"At the conference ""Global Impact on Education"", the Pope Francesco said that, with COVID, we are in front of an ""educational catastrophe"" affecting 10 millions children who are at risk to be lost. The news is going around the world and it scares. Apart from the different Governments political assets, different economies, strict restrictions and the extremely chaotic situation referring to worldwide scientific communities' opinion on the pandemic, our consortium wants to focus on Education and children wellbeing, which should be ""The priorities"" for all. According to educators, willing or not, distance learning is a reality and teachers have to be ready and equipped to face it. Starting from a deep confrontation among partners, we propose concrete solutions based on a positive perspective, sustained by a strong team of professionals and a wide range of existing methods, tools and practices existing on the web to be analysed and re-organised.""Distance learning, home schooling, digital teaching"". COVID19 pandemic brought all these terms to be ""hot topics"" without knowing exactly what they consist of. In the actual framework, changing so rapidly, we are all living the same scaring nightmare which, from a side, is placing us all at the same level, on the other hand, has exposed fragility and raised a big debate around the question: health or economical crisis? Education Out of the Box is a new consortium with a long term project plan which answers to the extraordinary call of the Erasmus+ Program, as first step with the perspective to continue for years developing a synergetic action at international level for the creation of a closer and more positive cooperation between teachers and parents, researching the good balance between digital teaching/digital education and the other side of the wall (Non Formal Education and Outdoor Education) and fostering more European education based on the actual guidelines of the EU: Council Recommendation of Key Competences for the Lifelong Learning (2018), Emerging technologies and the teaching profession. Ethical and pedagogical considerations based on near-future scenarios(2020).Priorities: Innovative practices in the digital eraStrengthening the profiles of the teaching profession Reinforcing the development of key competencesTARGET GROUP: teachers at the pre-school and primary school level.Main goal: solve the actual need to re-organize the chaos around distance learning/digital education/digital teaching and support teachers improving the quality of educational systems in Europe.Specific Goals:Equipe education and teachers training systems to face the challenges presented by the recent sudden shift to online and distance learning;Support teachers to develop digital competences in line with the actual trends Guide and mentor teachers in developing their professional teaching methodSafeguarding the inclusive nature of learning opportunitiesResearch on actual educational methods, tools and practices of digital learning giving to them a precise and professional organization and classificationGive an answer to the need for modernisation and digital transformation of education and training systems across EuropeReinforce the ability of education and training institutions to provide high quality, inclusive digital educationBuild capacity to implement online, blended and distance teaching and learningDevelop high quality digital content such as, online resources and tools and train teachers to contribute in developing new ones and their own materials (tailor made solutions adapted to local challenges and realities)Promote networking of institutions across the EU, sharing of resources and expertiseFoster the collaboration among experts from the public and the private sector, between formal and non formal and widen the variety of opportunities for teachers and students.Promote a new Education Pact between parents and teachersActivity structure-Deep, permanent scientific research work -Long term teachers training pathways (10 on site at local level in each Country and high professional innovative online proposals)two main Outputs1.Education Out of the Box - Wiki Training Kit of Manuals2.Out of the Box Platform for teachers and educators (a researching and learning platform, a unique European library for distance learning organized like a research engine of methods, tools and practices, with a central section for online teachers training, other sections on European Citizenship Education, Non Formal Education and Outdoor Education which are emerging thematic areas recognised by formal educators as useful to strengthen students transversal life skills-2 blended mobilities: in Belgium: Out of the Box Teachers Training - a common model for distance learning to train new European Digital Teachers, in Italy: Education Out of the Box Teachers training - strengthening digital education in Europe (focus on rural schools)14 Multiplier Events4 Coordination meetings"

