"This project was a youth led partnership between Ireland, Macedonia and Finland. 21 Young people from Ireland, Macedonia and Finland of similar backgrounds and age profile, came together to research education systems and challenges students are faced with when it comes to state exams or assessments across their countries. These young people participated in 3 mobility's in Finland, Ireland, Macedonia to discuss their findings and to develop concrete evidence of how young people's learning needs could be better met in education. The first meeting gave the young people the opportunity to meet to discuss and design a comprehensive consultation process to collect the experiences and voices of young people across the three countries.In advance of the second meeting the young people carried out a consultation in each of their countries and then came together in the second meeting in Macedonia to share the results of their research. In addition to the consultations the young people also participated in a number of study visits in educational institutions. They discovered that young people regardless of country had very similar experiences of the formal education system. The young people also worked with senator Lyne Ruane to become more aware of how to lobby, who to target when lobbying and how to engage with policy makers to have their message heard. As young learners challenged by these systems, young people agreed that now is the time to explore alternative solutions to current learning assessment structures, and search of innovative and inclusive ways to assess learning of all learners. At this point the young people agreed that it would be important to collect the results of their research in the form of a summary report which was later disseminated to a wide audience. This summary report was disseminated in the third meeting in Ireland ""a structured dialogue event"" which brought together young people, educators, policy makers and other important stakeholders to discuss this important research and recommendations for modernizing the formal exam system. The planned and achieved objectives are; 1.This project empowered young people to engage in dialogue about issues that affect them 2. Young people engaged in cultural learning experiences 3. Young people worked collaboratively with international partners 4. Young people researched and learned about different education system and structures 5. Young people's experiences of school and exams were voiced through a consultative process, facilitated by young people. 6. The findings from exploration and consultations, were compiled to influence a structured dialogue with relevant policy/decision makers in Ireland.7. Enhance the personal and social development of young people 8. Young people experienced positive cultural learning and exchange 9. Young people had their opinions voiced and heard 10. Young people are more informed about education systems and exam structures 11. Young people gained new skills and confidently articulate their opinions to decision makers 12. Young people participated and showed leadership in a process of policy engagement 13. Young people will lobby for systemic change in the Irish Education System, influenced by international research14. Young people are valued more by the professionals they engaged with Unexpected outcomes1. The NCCA invited this group to submit the findings of their research to inform their own review of the current leaving cert structure in Ireland with a view to modernizing the leaving cert 2. Social Innovation Fund Ireland invited the young people to submit their findings which were later referenced an their game changer event in the Burren Arts Center"

The Council of the European Union adopted recommendations in the field of smart youth work in November 2017. The fact is that today we are confronted with a rapidly changing society, thus youth workers, working with young people, need additional knowledge to be able to be mentors to young people on their way to independence. With the project we addressed the challenges and opportunities offered by the digital age, we decided to develop a project idea into the project called Smart youth work in youth centres. With the project, we aimed to answer the questions considering challenges faced by youth policy, youth work and young people. Because the field of digitalization is not yet completely developed, we decided with the project partners from Estonia, Germany and Finland to define the tools, methods and competences we need to answer the challenges of smart youth work. Since technological development provides new opportunities for developing the skills and competences of young people, we have decided to connect with relevant organizations from abroad and prepare a strategic partnership project that offers opportunities for networking and interaction, expressing opinions, experience, and consequently active citizenship of all involved. We are aware that only well-informed citizens and young people can be active. With this aim, we approach the project of digital youth work in a new field of work, with new methods for working with young people in youth centres. Furthermore, we are aware that digital tools, which are used by young people and youth centres already exist, but the project is taking a step further and strives to will develop the competencies of youth workers and young people on a systematic basis. Thus, as part of the Smart Youth Work in Youth Centres project, funded by the Erasmus +: Youth in Action program, we carried out a study visit in order to view good practices in Finland. We also conducted international training for youth workers who are responsible for the development of programs in youth centres, where they will develop program content.During the project, we created a document with tools, methods of work and competences in the area of smart youth work. The set of practices will enable the development of youth centres and more effective work in addressing the contemporary challenges of the digital age. Consequently, the role of youth centres in the field of digital youth work was strengthened. Through the project and project activities, we also considered a part of the European dimension of digital youth work.The project has long-term effects, as we have developed a model for recognizing the competencies of digital youth work and thus also finding the strengths and weaknesses of youth workers in researching and reflecting on the current importance of digital youth work. The impact of the project is broader, sectoral, we are currently in a situation that contains the content of youth work moving to the online environment.

