Youth exchange “European Entrepreneurial Spirit”
Funded by Erasmus+ Programme, number 2015-1-BG01-KA105-013549 Partner organizations: Florina Active Youth Association (OENEF), Greece and Club Intellectuals Association, Slovakia.
The Project “European Entrepreneurial Spirit” was implemented in 2015 to help 30 young people between the ages of 18-30 from small settlements in Bulgaria, Greece and Slovakia to realize their potential as entrepreneurs and full-fledged participants in the labour market, with an active social and civic position. During an eight-day exchange in the town of Bansko, the young people participated in an interactive training process in which they developed social skills for effective communication, information work, teamwork and leadership. Through the methods of non-formal education and learning through experience, participants had the opportunity to learn more about:
- European citizenship
- youth policies
- innovative approaches to tackling unemployment
- how to make use of public resources in order to be actively involved in the labour market.
At the end of their stay, the intercultural teams generated their own real entrepreneurial ideas, and each participant prepared their own personal development plan with concrete steps to follow to acquire new knowledge and skills and to actively participate in the social and economic life of their local community.
“Youth participation in social reform”
Funded by Erasmus+ Programme, number 2015-3-BG01-KA347-022669
In the period 2015 – 2016, Association “Public Compass” implemented the project “Youth Participation for Social Reform”. The idea of it was provoked by the alarming and increasing level of youth unemployment, especially in small settlements, and the need for permanent action to overcome this problem. The project covered a wide range of stakeholders on the territory of pazardzhik municipality, including municipal councillors, representatives of the local authority, local employers, as well as representatives of universities, experts from MSM, MES, Employment Agency and national NGOs. The project activity was put into effect in three phases, as during the first participants were selected – 60 young people aged 16-29 years, who through the methods of non-formal education and learning through experience and experience took part in various interactive activities in order to realize their personal and professional potential. Structural dialogue was implemented during the second phase as the main instrument for progress and sustainable development. Stakeholders and participants discussed the youth policies being waged at European and national level and the opportunities for reforms in youth policy in Bulgaria. As a result of the structural dialogue, the participants prepared an information product with guidelines and recommendations for reforms and opportunities for active involvement in decision-making processes. During the third phase of the project, the young people set up an online group to promote the structural dialogue. Shared ideas, good examples and useful contacts can be seen here.
Youth exchange “Young, active, enterprising”
Funded by Erasmus+ Programme, number 2016-1-BG01-KA105-023436
Partner organizations: Club of Bulgarian Intellectuals’ Association, Slovakia and ASOCIATIA “NOI STIM!”,Romania.
In 2016, through the project “Young, Active, Enterprising” Association “Public Compass” carried out a youth exchange with the participation of 33 young people from Bulgaria, Romania, and Slovakia, with similar economic and social status. By assessing the current needs of youth, the project sought solutions to the deepening negative consequences of youth unemployment, lack of youth awareness of professional development and disinterest in democratic processes.
During an 8-day interactive exchange, participants worked on topics related to European citizenship, generating innovative solutions for the benefit of personal development, human rights, combating unemployment, European opportunities, etc. The key competencies that the participants acquired during the exchange were captured in a short film.
“Keep calm and decide your future!”
Funded by Erasmus+ Programme, number 2016-3-BG01-KA105-035237.
Partner organization: Club of Bulgarian Intellectuals Association, Slovakia
In 2017, in response to the deficit of active youth participation in its own personal and professional realization, Association “Public Compass” implemented the project “Keep calm and decide your future!”. In the village of Chiflik, Lovech region, a youth exchange was organized to exchange experience and increase the capacity of the participants to provide quality services for career guidance and counselling of young people. Through the interactive training programme and the inclusion of professional trainers, solutions were generated to the deepening negative effects of youth unemployment, a lack of youth awareness of professional development and ignorance of existing measures to promote employment. In order to increase the confidence and motivation of the participants for work and realization in the labour market, in addition to the familiar methods of career guidance and consulting, the project team uses the tool “peers help peers”. This approach has enhanced the results of the project due to greater trust between young people and the personal cause with which they have engaged with each other.
“B-enterprising”
Funded by Erasmus+ Programme, number 2017-3-BG01-KA105-046784.
Partner organization: ASOCIATIA “NOI STIM!”, Romania.
In 2018, Association “Public Compass” implemented project “B-Enterprising”, which gathered 30 young people (aged 17-25 years) from small settlements in order to create conditions for their successful realization, building leadership qualities, learning knowledge, skills and competences in the field of youth entrepreneurship and increasing their civic activity. During the youth exchange in the town of Teteven, the participants generated business ideas to unlock their entrepreneurial thinking by assessing their community resources and the benefits of participating in European projects. The training of highly motivated young people has built an effective network of leaders that in the future contributes to improving the environment and multiplies the results by involving more young people. The project participants continued to act as multiplayers at local, regional and international level and to develop and manage new projects building on what they learned.
