of the Climate of Change petition in all organised activities by the applicant until the end of October 2022 (the end of the petition period).
Where can the project be implemented?
Activities must take place in Belgium.
How to apply?
Read the full call for proposals to have more information about the call and how to apply! The call will be open from May 19th,2022 to June 19th,2022.
Infos
All the questions related to the present call for proposals and the participation modalities have to be addressed to the project manger Célia C.
WELCOME – Water: Element Linking Cities, Opportunity for Merging Europe – is a project aiming at promoting reflection, debate and action around the element WATER, focusing on its sustainable management in order to improve citizens’ and communities’ well-being in their everyday life. Through the workshops, implemented with different methods, citizens will acquire new knowledge and will raise their awareness about their role in the community and in Europe and about the topic addressed, producing thus a very positive impact not only at the individual but also at the community and European level. WELCOME involves partners from six different countries already in relation with each others through existing town twinning agreements: 3 old EU members, 2 new ones and a pre-accession country. WELCOME is granted by European Commission in the framework of the Europe for Citizens Programme, Action 1 , Measure 1.2 and last 18 months.
OBJECTIVES
The project aims at promoting reflection, debate and action around the element WATER, focusing on its sustainable management in order to improve citizens’ and communities’ well-being in their everyday life. WELCOME aims at promoting citizens participation in the construction of a tighter-knit, democratic, world-oriented and united Europe, focusing on WATER as a linking element to develop active citizenship and sense of ownership of the EU, whilst enhancing tolerance, solidarity and mutual understanding. The action seeks to have a multiplier effect in Europe, leading to the setting up of a thematic network of twinned towns around WATER. In specific terms WELCOME aims at developing thematic and long-lasting cooperation between towns, focusing on water as a linking theme. It foresees a process leading to the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding and a joint action plan in the framework of the twinning agreements. It aims at “multiplying” the relations among the involved towns, revitalizing the existing twinning agreements and creating new ones.The action seeks to have a multiplier effect in Europe, leading to the setting up of a thematic network of twinned towns around WATER.
ACTIVITIES
The project foresees the organization of 3 main international events in Italy, Hungary and Croatia involving different target groups as local authorities, CSOs, youth groups, schools, universities and representatives from the economic and political contest sharing best practices on a common theme. The events will focus on 3 different dimensions of WATER:
First International Event – Sacile, Brugnera, Porcia – Italy : WATER, a CULTURAL VALUE – connected aspects are tourism, sport, culture, etc.
Second International Event – Berettyòùjfalu – Hungary : WATER, an ECONOMIC AGENT – connected productive aspects are fishing, energy, consumption, health, etc.
Third International Event – Novigrad-Cittanova – Croatia : WATER, a TERRITORIAL PARTNER – connected aspects are citizenship, sense of belonging to the territory, territory’s shaping and safeguard.
The main objective of the events is to increase the awareness of the need of a sustainable use of WATER in all its dimensions. Moreover they will be an opportunity for drafting and finally sign a Memorandum of Understanding as action plan for future cooperation on common themes.
The municipalities of Thiene in Italy and Ijevan in Armenia will together with ALDA implement the project “Citizen Participation and town development: the role of local authorities”. The project is focused on developing the cooperation between Thiene and Ijevan and includes study visits and trainings in both Municipalities.
The project is funded by the Veneto Region under the programme “Iniziativa Diretta 2011- Cooperazione decentrata allo sviluppo” for regional interventions for the promotion of human rights, the culture of peace, development cooperation and solidarity.
OBJECTIVES
The project aims to build inter-municipality relations between the Municipality of Thiene in the Veneto region in Italy and the Municipality of Ijevan in the Tavush region in Armenia. Furthermore it aims to develop decentralized cooperation between the two towns as a first step and then to increase and strengthen the role of local authorities in the politics and practise of participation in Armenia. A final objective is to support participative urban development. Although local self-government and citizen participation in Armenia is guaranteed by law there is a lack of mechanisms to implement these provisions and use the principles for citizen participation in practice. This project seeks to provide exchange of good practice to develop these issues in the future.