Context/background of the project:It is extremely difficult for young people without a formal education that are not in employment and education to find a job. However, even without formal training or labor market experience, youth people do gather competences. It is vitally necessary that individuals develop competences in a wide range of fields, which will allow them to adapt to the evolution and the changing environment. It is necessary for NEETs to gain the necessary knowledge, skills and competences through VET in terms of social entrepreneurship, a field that is gaining high interest and which can provide as a means to exit the crisis.Objectives:The main objective of the project is to upgrade and enhance VET in terms of social entrepreneurship to provide more effective and efficient courses in the subject and to increase the participation and activation of youth in terms of social entrepreneurship, thus decreasing the level of dormancy that exists among NEETs and decreasing the level of unemployment.The specific project comes to address NEETs and youth unemployment through the development of social entrepreneurship, making it an alternative for unemployed youth. Number and profile of participating organisations:The project was implemented with consortia that comprise 7 Partners from 6 Countries.- The Lead Partner is FACE (Foundation Agro-Centre for Education) from Macedonia. It is a NGO with experience in implementation of training in VET. FACE is responsible to the overall management and administration of the project, including management meetings with partners, reporting requirements and communication between partners and with the managing authority, evaluation activities and dissemination activities and actions that are necessary for the increase of visibility, outreach and sustainability of results and outcomes. - The Institute of Entrepreneurship Development (iED) is a Greek Organization committed to the promotion of innovation and the enhancing of the spirit of entrepreneurship. Main responsibility in the Project was in creation of the curricula and e-platform with the courses, as well as the maintenance of the Project website.- MAKRO Management Development Consulting Company is located in Ankara, Turkey, providing innovative and high quality consulting solutions that support private and public sector organisations’ realization of their growth and development aims. Main responsibility in the Project was to participate in each outcomes of the Project, especial in creation and implementation of the Memorandum for Understanding (MoU), as important document for the sustainability of the Project.- Bridging to The Future (BTF) is British organisation with a mission for economic independence through entrepreneurship,intrapreneurship and education. They applying their experiences & research into a range of models, methodologies and approaches, job creation through start-ups, business growth & sustainability. Beside participation in all project activities, BTF was responsible for creation of the Handbook on the improvement of the Social Entrepreneurship.- JUMP is a cultural association from Italy with mission to bring Europe and internationalization in Calabria, especially in the province of Catanzaro, characterized by the lack of services and opportunities. Main responsibilities in the Project is input in creation of the teaching approach for the training.- İstanbul Provincial Directorate of Social Studies and Projects (ISEM) from Turkey has been established to accelerate regional development and ensure its sustainability by developing the cooperation between the public-private sectors and non-governmental organizations ensuring appropriate and efficient use of resources,. It is a public institution founded by City of Istanbul. Main role in the creation of Guideline for integraqtion of the curriculla in the national VET programs.- KTH Royal Institute of Technology is a university in Stockholm, Sweden. Main role in the creation of curricula and teaching methods for the project.Main Activities and results:1. Need analysis report - The needs analysis reveals the requirements for targeted training areas and for the creation of a tailored curriculum for the development of skills relevant to entrepreneurship and the social economy. 2. Curriculum for Young Social Entrepreneurs based on ECVET principles with 9 modules. 3. Guideline for the integration of the curriculum in existing national VET programs.4. E-learning platform - An innovative e-learning platform containing the open online course on Social Entrepreneurship.5. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed among the partners and relevant national institutions (18 MoU's signed).6. Handbook on the improvement of Social Entrepreneurship prepared.The Curriculum, the Guideline and the Handbook, as well as the e-learning platform are available in 6 languages and available for download on the Project website (https://sovet-project.eu)

"According to the Special Eurobarometer Report, Cultural Heritage, a most respondents (88%) agree that Europe’s cultural heritage should be taught in schools, as it tells us about our history and culture. Adult education has a key role here. Partner organizations decided to respond to the need of modern teaching European Heritage to adult and senior learners. They will develop the idea of treating European heritage as a pedagogical and integration tool. It will be perceived as a carrier of important knowledge and common values.The project participants from partner organizations from Poland (coordinator), UK, Italy and Spain will be adults or seniors - students and educators. All of them will be invited to many local activities, some of them will also be selected to take part in the international training activities in partner countries. Participants will receive knowledge about the richness of Europe, as well as deepen the knowledge of their own culture. Educators participating in the project will develop their competences, exchange good practices, ideas and get necessary skills and inspiration to implement many creative lessons and activities, which will promote and support culture and European heritage.To achieve the project objectives and results, different activities are planned. An intensive collaboration of 4 adult institutions from 4 different countries will result in 4 international learning mobilities (3 Short-term joint staff training events in the UK, Spain and Poland and 1 blended mobility of adult learners in Italy) Small scale project materials will be developed and published during the project. They include the project website presenting the 4 digital Heritage Routes in 4 countries of the partnership and