The Malta National Agency of the EU YOUTH Programme last month hosted the “Get In Net” Training Course for young people to prepare them to eventually develop networking projects within the Action 3 of the YOUTH Programme in cooperation with other European groups of young people.
27 young participants, aged between 20 and 26, and coming from various European countries, including Malta, participated in this training. The course was led by two professional trainers engaged by the SALTO (Support and Advanced Learning and Training Opportunities within the European YOUTH Programme) -Youth Initiatives Resource Centre.
The aim behind “Get In Net” is to enable young people to develop and realise quality Action 3 Networking Projects. This is the second course taking place this year – the first took place in Denmark last March. Two further “Get In Net” Training Courses will be held in Turkey and the UK in July and October respectively. Through these courses, young people acquire project management and communication competencies for international activities, learn to develop understanding about the principles of networking, explore the added value (on a European dimension) of networking projects for the local community, and develop an action plan to realise a networking project. During their stay, the participants have the possibility to find potential partners for their projects, and share and transfer experiences of activities undertaken in the local community.
The courses are based on the principles and practice of non-formal education taking into account the needs, motivations and previous experiences of the participants as a starting point of the programme. A diversity of working methods are used for learning about networking project management: thinking together, brainstorming, creating new ideas, discussions, debates, simulations, etc. The young people are supported actively to work on concrete networking projects and enabled to apply for Action 3 of the YOUTH Programme. There is also space for regular feedback and evaluations.
Networking projects are projects created and run by a group of young people together with a partner, or partners, in at least one other programme country. Such projects can represent innovative examples of the contributions that young people want to make to their local community, in addition to having a European dimension. The EU YOUTH Programme, EU’s mobility and non-formal education programme targeting young people, offers funding for such projects. Apart from networking projects, the EU YOUTH Programme offers other opportunities to young people, youth organisations and centres, local councils, and other non-profit making organisations, in creating and developing exchange projects, group initiatives at a local level, voluntary service in a European country, and various support measures to enhance these projects.
Various training courses are held annually for young people and those working with young people on the opportunities of the YOUTH Programme and on young people in general. Anyone who is interested in receiving mail shots about upcoming trainings and information on the YOUTH Programme can subscribe to the Malta YOUTH National Agency website: www.youthmalta.org or call on 2125-5663 for further information.