“Development of the potential of youth workers”
Funded by Erasmus+ Programme, number 2018-1-BG01-KA105-047582.
Partner organization: ASOCIATIA CLUB SPORTIV LUPAS POWER BIHOR, Romania.
The project “Development of the potential of youth workers” took place in Burgas in May 2018 and included 30 participants. The current problems of young workers working with disadvantaged youth, migrants and refugees have been a major focus. The aim of the project was to improve the level of key competences and leadership qualities, increase the opportunities for cooperation, exchange of experience and improve the quality of work of youth organizations. A broader perspective was presented on the dimensions and causes of migration and the challenges refugees are faced with, raising participants’ awareness of the current migration situation and refugee issues. Participants were trained in how they could successfully work on emerging conflicts at local level related to minority groups, migration and refugee flow, based on the prejudices of local communities and discrimination against people of different ethnicities and religions. The working groups have helped to recognise the importance of key competences by youth workers and provided them with effective methods for promoting and developing them among young people.
“Cover your needs, discover your career”
Funded by Erasmus+ Programme, number 2018-1-BG01-KA204-047980 Partner organizations: INTERACTIVE MEDIA KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER – INTERMEDIA KT, Greece and Club of Bulgarian Intellectuals Association, Slovakia.
For many people, their professional realization is unsatisfactory, as a result of unsuitable choice of profession. For others, because of the need to work anything to make an income. And others face a situation of unsuitability due to modern technologies and trends. This is especially true for people of and above middle age. In any case, these people need adequate support to adapt to the labour market and increase confidence in their own potential. “Changing your profession as a game..” was part of the focus of the project “Cover your needs discover your career”, which Association “Public Compass” realized in the period 1.10.2018 – 30.04.2020 with the cooperation of partners from Greece and Slovakia. Through this project, our team has unequivocally proven its commitment to developing and implementing innovative and sustainable models for non-formal education and lifelong learning. “Cover your needs discover your career” is a project to support people over the age of 40 who need or wish to change their profession and build on their personal and professional skills to remain competitive in the dynamics with which needs change in the labour market. In order to understand the real training needs and difficulties in terms of the professional retraining of the target group, we conducted a survey among 750 people from Bulgaria, Greece and Slovakia. They represented the group of low-skilled employees and the unemployed for whom the opportunities for realization at the time of the survey were most limited. As part of the project activities, we also implemented focus groups with adult trainers to discuss how they can better align their actions with the needs of learners and how to make training programs more accessible and attractive to people over 40. A key aspect of the project is the created set of intellectual products – interactive training tools to help adults in personal and career guidance, and for trainers to be more effective in their work.
The kit contains:
• Adult learning guide
• Creative kit for training and development
• Instructor training guide
These three tools cover the whole adult learning process to help them in personal and professional development and a new realisation of the labour market.
The set is a printed product in a beautiful binding, which contains three components: “Associative cards” for awareness of emotions and reflection; “Roadmap of goals”, shaped as a visualization of a mountain route that symbolizes personal and professional growth and “Coaching templates” with questions and specific cases of professional reality. In contrast with the many digital products and applications, the kit is independent of the availability of digital environment and special technologies. This makes it easily applicable in different situations, suitable for people with different skills and independent of the environment in which it is used. The training tools are designed for the work and training of people over 40 years of age, including the long-term unemployed or low-skilled. But they are also suitable for those who are still planning their career path, as well as for people who need a change in their professional environment. The attractive design provokes the participants to achieve their goal with the metaphor of “climbing a mountain peak”, for which they must plan their own steps and resources and predict possible difficulties. This visualizes the overall process of development, with the individual and the group defining their own development steps through critical and creative thinking.The Adult Education Kit was recognised as the second of the three best career development solutions during the European Competition for Innovative Career Development Tools. You can find out more about the products of “Cover your needs, discover your career” on the project’s website: http://www.careerdiscovery.eu/
“Creating conditions for structural dialogue in the Northwest Planning Area”
Funded by Erasmus+ Programme, number 2019-1-BG01-KA347-061755.
The project “Creating conditions for structural dialogue in the Northwest Planning District” is an innovative concept of the Association “Public Compass” to mobilize youth potential in democratic processes and the implementation of sustainable development strategies at local level. Its realization was provoked by the growing need for active youth participation and innovation in politics. The main objective of the project was to promote the active citizenship of young people from Lovech region by creating prerequisites and habits for active participation in democratic processes, dialogue between young people and those responsible for shaping youth policy and cooperation in the implementation of regional and national strategies for sustainable development and raising living standards. Between May and July 2019, three meetings were held for constructive structural dialogue between young people, local government representatives and other public institutions responsible for youth policies. Of all the young people who took part in the meetings, 20 were selected, who participated in the Master class for structural dialogue ambassadors and members of the municipal youth working groups.