ACTIVITIES
The three activities that compose the core of the project aim to increase citizens’ participation in Ijevan and give possibilities to study the dialog between local authorities and civil society and the instruments used to facilitate citizen participation.
The first activity will be a training session in Ijevan in October or November 2011 by two representatives of Thiene with the local staff in Ijevan for information about participation and the developing methods used by Thiene and to identify topics for the later study visit to Thiene.
The second action is a workshop with an expert from ALDA for 30 persons of local authorities and civil society organisations about topics of Active Citizenship, participation and cooperation between local authorities and civil society for urban development.
The last action is a study trip to Thiene in Italy in March 2012 where representatives from Ijevan will see concrete examples of the trained methods such as the Urban Centre of Thiene. This study visit will thus help create contacts and a network for the sustainability of the whole project.
The project is funded by the Veneto Region under the programme “Iniziativa Diretta 2011- Cooperazione decentrata allo sviluppo” for regional interventions for the promotion of human rights, the culture of peace, development cooperation and solidarity
The project “THINKEU – Through Information and Knowledge towards EU” (Action 2 – Active Civil Society in Europe – Europe for Citizens Programme) is conceived to support the Croatian accession to the EU with a strong, deep and sustained dialogue between the civil society actors in Croatia. The objectives of the project are in accordance with the objectives of the programme as well as with the priorities defined for Croatia: enhancing public debate in Croatia on EU membership, informal learning by organising different workshops, informing the public about the EU funded project and more.
OBJECTIVES
The project aims to promote European values such are gender balance, intergenerational solidarity and many others. One of the focuses will be the organization of workshops with the themes of Volunteering and Civil activism held by the partner NGO – ZUM and abouth the EU values and multiculturality by the ALDA, because only informed citizens can be active European citizens. The main theme of the workshops will be defining volunteering, volunteer work and values that envolve around volunteering. The project is promoting and respecting multiculturality as a great EU value. The new approach used in this project is the inclusion of kindergartner children in the education about EU values. The access to the project activities and materials will be open to everyone without any aspect of discrimination. Through the dissemination of the educational and promotional materials at regional national and international level by using the most relevant Medias in terms of coverage and audience, the widest range of population and organizations will be reached by the messages.
ACTIVITIES
Within this project various activities are planned including qualitative expansion of the Euro Info point located in Pula for citizens, education of trainers / volunteers for lectures about EU, opinion polls on the attitudes of Istrian citizens towards the EU, volunteering month, exhibition and public presentations, public discussions for citizens and wider public about the European Union in general, workshops, television show. A study visit for selected representatives of target groups, students and high school students will be organised in the Italian Region of Veneto with the aim to exchange good practices and know-how with Italian NGOs and institutions on the project’s main topics. It is foreseen a three-day visit. The first day will be dedicated to the meeting with NGOs while the second and third day will include the visit to institutions that are dealing with Youth issues and EU programmes.
ECRC project is conceived to foster the development of a stimulating environment for increased citizen participation on the national and European level through improved citizen organisations’ capacity and the establishment of effective civil society infrastructures. The specific aim of the project is to create Citizen Resource Centres that will gradually develop into a common European citizen’s centre. They will have the characteristics of a civic resource centre on European matters, assisting the process of civic capacity building for effective participation in the European policy-making process.
OBJECTIVES
The project aims at achieving the following objectives:
Motivation and support for the NGOs and local authorities with regard to planning and strategic management of the project cycle of the “Europe for Citizens” Program;
Support the development of Europe-centred profile of functioning resource centres in the 7 EU countries in terms of resources, experience and knowledge, and build synergy among them;
Establishment and development of the capacity (knowledge and skills) of citizens, so that they are capable of actively participating in the policy-making;
Development of long-terms partnership between the different stakeholders (NGOs, local authorities, research centres) and enhancement of their knowledge of their importance as active civil moderators for the Programme;
Promotion of inter-cultural dialogue and European values, such as democracy, active civil society, citizenship, through the application of interactive innovative methods to popularise of the Programme.
ACTIVITIES
The project foresees 7 steps, having impact both at the local and at the European level.
Following the partnership building phase, the process is planned as follows:
Training for citizen moderators;
Establishment of 7 national and 1 European citizen’s centres and networks;
