The CARE4YOUTH Project, co-financed by the European Union’s Erasmus+ program, aims to enhance the lives of young people at risk of social exclusion.
CARE4YOUTH, an acronym for “inclusion for youth through non-formal education, leisure, and outdoor sports,” has embarked on a promising journey towards a better future for a group of young people facing the risk of social exclusion, such as those from low-income backgrounds, disadvantaged ethnic or racial backgrounds, or those who have prematurely left the education system. On September 25, 2023, the first international meeting took place, gathering enthusiastic representatives from various participating organisations in this significant initiative from Spain, Serbia, and Italy.
The CARE4YOUTH Project, co-financed by the Erasmus+ program of the European Union, aims to improve the lives of these young people. On the one hand, it provides outdoor sports and leisure activities to enhance their health and emotional well-being. On the other hand, it focuses on improving their employability and skills through non-formal education, all aimed at fostering active citizenship and social inclusion. At the same time, CARE4YOUTH represents a unique collaboration between various organisations committed to creating a more inclusive and sustainable society.
The consortium is composed of four institutions:
- Coordinator: Escafandra Diving Club (Spain), a non-profit sports entity in the Canary Islands that engages in sea-related leisure activities, such as diving experiences, aiming to promote social inclusion through sports and contact with nature.
- PRISM Impresa Sociale S.R.L. (Italy) is a non-profit social enterprise based in Palermo with the mission of creating equal opportunities.
- JUMP (SKOK UDRUZENJE) (Serbia) is a youth association in Prijepolje supporting the development of vital skills for young people through community building.
- Consulta Europa Projects & Innovation (Spain) is a SME located in the Canary Islands, specialising in research, innovation, and education projects and promoting European solutions for local issues.
The first meeting commenced with partner introductions, fostering a sense of collaboration and unity among the diverse organizations. Following this, the project overview was presented, outlining CARE4YOUTH’s objectives. Participants emphasised the project’s essential components, concluding the meeting with a roadmap for the upcoming implementation steps.
CARE4YOUTH’s main objectives include a holistic approach to help these young people strengthen their self-esteem and emotional well-being. This involves building positive social relationships through various outdoor sports and leisure activities (including scuba diving, volleyball, and hiking). The project also aims to enhance the youths’ skills by providing opportunities for non-formal education and imparting crucial digital and entrepreneurial competencies for their future.
In the coming months, each participating organisation will conduct an analysis of local needs, existing tools, and approaches to support social inclusion. This will serve as the foundation for creating workshop and activity methodologies. Simultaneously, key stakeholders, including young people and social workers, will be identified to participate in this phase of the project. Furthermore, a workshop at PRISM’s headquarters in Palermo, Italy, next year promises to expand the project’s impact during the co-creation process of the applicable methodology.