"<< Objectives >>""Silvers locally engaged in conflict resolution"" is the reply for progressive problem of conflicts, misunderstanding and polarization in a society. Especially people of elder generations (55+) have little knowledge of conflict resolution. They rarely had such education before and at the moment stll there is not such an offer found easily.The project aims at encouraging local people and partners employees 55 + to improve their knowledge and skills for conflict resolution in local societies<< Implementation >>We plan to: 1. Organize international and national meetings and workshops with target group local 55+ to explore the subject more and propose some recommendations. We would like to activate local communities to be more able to deal with conflicts and practise more dialogue. 2. Prepare a Guide about conflicts with scenarios for local meetings. 3. Implement the content of the Guide (and more) on Moodle platform (e-learning). 4. Be active in Social Media and on Epale platform.<< Results >>1. Increasing the awareness, knowledge, interest and skills for conflict resolution in local societies (target group: local adults and partners' employees 55+). 2. Further development of all partners' organizations. 3. Polish Foundation is a newcomer in Erasmus - opportunity to join the EU community.4. Preparing the base for bigger project ""Silvers in mediation"". 5. Opportunities for more dialogue and care about common issues in local communities."

CAST4Innovation - Cultural Awareness Supporting Training for InnovationDiversity and diverse communities add and enrich society and the first steps are to be comfortable in one’s own culture and embrace other cultures to make a more tolerant, inclusive and successful society for all that enables people to make a difference wherever they are residing.This project focuses on the gap of training for trainers of cultural awareness and innovation that by sharing good practices.This project from September 2018 to March 2021 developed a working model between 5 partners from Italy, Turley, Greece and Scotland and coordinated by the lead partner, CRAICNI, Northern Ireland to be innovative in giving trainers the best tools and resources from our shared experiences and practices. Each partner worked at all stages to support our innovative practices to create a training package in cultural awareness which resulted in the course ' Level 3 Delivering Cultural Awareness Training' at its highest level (A- level) and regulated by CCEA curriculum, Northern Ireland. This project developed a Cultural Awareness Training for Trainers courses, resulting in 2 accredited courses and a certified course online:1. Level 3 Delivering Cultural Awareness Training (Blended learning): 2 units, 6 modules, workbook and assessment on micro-teaching2. Endorsed Certificate in Developing Cultural Awareness Skills (Blended learning): 2 units, 6 modules, full attendance; assessment through class time and participation3. Certificate of Attendance: Cultural Awareness Supporting Trainers (online course): attendance online of 2 units and 6 modulesCOURSE AIM – To become qualified cultural awareness trainers from this transnational training programme, learning available both online and person to person, in order to break down barriers to integration and develop civic skills.COURSE OBJECTIVES – the course addresses racism and xenophobia; aims to increase mutual understanding by raising cultural awareness; develop the capacity of cultural diversity trainers; use music, art, literature, sport and cuisine as examples of creative illustrations of pathways to equality and social cohesion and understand the world around us through cultural awareness.The training adopts a two-unit, six modules structure: UNIT 1 – Understanding Cultural Awareness And DiversityModule 1.1 - Cultural awareness and diversityLearning Outcome: Understand the importance of cultural awareness and diversityModule 1.2 - Cultural self - awarenessLearning Outcome: Understand own position on Cultural AwarenessModule 1.3 - Culture and creativityLearning Outcome: Understand how to explore cultural awareness through Cultural ArtsUNIT 2 – Understanding And Using Inclusive Cultural Awareness Approaches In TrainingModule 2.1 – Approaches to Inclusive LearningLearning Outcome: Understand inclusive teaching and learning approaches in cultural awareness trainingModule 2.2 – Effective Learning environmentLearning Outcome: Understand ways to create an inclusive teaching and learning environment in cultural awareness trainingModule 2.3 - Planning Cultural awareness trainingLearning Outcome: Be able to plan inclusive cultural awareness trainingThe target group for the courses are community educators, mentors, facilitators, activists, volunteers and practitioners with an interest in Delivering Cultural Awareness Training. These included the following and the results:- individuals not currently delivering training in cultural awareness- individuals currently delivering training in cultural awareness- individuals currently working as assessors who wish to achieve a qualification providing an introduction to delivering training in cultural awarenessSome useful statistics for the Cast4innovation course so far is as follows:- 87 trainers trained as direct participants - 160 Trainers engaged In Training Activities And Workshops, Course Development and Participation.- 28 Trainers who Have Registered for the accredited course and completed (or completing) the workbook.- 50 Trainers awarded Certificates of attendanceIncreasing migration from newer communities, asylum seekers and refugees, economic migrants has meant an increase in the need to understand different cultures and build improved relationships. There is lots of evidence to suggest that racism and xenophobia exist across the UK and Europe due to a breakdown of the understanding difference.The course aims to bring about the innovation of linking visible and invisible culture, compounded by the understanding of training in inclusive environments. The course developed is underpinned by the understanding of self-awareness. To reach Level 3, a micro-teaching session is required for assessment for accreditation and this brings the 2 units together. For more information: https://www.cast4innovation.com/