a virtual teachers' guide with lessons scenarios instructing teachers how to use the heritage materials in the classroom. Project activities will create new educational opportunities for adult learners, especially seniors and those who have never participated in Erasmus+ projects. They will increase their and social activation, develop knowledge of European heritage and increase the sense of responsibility for shared cultural European values. European heritage will be perceived as a carrier of important knowledge and common values. This will contribute to European integration as a social value will affect the cultural sensitivity of the European community as well as to promoting Erasmus+ activities among generations.Short-term joint staff training events will result in improved competences of adult education teachers. Participant of international trainings will create and publish culture lesson scenarios and share their competences with the rest of the staff and students during teacher training sessions and by publishing materials on the project website. The whole staff team will gain new teaching and intercultural skills, wider knowledge of European heritage, new inspiration for culture lessons, exchange best practices and ideas with the staff of partner organizations.Partners' work on the idea of treating European heritage as a ""pedagogical and integration tool"" will result in the creation of the 4 digital Heritage Routes published on the website and a virtual teachers' guide with lessons scenarios instructing teachers how to use the heritage materials in the classroom. This will enable partner schools to improve existing programs, introduce new educational activities to their educational offer. This offer will better respond to the need of strengthening adult learners' motivation for learning and struggling with euro-skepticism.All project activities and transnational collaboration will develop strategic relationships between 4 education institutions from culturally different regions of Europe. This will strengthen partner organizations, allow for exchange experience, sharing ideas and best practices and work together on the challenges of life long learning. Long lasting collaborative relationships between organizations have been assumed even outside the partnership.Creation of small scale project materials will result in promoting the concept of social and educational value of European culture heritage. The website will be an information base on the cultural heritage of partner countries. Descriptions of visited places, routes developed, photos and videos will be presented there. This site will be publicly available. Partners will prepare and publish a digital guide for teachers on how to use materials about European heritage for their lessons with adult learners. The guide will include lessons scenarios and activity ideas prepared during the project. In this way it will contribute to increasing the opportunities to teach and learn about the European cultural and natural heritage and to contribute to the integration and strengthening of the EU sense of pride and unity"

Green Fingers project's aim was to include, integrate and create a dignifying life and work opportunities for youths belonging to social minority groups such as the Roma community, refugees and migrants. Organic farming and permaculture were used as innovative tools for the development of skills and knowledge for these youths to be able to create their own financial support. Each one of the partner organizations created a kitchen garden at their working site where the participants could come together and interact in different activities. The general idea was to have activities where the local youths and the minority group youths would work together, promoting communication, interaction and hence integration. The project counted with 4 partner organizations: Volda kyrkjelege fellesråd based in Volda, Norway as the coordinating organization and Filadelfia Evangélikus Egyházközség based in Niyrtelek, Hungary, Tineri in Europa based in Calarasi, Romania and JUMP - GIOVENTU' IN RISALTO based in Soverato, Italy as partner organizations. 5 Associate partners: RE:ACT Volda in Volda, Norway, Volda Læringsenter in Volda, Norway, Friends for Understanding in Klavestadhaugen, Norway, Green Peace Hungary in Budapest, Hungary and Kotesz Farm in Nyiregyhza, Hungary. The Associate partners have different roles in the project providing it with necessary knowledge, experience, collaboration and working tools. The project included 5 international activities: 3 Transnational project meetings, 1 Short-term joint staff training event and 1 Blended mobility of young people. The schedule of the international activities was: First transnational project meeting - February 2018​ - Soverato, Italy; Short-term joint staff training event - April 2018 - Nyírtelek, Hungary; Second transnational project meeting - October 2018 - Călărași, Romania; Blended mobility of young people - June 2019 - Volda, Norway; Third transnational project meeting - October 2019 - Nyírtelek, Hungary.The project was divided in two levels: an international and a local level. The international level of the project included the 5 international activities mentioned before. When it comes to the local level of the project, each one of the partner organizations developed their project independently. This was a strategic decision for a better development of the project based on the local characteristics of each garden, activities and participants group. The activities developed were also different form country to country based on the geographical and cultural differences. The only constant in all the activities was that people from different backgrounds would join and work together promoting communication, interaction and hence integration.

