<< Objectives >>Our aim is to enhance the knowledge of our experts, and their exchange of experience in order to facilitate the convergence of disadvantaged, mainly Roma children. We plan to focus on conscious life-planning, motivation, self-knowledge and value formation during the programme development. Colleagues of the partner organisations elaborate and realise good practices based on the training to be launched, which ensure the realisation, in the long run sustainability and adaptability of the programme.<< Implementation >>Education of the participating colleagues of the partner organisations and common programme development. Internal further training for the other colleagues. Continual exchange of experience (via phone, at online conferences, by emails), personal consultations twice annually, workshops at the locations of the partner organisations. Local introduction of the elaborated good practices. Assessment, adaptability, and publication of the results of the good practices.<< Results >>The programme, mutually elaborated and realised by the partner organisations, makes the convergence of disadvantaged, mainly Roma students more efficient, furthermore, creates and strengthens relationships with the parental home. The attitude of parents is changing. Life-planning of the rising generation becomes more conscious; they set goals for themselves, establish a value system, value themselves realistically, the choice of their social role is more conscious also.

"The last years, following among other factors the EU’s non-discrimination regulations have brought progress for inclusion of persons with disabilities in several fields, but there are still huge problems and obstacles. Inclusion is an “art” in each society as well for people responsible for social and political developments as well for the individuals who need a certain “art of life” to overcome obstacles. Our partnership – organizations responsible for day centers and leisure time activities for people with disability based in Germany, Italy, Portugal and Romania - aimed at the exchange of best practises among the partner organizations in the field of social inclusion of people with disability, through the creation of a common learning path for their staff, users and volunteers who explored art as a vehicle for learning and sharing; this path lead the reflection about the art of inclusion in the participating Countries and in the participant's life. ""Art of Inclusion"" gave a concrete response to the still perceived barriers to mobility (creating physical short term mobilities -6 days- and virual mobilities for the beneficiaries), to education and leisure (creating an international and inclusive learning process), to the fruition of art and culture, to employment (through a deepening on the possibility of matching art and income); it also promoted the use of easy language and ICT technologies to overcome language and physical barriers. The international cooperation created by this project lead to identify effective, shared and generalizable operative strategies in the perspective of a European Strategy for social inclusion of people with disability, while empowering its learners, giving voice to their needs and suggestions, and making them aware of their power to produce a change. The project had a duration of 3 years (September 2016 - August 2019) and involved more than 100 participants (at least 25 adult learners for each partner) among peple with disability, volunteers and staff members. They were involved in local workshops and activities, and in the joint activities and meetings realized during the 4 blended mobilities on the topic of art and/as social inclusion: - analysis of cultural sites/artistiacal objects to be found in the local area and how to encounter them with disabilities- deepening on local artists for the creation of reports- art wotkshops with artistic guidance- case studies about disability and art of life; - whorkshop about the European regulation and politicians and opinion leaders attitude about the art of creating a more and more inclusive society; - workshop about the possibilities to create an income from artistic and artisanal activities for people with disabilities; - comparisons about the state of social inclusion in the partner countriesThe implementation of the project was based on a collaborative approach among the four partners who shared tasks and responsibilities and were all involved in the decision making process: each partner hosted a blended mobility and all the partners worked on common local activies sharing tecniques and results through a constant communication using different channels. The project activities were based on non formal learning methods: team work, task division, open discussions, learning by doing, group or individual analysis under the guidance of local artists and/or pedagogycal specialists. An inclusive approach was adopted in all the undertaken activities: the use of easy languange was encouradged and the use of technology was promoted as a mean to overcome the physical barriers. The results of our discussions as well as the art objects encountered and produced together were shown and disseminated via many barrier-free ways in the partners’ local communities as well as on a broader European scale; the main products of the partnership were a final booklet containing validated tools and strategies to enhance social inclusion through the use of art and an easy to read leaflet summarizing the project activities. The project had a strong personal and social impact on the participants in terms of knowledge and competences related to the topic of the project, soft skills and entrepreneurship. The partner organizations had opportunity to cooperate, exchange good practices and to create a strong partnership, disseminating the results to the main stakeholders in the social field at an European level. The impact was sustainable for the entire duration of the project and it will continue to produce positive effects even after its official conclusion thanks to the wide process of dissemination; furthermore the follow-up plan consisted in the creation of an extended project able to go beyong the project results by channelling them into the opportunities offered by collaborative economy."