Preparedness to hazards, such as extreme weather conditions and flooding, fires, earthquakes, industrial accidents, etc., could help to reduce the impact of such events on livelihoods and communities. Better know-how, practice and response mechanisms, such as disaster preparedness activities can save lives and speed up the recovery of communities. Besides, disaster risk reduction programs of Municipalities and Civil Protection Organisms are expensive and thus some money could be saved. In the framework of this project, we would like to undertake action and get in touch with the local communities, of each partner region, including immigrants-refugees of the area (if there are such in the vicinity), in order to train and prepare them and, if possible, make them able to deal with these emergencies (and, maybe, more). Unfortunately, the full protection from emergencies is technically and economically unfeasible. Thus, the preparation and establishment of a strategic plan for their management is important. We are intended to activate and involve in the training procedure youth organizations, school students, teachers, and teachers’ associations, open care centers for adults, local authorities, a hotspot for refugees, volunteer associations and relevant networks as well as adults (educational personnel, municipality seniors, members of adult organizations, nursing homes as well). We would also like to collaborate with relevant networks from other European, especially the Mediterranean, countries, not only in EU but also in non EU countries, both involved in the project as well as relevant networks and organizations not involved in it. Our project aims to create specific profiles, which will operate together and/or inside Civil Protection organizations and that will be competent for the optimization of the preparedness activities and, further, for dealing with people in the post-disaster phase. Users of these profiles will be trained for working in an international environment (during the project period, through e-learning sessions) so as they could be available not only during emergencies at the national level but also in order to support other teams in the other EU project Countries. Hence, the trained people will have the chance to know each other during the project period and will be able to cooperate in case of emergencies. The actions will be focused on the optimization of the preparedness activities in Civil Protection, in favor to vulnerable social groups in case of emergencies, particularly right after the disaster event, when citizens are often required to live in provisory camps, because of temporary impossibility to stay in their houses (because of flooding, earthquakes, fires, etc.). The final outcome is a compendium, which contains information and other materials produced and collected from all the partners’ countries during the project implementation period as good practices, questionnaires in order to investigate the citizens' awareness on civil security issues, case studies and a survival guide created by all partners in collaboration.The sustainability of the project is the creation of a Network of people and associations in all Europe with the purpose of continuing to exchange ideas and training about civil protection.Also, all partners will continue to organize workshops to attract volunteers to be trained in civil protection.The activities helped people enhance their understanding of civil protection aspects. The immersion in the project helps people to discuss important issues concerning civil protection aspects as we inferred through our analysis (2 surveys). Also, all activities have shown how urgent is the need to set up Human Networks to exchange ideas and knowledge on civil protection.

Between 2007 and 2018, 31% of all requests for assistance, through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, were for the response to forest fires. The forest fires hazard, as well as the extension of the fire season and the frequency and severity of fires, are likely to increase in the Mediterranean region. We can also observe that extreme weather conditions can affect a wider region of the European Union. In 2018, wildfires have heavily affected Greece, Turkey, Italy, Portugal, UK, as well as Latvia, a country in which wildfires have not been a concern in past years. These show the importance and the urgency to seriously invest in the prevention of forest fires.As the partners’ countries have a significant forest fire hazard, VOLinACT project aims to the dissemination of the necessity for forest fire prevention, utilizing the volunteerism of citizens through awareness-raising activities. Recruiting of new volunteers isn’t easy, but it’s not impossible. Our project aims to create specific volunteers’ profiles, who will be collaborating inside Volunteers’ Fire Protection Organizations (existing or going to be created in every country) for the optimization of the preparedness activities and, furthermore, for dealing with people's needs in the post-disaster phase. During the project period, volunteers of these profiles will be trained through e-learning sessions for working in an international environment, so as they could be available, not only during emergencies at the national level but also for supporting volunteers’ teams in other EU countries. We are going to create a website for potential firefighter volunteers, with information on how, why, and what. We will also create groups on social media so that trainees will have the chance to know each other during the project period and for better cooperation in case of an emergency. Also, we will create an innovative mobile application game, as a tool for assessment the volunteers’ competences as well as for self-evaluation.The main activities:- Mapping the skills and the competencies across the partners' organizations in relation to VOLinACT project. A map of skills will assist VOLinACT to find out what the project volunteers know and what they can do, to discover gaps or shortfalls in their knowledge and performance, and to plan and deliver effective learning solutions.- Creation of a VOLinACT toolkit that will be a set of training tools for adult learners keen on boosting their volunteering competences.- An OER platform will host the training modules in an e-book in PDF format. Its innovative content will drive productivity and sustainability for volunteers around the world. The target group will be volunteers who involved in activities during the project, but also volunteers who want to learn more in the field of fire protection.- Early warning the authorities for a fire hazard.- Training volunteers for being able to do logistic support to the firefighters and to the populations in a scenario of an emergency.- Better planning and coordination of response activities, at National and European, contributing to faster, reliable, and more effective EU response to forest fires. - Creation of a network of people and associations around Europe, for the continuation of exchanging ideas and training procedures for volunteers as Firefighters, an activity that enhances the sustainability of the project. The budget has been drafted in a transparent and collaborative way.The VOLinACT project assumes, beyond the volunteers’ training from the partners, the organization of:1) four transnational partner meetings involving representatives from each partner, 2) a three-days Learning Teaching Training Activities (LTTA) in Italy, whose participants will bequeath the gained knowledge to citizens of their country.