"<< Background >>""EU-READ&ART. The first European Digital Library of Book Trailers and Creative Expressions"" was born from the synergy of 7 partners representing 6 Countries that are facing the same challenges teaching and training adult learners, low skilled at the level of basic literacy, languages, and digital competencies with the direct consequence of very high level of demotivation, isolation and unemployment. Quoting our main point of reference, the Council Recommendation for Lifelong Learning, ""Literacy is the ability to identify, understand, express, create, and interpret concepts, feelings, facts and opinions in both oral and written forms, using visual, sound/audio and digital materials across disciplines and contexts. It implies the ability to communicate and connect effectively with others, in an appropriate and creative way developing literacy forms the basis for further learning and further linguistic interaction"". A survey among partners underlined the presence of another worrying phenomenon affecting adults in our nowadays society: the so-called functional illiteracy. Despite having a successful formal education career, adults can become functional illiterates. Functional illiteracy means that a person cannot use reading, writing, and calculation skills for his/her own and the community’s development. Functional illiteracy has considerable negative effects not only on personal development but also in economic and social terms.Adult educators and trainers need to be equipped with new digital skills after more than a year of pandemic and ""on-off"" lockdowns, forced to teach online using video conferencing tools. There's a strong need to meet again students, in our case, adult learners, who suffered isolation and evidently decreased the level of learning success especially in basic skills like literacy and languages. Everyone has become more digital in the use of devices and mobile phones, most of the time, social media addicted. Texting messages, chatting, living between a lesson and another, connecting with links created the effects that the level of illiterate or functional illiterate increased. Reading is extremely important and books are precious but they are at risk of disappearing. While the consortium met years ago and among partners, some of them cooperated and are cooperating in parallel projects, this version of EU-READ&ART is brand new, renovated, and improved. It was submitted on 29/10/2020 and scored 79/100 with a good evaluation. Thanks to the guidelines of the new Erasmus Program and of the EU Strategy 2021-2027 this project is in line with the three pillars: Green, Digital, and Inclusive. Green because it's based on reading books which are ecological and represent culture. Culture is at the base of being ecological, respecting nature being aware of the importance to building “sustainability”. Inclusive because Reading is an inclusive process if facilitated and animated by professional educators and book lovers. Being literate is an exercise of “citizenship” and inclusion. Digital is another keyword: the final result is ""The first European Digital Library of Book Trailers and Creative Expressions''. As said, books are precious but realizing book-trailers permit the development of important digital, literacy and communication skills very useful to be spent in the labor market. Its teamwork and media products are powerful tools for Dissemination and Valorization of the project. Book trailers are smart, sharable and they help to promote books, their writers, the same video-makers, the Erasmus Plus Program and the mosaic of cultures around the world.<< Objectives >>Taking into account our main guideline as adult learning providers working at EU level, the ""EU policy in the field of adult learning"" which fosters adult participation in formal, non-formal and informal learning whether to acquire work skills, for active citizenship, or for personal development and fulfilment and, on the other hand, the unexpected global pandemic, which brought all learning activities to be online, we investigated about the learners we aim to help.With this renewed and improved Cooperation Partnership, we aim to achieve:GOALS 1) Equip adults with important digital skills make them feeling included into society and connected with other adults in Europe2) Empower literacy skills of adult learners through reading in small groups, creating artistic expressions and short book trailers3) Increase the level of employment, at the local and at the European level, for marginalized adults4) Increase the n° of EU readers 5) Face new socio-emotional problems that emerged during the last year in adult learners (depression, demotivation and fears) with the powerful weapons of ""culture"" and ""dialogue""6) Enhance skills development and competences that reinforce creativity, as well as to boost quality, innovation and recognition of informal learning in adult education7) Develop resilience of the cultural and creative sectors8) Give to local learning processes an international dimension9) Promoting Erasmus for adult learners as a second chance to upgrade basic skills and be the ""changing actors"" of their lives10) Support new authors to be discovered and read12) Create concrete small networks at the local level between partners and local public and public libraries 13) Develop among partners a mentoring and life coaching program to support our team working in adult education, suffering difficult conditions, with learners who need more help and support.Transversally, we aim at contributing to increase the quality of adult education and the professional profiles of educators of adult learners.We plan to achievea big main Project Result, the ""First European Digital Library of Book Trailers and Creative Expressions"".the realization of 3 quality Transnational Project Meetings and 3 important and instructive Learning Mobilities (LTTs)14 Multiplier Events1 Reading Lab per week except during AugustThe book trailers experimentation phase and book trailers realization phase Creative Expressions which can be the same book trailers or other pure art expressions of all participants Become all Digital Swimmers (formally Media Literates) - see attachment to the webform - knowing the ocean of digital tools, its aware use, its dangers and potential for a creative use, towards higher employability of adult learners and of the same educators and trainers in their teaching professionOur Cooperation Partnership will be like a plant: sustained by a rich soil (our competences as an international team), nourished by motivation, passion and EU guidelines, with promising results to be achieved together.