“Social cycling and cultural biking”
Funded by Erasmus+ Sport programme, number 613329-EPP-1-2019-1-BG-SPO-SSCP.
Partner organizations: Sports club “MTB Klub Kranj” from Slovenia and Sports club BK “Pannonian” from Croatia.
Based on the concept that sport can be used as a tool to encourage entrepreneurship, promote, research and preserve Europe’s cultural heritage from people from all social, economic, religious and sexual backgrounds, we decided to bring together the good practices of partners in the field. We want to use the fact that cycling, whether in or around cities or in the nearby mountain, is an excellent way to demonstrate equality between people and pay attention to the values and environmental and cultural facts that make us a society. Hiking, cycling, running and swimming are the most commonly practiced sports. Cycling in all its forms is gaining increasing popularity in Europe. This is an extremely positive trend because it is environmentally friendly, healthy and affordable, and can be practiced by everyone – from children to the elderly and has a big role to play in their social inclusion.
The two main topics the projects addresses are:
1. Promote social inclusion and equal opportunities in sport and everyday life
2. Encourage entrepreneurship, environmental and cultural education through sport with a special focus on skills development.
For more information visit:
“EUFIT”
Funded by Erasmus+ Sport programme, Action: SCP – Collaborative Partnerships, number 622998-EPP-1-2020-1-BG-SPO-SCP. Project “EUFIT” is implemented in cooperation between Association “Public Compass” – Bulgaria; Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH) – Greece; Balkan Tennis Union – Bulgaria; Club Intellectuals Association – Slovakia; Sport club “MTB Klub Kranj” – Slovenia и BK “Pannonian” – Croatia.
Physical activity contributes to both our physical and mental health health. As many people are currently (with limited mobility, accsocial distancing guidelines) in their homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic –
nearly 35% of the world’s population is under lockdown (info: businessinsider.com). Even a short break from sitting, taking 3-5 minutes physical movement, such as walking or stretching, will help relieve muscle tension, relieving mental tension and improving blood circulation and muscle activity. Regular physical activity can, too to help give the day a routine (structuring the day into fruitful activities) and to be a way of maintenance (maintenance of social and cultural relationships) in contact with family and friends. We want to show that regular physical activity benefits both the body and the mind. she can
reduce high blood pressure, help manage weight and reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and various types of cancer.
Main goal of the project:
“Encouraging participation in sport and physical activity, particularly by supporting the Council Recommendation on HEPA and the EU Physical Activity Guidelines’. Our main goal is to promote physical activity and its importance for a wide target group of people. We want to show the right ways presentation of reliable information, sources to promote and popularize methods for doing physical activity even in front of the computer or indoors as part from the busy working day and to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyle despite all obstacles. The project aims to concentrates on “diseases caused by a sedentary and low-activity way of life’ and how to avoid them. The target groups are people between 25 and 50 years old in active life working age. The “EUFIT” project is implemented in cooperation between the association “Public Compass” – Bulgaria; Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH) – Greece; Balkan Tennis Union – Bulgaria; Club Intellectuals Association – Slovakia; Sport club “MTB Klub Kranj” – Slovenia and BK “Pannonian” – Croatia. Physical activity contributes to both our physical and mental health. Many people are currently limited in mobility due to social distancing requirements, spending more time in their homes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This puts nearly 35% of the world’s population in isolation.
Through the project, we want to show that regular physical activity is beneficial for both the body and the mind. Even short breaks from prolonged sitting, such as 5 minutes of physical movement, walking or stretching, will help relieve muscle and mental tension, improve blood circulation and awaken muscle activity. Physical activity directly affects stress levels, can reduce high blood pressure, help manage weight, and reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and various cancers. Regular physical movement can also contribute to more efficient structuring of the day, building useful habits and maintaining a sense of energy and cheerfulness. This, in turn, will undoubtedly affect social contacts, relationships with loved ones and family and turning negative conditions into benefits.
The main goal of the project is “Promoting the motivation to participate in sports and physical activities, according to the recommendation of the Council of Europe to build a Network for Healthy Physical Activity (HEPA) and the EU guidelines for physical activity”. The mission of the project is to promote physical activity and its importance to a wide target group of people. We want to show the appropriate ways (reliable information, sources to promote and promote methods of exercising physical activity, even in front of the computer or indoors, as part of a busy working day and to promote physical activity and a healthy lifestyle, despite all limitations ). The project focuses on diseases caused by a sedentary and inactive lifestyle and ways to avoid them. The target groups are people between 25 and 50 years of active working age.