<< Objectives >>We aim to increase the quality of education, motivate young people for learning and critical thinking and facilitate community development by developing and promoting new tools and methods. The project aims at creating an interactive manual on using space as a learning tool, as well as an educational board game that utilizes space as a tool for learning about roles of stakeholders, critical thinking and proactive engagement, providing an opportunity to tackle concrete community challenges.<< Implementation >>The project involves research, conceptualization, evaluation and promotion of innovative learning tools using space for a wide range of stakeholders. It will generate an interactive handbook and board game, to use the space as a learning tool about community engagement, proactivity and stakeholder roles to enable community development. Special attention is paid to the inclusive dimension, as well as sustainability, also in the 'green' context.<< Results >>The project will generate new learning tools that utilize space as a tool for learning about community, social roles, proactivity and critical thinking, such as an interactive manual and an educational board game. In that way, the project will have an impact on increasing the quality of education in Europe and among partner organizations and their network. Outputs will serve to increase motivation and interest among relevant stakeholders and provide new perspectives on community development.

<< Objectives >>Encourage pro-environmental behaviour amongst young people, raise awareness about self-sustainability, motivate to take proactive action to protect the planet and slow down climate change. Create a board game that aims to raise awareness within the target groups about activities that they can do in their local community aimed at protecting the planet. Create a platform to share information, good practice, inspiration and motivation for future activities which are interlinked with the boardgame.<< Implementation >>Project meetings / TPM´s and online project meetingsFinancial Administration and Project Reporting Communication, promotion and disseminationEvaluationResearch (needs and market)Board Game Prototype testing and evaluationBoard Game conceptualisation, design and productionOnline platform designOn-line platform Beta version developmentOn-line Platform Alfa version developmentContent creation for the PlatformDissemination activitiesTraining course for educators<< Results >>- The project results:To empower youth and stakeholders to change their mindset towards a more proactive and pro-environmental approach. The youth/stakeholders involved will become changemakers to raise awareness, and gain skills and knowledge by using the Board game and the Platform. The project outcomes:To raise awareness for environmental protectionTo create a Board game To create an online platform for environmental activities To support networking between stakeholders

‘Reimagining Recognition’ is a capacity building project between 7 partner organisations from Armenia, Finland, Georgia, Ireland, Lithuania, Moldova and Ukraine.General aim of this project:Develop capacity of youth work organisation to use, promote and mainstream digital Open Badges for recognition and validation of non-formal learning in participating countries.Specific objectives expected to be achieved:1. Increase understanding of good practices and tools for validation and recognition of non-formal learning in participating countries and at European level through research, study visit and impact evaluation activities.2. Develop capacity of youth work organisations to promote and use innovative technology of digital Open Badges for validation and recognitions of non-formal learning through local and international badge training activities.2. Create country-specific prototypes of badge-based online recognition solutions by involving young people and youth workers in design and testing activities.3. Increase awareness of benefits and value of digital Open Badges for validation and recognition of learning by implementing online and offline communication campaign activities.4. Produce recommendations for policy and practice of validation and recognition of non-formal learning through implementing future search conferences with youth leaders, youth workers and youth policy decision makers.Target groups, directly involved in activities of this project:- Youth leaders and youth workers- Decision makers- Young peopleDuration of the project:2 years, starting from the 1st of October 2018 and finishing 30th of September 2020Capacity building activities:- Partners kick-off meeting in Moldova- Partners progress meeting in Ukraine- Research of good practices of validation and recognition of non-formal learning (review report)- Developing and implementing awareness raising campaign (campaign materials and activities)- Creating and testing prototypes with young people and youth workers (focus groups and local badge inception workshops)- Recommendations for policy and practice of recognition (future search conferences with youth leaders and decision makers)Mobility activities of this project:- Study visit about recognition policies and practices in Lithuania- Training activity about digital youth work and badge system design in Finland- Impact evaluation seminar in GeorgiaExpected impact:Developed competence of youth leaders and youth workers to implement and promote badge-based recognition practices leading to young people’s increased opportunities for career and further education ; Awareness raising about benefits and potential of digital Open Badges. Increased capacity to influence policy and implement practice of validation and recognition of non-formal learning by using innovative technology of digital Open Badges; Created and tested prototypes of digital tools for validation and recognition of non-formal learning