<< Implementation >>EU-READ&ART is a 2year-project even if started much before now.Main activities are divided into 5 chapters1) Project Management and Implementation- defining the cooperation method- guiding partners in assure quality of project implementation- develop clear, effective and transparent internal communication- reporting- monitoring and evaluation- maintaining a balanced rhythm between local and international activities- searching for further sustainability of the project- build and maintain institutional and operational relationships with institutions, national agencies and stakeholders 2) Local activitiesOrganization os Small Reading Groups (reading labs) with educators in the role of ""Readers Team Leaders"" and already semi-digital skilled educators helping to start with first book trailers until when the Learning Mobility happen where the 6 teams are trainer to become more professionals and define, technical roles. Reading Labs cross with small local events in indoor and outdoor, formal and informal environments, out of the school, out of the book, to bring culture and creative expressions to more adult learners and citizens3) Transnational Project MeetingsTPM 1 in Ignalina (Lithuania), February 2022TPM 2 in Le Mesnil au Grain (France), in October 2022TPM 3 in Taranto (Italy) in July 20234) Learning MobilitiesLTT1/C1 Training for educators and adult learners in Soverato (Italy): EU-READ&ART. Creative Trainers, Creative&Digital LearnersLTT2/C2 Training for educators and adult learners in Maribor (Slovenia): EU-READ&ART. Book Trailers and Creative Expressions in EuropeLTT2/C2 Training for educators and adult learners in Athens (Greece): EU-READ&ART. Book Trailers and Creative Expressions in Europe5) Dissemination and ValorizationMultiplier Events2 series in each country. 1st series titled ""EU-READ&ART - Adult Education Weeks in Europe! Multiplying effects of Creative Partnerships with Erasmus Plus/EPALE'' - November 20222nd series titled: ""Second edition of the EU-READ&ART - Adult Education Weeks in Europe! Spreading Erasmus Plus effects with Creativity and Innovation"" - September 2023Creation of an appealing website, Develop a smart and interactive Digital Library, Set up a blog and develop the cooperative writing model among all partners, involving all participantsSpread press releases regularly (1 per month)Report analytics data in regular 3-month reports analysing the growth of the readers, users and followers.<< Results >>CONSORTIUMhave created a strong network of different organizations which represent, in their local contexts, their nations and other networkshave strengthen our work in our field of expertise and explore new oneshave shared our common problems and needs with the aim to find a common base of cooperation/understandinghave managed a long term cooperation process in a clear and transparent way creating all expected outcomes and outputshave learned about the different adult education systems in each country with an EU perspectivehave improved our level of knowledge on EU, Culture, Arts, Creativity, Literacy skills improvement for adultshave strengthened the role of adult education providers in the EUhave solved any eventual conflicts among partners involved in a long and challenging projectEDUCATORShave transferred them a clear method to conduct passionate ""reading labs"" aimed at transferring love to reading, creativity and passion for art have transmitted them self esteemhave transmitted them the sense of responsibility of belonging to an international teamhave developed in them a more European dimension of workhave trained them on EU topics, EU guidelines, how to realize book trailers and creative expressionshave empowered training skills more equipped to face the actual adult learners learning needshave helped them to understand better the potential of adult education in Europe to improve the cultural level of allhave opened the field of ""adult education"" and ""teaching in the field of adult education"" to a wider range of opportunities and possibilitieshave given them a clear identity as ""innovators"" and ""multipliers"" of the deeper meaning of key competences more in line with the EU recommendation, in specific of literacy, cultural and creative competencieshave worked with them on a European identity of educators in the adult education fieldhave developed in them competencies of mentoring and coaching very useful in teaching professionhave improved their English language competencieshave improved relationships among them and with studentsLEARNERShave transferred and developed in them passion and love for reading, writing and creative expressions through artshave given them freedom to read in peace as a ""time"" for themselves or to work in group without being judged and without marks but with the common goal to finish the book and feel free to express their interpretationhave taught them a method to develop ""quality reading and writing skills"", ""expression/communication skills"" - in one definition, ""literacy/digital/artistic and cultural competence""have taught them how to design, plan and produce book trailers and video-making, in general have shown them the different phases of their learning process have brought them to other Countries, where they haven't surely been in their lifehave developed their English language competenceshave transferred them the capacity to understand the different aspects related to a book, the narrative style, the choices of the author, the development of the stories, characters etc...have improved the relationships among them and with educators (social skills)have shown them what can be an Erasmus+ changing their lifehave brought them to realised a complex and powerful Intellectual Output which is potentially endless and a project into the project which can be developed later on in many other wayshave opened their minds of writer and cultures they would have never know (this is also for teachers and for organizers)TERRITORIEShave had a great impact on media, new partners and stakeholdershave supported the cultural sectorhave created a product which is available for many users, including the same writers and publishershave raised awareness on the job done by different partners of the educational sector for employability of adult learners upgrading their basic and transversal skillshave increased the local economy of local bookstores/audience of public lib"