Project title ENERGY EFFICIENT BALED STRAW ECOLOGICAL HOUSEProject type Erasmus+ KA2 Capacity building in the field of Youth (Western Balkan Youth Window)The main idea: The main aim of this long-term project is acquiring knowledge and skills to participants about using ecological materials in construction and architecture, about energy efficiency and cheaper construction and decreasing amount of organic waste in nature. In this long-term project we will teach participants that are working with young people between age of 15 and 30 how to use almost forgotten methods of building energy efficient houses. We will prepare them for new possibilities of creative self employment through starting their own business. There will be also included young people with special needs and disability (to get them more socialized), and to provide them ways of acquiring new skills and on this way to give them professional development training. Participants will be able to transfer their energy efficiency knowledge to their peers and to encourage use of this method of construction through their professional careers. Knowledge acquired through this long-term project participant will use to build ecological house which will be used in local community for education of young people in ecology, energy efficiency and healthy way of life and will be basis for construction of ecological village with renewable energy sources and organic breeding food.Period of implementation of all activities: 1st of August 2016 – 31st of August 2017Activities:1. Activity 1 (Contact making event) will be implemented in one of the EU program countries: workshop about environmentally friendly materials used in construction and EU experience based energy efficiency; 2. Activity 2 (Training course) will be implemented in Šabac, Serbia: workshop about methods of constructing baled straw house, collection and processing of ecological materials, spending time in workcamp in nature, preparing organic food meals, generating ideas for environmentally friendly interior and exterior appearance of the building, construction of baled straw house, decorating and furnishing the building using eco-friendly materials, the celebration marking the finish of workcamp;3. Activity 3 (Evaluation meeting) will be implemented in one of the Western Balkan partner countries: evaluation of the project through the media promotion and the cultural and artistic program of the participating nations.Products: During the first activity we expect to receive electronic anthology essays on the topics to be covered during the workshop. During second activity we expect to obtain ecological house made of natural materials that will serve as a basis for further presentation of ecological principles through the following projects in the surrounding area. During the third activity is expected to get completed documentary on the whole project and a few short videos on basic principles of energy efficiency.

“Youth Citizenship Activators” is a 10-day Mobility of Youth workers-Training course, organized by Omladinska Kulturna Organizacija from 24th of November to 3rd of December 2016 in Belgrade, Serbia that brings together 35 youth workers, young leaders, trainers and young professionals from Serbia, Macedonia, Turkey, Poland, Greece, Portugal, Albania, Czech Republic, Italy and Romania. Being active citizen in social, political and economic life has many advantages and almost always brings positive impact and benefits on people lives. It brings experience, knowledge, skills, contacts, education, mobility and job opportunities and friendships that otherwise we would hardly get in the comfort of our homes. Active participation widens people horizons, enriches lives, increases self-confidence and esteem, opens new doors for personal and professional development and often leads to job offers or increased chances for employment. But, if the benefits are so high, then why youth doesn’t take active participation in societies and practice their citizens’ rights to be active in the political, economic and social processes in their countries and EU? Why European youth show little or no interest and motivation to be engaged in democratic life, why are they losing community ties and there are declined levels of trust in democratic institutions? The answers on these questions are not easy to get, but we’ve asked these crucial questions to ourselves and our partners and found out that youth workers and youth organisations can greatly help in addressing these issues and inspire and enable active youth participation in democratic life by providing training, education, coaching and information through their work and activities. Therefore, project supports the personal and professional development of youth workers and young leaders by training, equipping with competences and empowering them to work on citizenship education, especially in the context of active citizenship and European citizenship. In the same time, the project creates a new generation of Youth Citizenship Activators (educators) who will be able to encourage active youth participation in socio-political democratic life on local, national and European level in order to strengthen youth voice and role in Europe by using different tools for empowerment.Through successful realization of project and fulfilling its aims and objectives, the project on the long run can significantly help to raise the quality of (European) citizenship education and improve active participation of young people, especially those with fewer opportunities in participating countries and European democratic life.Project methodology is based on non-formal, experiential and informal learning methods and intercultural learning that will aim to foster the personal, social and professional development of all participants though it’s inclusive approach to everyone and adaptation according to their needs and expectations.

The project, consisting of two Training Courses, is designed to empower youth workers and active leaders to act for social inclusion and building of social cohesion in their local communities by learning and providing trainings on soft skills related to cultural diversity as a basis of building safe and respectful surroundings for young individuals from different backgrounds.The first event of the project was be dedicated to exploration of cultural diversity, soft skills needed to build a safe and inclusive environment, and role of youth and youth NGOs in local communities. The second event was dedicated to learning and sharing practical tools of youth work fostering development of soft skills (including those related to self-esteem and active attitude against any form of violence and social exclusion). Participants worked on issues related to cultural diversity and practical issues related to social inclusion and diversity selected by partners (and basing on their experience and situation of youngsters in their communities) after closing the first event. It allowed us to tackle real issues young people face in their local communities (such as discrimination on various grounds, lack of structures of support, etc.) using creative non-formal education methods. The project aimed to:- Train youth workers and youth leaders in using non-formal education methods in youth work to foster social inclusion and diversity by supporting development of young people’s soft skills- Promote cultural diversity as a key to development of soft skills- Exchange knowledge of issues and difficulties young people face in different parts of Europe- Build a network of organisations tackling different social issues using non-formal education methods and working in multicultural environment

"""Young Active Europeans"" organised by Serbian NGO EKO MLADENOVAC has consisted of two training courses implemented in the late autumn of 2016 in Serbia (Mladenovac) and winter, 2017 in Poland (Krzyzowa). The project brought together 12 youth NGOs from different European countries willing to explore the idea of youth social and political activism. We have also promoted recognition of European citizenship and practical exercising of citizens rights by young people through non-formal education in 12 European countries. The project consisted of two training courses for youth workers and young leadersTraining Course I – was dedicated to exploration of citizenship, its place in EU strategies and documents. Participants will learn how to promote European support systems fostering youth activism (including Erasmus+). They also worked on methods engaging youth into activities exploring their skills and triggering local activities. Training Course II– the second training course was dedicated to exploration of soft skills as a key to youth engagement and social and political activism, as well as to development of practical skills needed to run local actions promoting active citizenship. We also explored deeper the idea of European citizenship. Participants learned different methods fostering youth skills and confidence in the process of developing and implementing local activities, engaging young people for the benefit of their local communities."