SMALL MATTERS
Start date: Jan 1, 2015,
End date: Apr 30, 2015
PROJECT
FINISHED
From 23th to 28th February, 30 participants from 7 different countries visited Numancia de La Sagra to learn and share the youth work approach developed in town thanks to the alliance established by the local Youth Center and the local NGO Kieu Project.
Youth workers, representatives of organizations and associations as well as municipal authorities from Italy, Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic and Spain gathered in this small town during one week. Each country participated with 2 workers or volunteers from civil society organizations and 2 local council responsible (politicians or technicians). Among the 30 participants two Spanish facilitators are included: one Youth Worker (public servant) and one NGO volunteer from PK. In this way communication between civil society and local government was established as a partnership to develop youth projects in different European territories in the same way as it is already done by Kieu Project with the Town Halls of Numancia, Borox and Esquivias in the region of Toledo, Spain.
The main theme of the seminar was to explore the possibilities of joint work between civil society organizations and government agencies in smaller cities and towns in Europe and thereby increase the chances of development and opportunities of European youngsters who do not live in cities but in rural and pre-urban areas. At the same time, the seminar also allowed the creation of a network of European organizations working in small towns with deep local commitment and, at the same time, with a European dimension. As a result of the project, the network already allows these people to be connected to each other and carry out projects together.
The different sessions of the seminar included workshops on public tools and resources and their use; how to write a proper adjust to reality agreement, preparing new projects (local and international), exchange ideas and contacts ... The Director General of Employment and Youth, under the Ministry of Employment and the Economy of the Government of Castilla La Mancha, also provided training in the seminar dedicated to explore the possibilities of Erasmus+. Along the seminar other local actors were invited such as: representatives of the local elementary and high schools, social services, youngsters already involved in European projects and other associations partners with PK the Youth Center at a local level.
A Spanish dinner, a cultural visit in Toledo, cultur-creative night and several shared afternoons with different organizations, businessmen / women and politicians from the region of La Sagra gave the seminar a playful and fun touch.
The municipalities of Borox, Esquivias Yuncos, Alameda, Pantoja, Yuncler, Villaluenga and, of course, Numancia who acted as host, were represented at the seminar by their respective mayors and councilors. On February 25 a meeting between the representatives of these municipalities and all international participants of the seminar was held. After the seminar, Proyecto Kieu in coordination with its local partner the Youth Center keep promoting in the area of La Sagra County their model of Youth Work already implemented in Numancia de La Sagra with the help of the European Program Erasmus+.