The target group of this project, people 55+, increase in all European countries. We live in aging societies. In this process the group of elder people does differentiate by very different living situations and concepts of life as well as different cultural and religious imprints: early retired people; unemployed elder beings; elders in Life Long Learning Institutions; workaholic elders who need reorientation; elders that feel abandoned and are in the risk of social exclusion such as minorities, immigrants, refugees etc. Characteristic for more or less all European countries is that a growing part of the 55+ are endangered to become separated/ excluded. Social isolation and loneliness in older adults are substantial public health problems, lead increasingly to illness and often to unnecessary health care utilization. Interventions such as peer support, volunteerism, physical activity, arts and recreation- based activities may consequently improve health and well- being. At the same time in many countries of Europe there is a luck of organizations that focusing specially on that age groupTo deal with this multiplicity is a challenge for the whole society. Especially concerning Culture and Education specific offers have to consider life experiences and life conditions of the generation 55+ to improve the chances of cultural and social participation. Due to this project citizens from different countries, cultures and traditions through cultural activities (dances, arts, theatre, photography, cooking, etc), ICT and foreign languages intend to develop intercultural consciousness, limit the prejudices and highlight the commons. This is of high relevance, because the engagement with Arts, ICT, Language and Culture is for many elder people the opening for new opportunities in participation and higher quality of life The main aim of this program is to reinforce people at 55+ to adapt an active, healthy, creative and successful way of living. The objectives concerning a) citizens of 55+ are: to enrich cultural awareness and heritage, enhance personal development, group cohesion, socialization and sense of belonging and b) trainers/staff are to exchange ideas, experiences, good practices, reinforce cooperation and improve management competencies and internationalization strategies. The partners of this project- 7 organizations from Greece, Italy, Germany, Bulgaria, Georgia- are expertise on the fields of Arts, Culture, ICT with seniors and are willing to be innovative in giving seniors some tools and resources from their shared experiences and practicesThe project aims to reach out to the widest possible audience inside (>600) or outside the project (>1500), in particular local communities and regions. For the achievement of the project there will be a precise planning with a clear division of responsibilities and detailed control and coordination. Each partner will determine from the outset who will be responsible for each action and will receive frequent feedback on the process. The coordinator will supervise and be responsible for information such as exact timetable, funding, agreements etc. Five transnational meetings will be used to establish face to face contact, review the project progress and for training and work shop purposes. Each meeting will be reported by the coordinator. At the first phase questionnaires focusing on Clarification of the needs and the expectations, Cultural Awareness, Quality of life will be given to point out the profile of the target group. The design and implementation of the activities concerning Arts (Folklore Dance, Painting, Theatre etc.) Culture, Language and ICT will be conducted by each partner. A variety of events such as Performances, visits in Museums etc. are going to be held. On line courses, webinars, digital games etc. are going to be conducted as well. All these activities and events are going to be recording and evaluated by each organization. Good Practices will be selected and as a result, a Compendium of Good Practices will be published. This Compendium will be available online on the project's website, on the partner organizations' websites and fb pages and thus, available to many people inside and outside this project. An online platform for this project with all the material will be installed. A list of members will be created, information and possible involvement of other organizations and associations will be empowered. Another expected result of this project is to create an EU network of seniors to keep up with traditional culture, be familiar with an active way of living and gain well-being. In addition, the creation of a network of professionals/staff to promote communication, cohesion and exchanging of professional skills. This could be a prerequisite for designing a new European project Partnership Strategies that would involve intercourse and interaction between the stakeholders with multiplier events and intellectual outputs.