One of the objectives in terms of employment in all European countries is a special support to the employment of persons with disabilities (PWDs). Although there are different employment support services for PWDs, their capacity in partner countries does not cover the national requirements. In filling this gap, the NGOs providing counselling and training for PWDs aimed at joining the labour market and using the potential of experts by experience play an increasingly important role.In our project, expert by experience is a PWD, who has been able to overcome and resolve the challenges of his/her life and who will be able, by improving his/her skills and competences by accomplishing this innovative training program, to offer his/her experience to help others in a similar situation.The main objectives of the project was to develop and strengthen an international network of organisations aimed at reintegration of PWDs, professionalisation of organisations, improving the knowledge and developing competences of mentors, vocational advisors, as well as PWDs through their involvement in an innovative training program for experts by experience and, support the (re)integration of PWDs.As part of the specific objectives, we focused on the activities and creation of particular outputs: organising a workshops, compiling an electronic collection of best practices, developing an Innovative Training Programme for experts by experience, training of trainers and additional PWDs as potential experts by experience, creating information materials (flyer, brochure) and designing a website (https://experience-erasmusplus.eu/).The partnership consisted of four organisations from four countries - Spoluprácou pre lepšiu budúcnosť – Veľký Meder (Slovak Republic), Human Profess Közhasznú Nonprofit Kft., Szombathely (Hungary), Fundația creștină diakonia filiala Sfântu Gheorghe (Romania), Dost Egitim Turizm Insaat Tekstil Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., Ankara (Turkey) which provide consultancy and/or social services for various disadvantaged groups, or function as accredited employers operating sheltered workshops and workplaces.The main output of the project is the Innovative blended-learning Training Programme for experts by experience available in five different languages, which is freely available on the Internet. It contains the theoretical learning material divided into 14 chapters and available also in the form of e-learning, tests associated with each main theme and 43 interactive practical exercises. It aims to expand the knowledge and develop practical skills needed to provide consulting to PWDs. The programme was developed by a team of experts with a wealth of experience based upon the outputs of workshops organised in partner countries with the participation of 79 relevant labour market actors and, the electronic collection containing 11 best practices applied to the training of experts in partner countries.The innovative aspect of the programme is its possibility to adjust the learning of the theoretical material to the individual pace of learners due to using ICT in adult education on the basis of:- an e-learning platform including the training materials and tests to verify the level of theoretical knowledge, and- a shared platform to exchange experiences allowing the learners to consult the trainers during the course of the study.The testing of the Innovative Training Programme was participated in by 8 trainers and 49 adult learners – PWDs and received a positive feedback in all involved countries.Impact:The greatest benefit of the combined training programme is that it allows to strengthen the current skills of PWDs through the theoretical material, e-learning, practical training and e-platform in order to become proficient in providing consultancy services for other PWDs in a similar situation. The project has a positive impact on the employees of partner organisations and the participants of pilot testing in terms of gaining new knowledge and developing their professional, methodological and social competences. The project activities at the national level have also been beneficial from the viewpoint of creating partner networks between experts and organisations representing different sectors. The Innovative Training Program has been incorporated in the educational portfolio of each partner organisation and, made available to other interested users. The project activities expanded the spectrum of opportunities and forms of lifelong learning for people with disabilities and, therefore they can significantly contribute to their reintegration to the labour market.Long-term benefits:motivation of people with special needs to engage in lifelong learning (LLL);exploiting the potential of experts by experience in non-profit organisations;free access to project products and their use in everyday practice by other organisations;motivation of organisations working with the disadvantaged to engage in LLL process.

<< Objectives >>The main goal of the project is to support social inclusion and lifelong learning of people with mental disabilities by developing their environmental skills and competencies, shaping their environmental attitudes and responsibilities through education based on international experience. The project specifically focuses on supporting and developing international cooperation of participating organizations, building, and strengthening partnership networks and professionalisation of organizations.<< Implementation >>Project activities are organized into 8 work packages: Project management, coordination, controlSharing and promotion activities Organizing ECO-World Café round table discussions in partner countriesCreation of the Electronic Collection of ECO-COMPASS Good Practice Examples Creation, pilot testing and evaluation of Innovative Environmental Education ECO-COMPASSCreation of the ECO-COMPASS Project GuideTransnational project meetingsECO-COMPASS final workshops<< Results >>Main project results are:1. Innovative environmental education ECO-COMPASS focused on shaping ecological awareness, skills, competencies, attitudes and responsible behaviour of citizens with mental disabilities 2. Electronic Collection of ECO-COMPASS Good Practice Examples focused on environmental education and awareness-raising, with a special emphasis on citizens with mental disabilities 3. ECO-COMPASS Project Guide

Employment challenges for persons with disabilities (PWDs) have been an important issue all over the EU. The most common barriers to their integration include their long-term unemployment, age, insufficient education and difficult social conditions. Solving their situation requires a comprehensive approach involving all concerned stakeholders. Special attention should be paid to social and occupational rehabilitation and, incentives should be provided to employers to raise the employment level and retaining of persons with disabilities. We have endeavored to identify new forms and approached within the international context.The main objectives of the project included exchanging good practices in the field of integration of PWDs to labour market, developing and strengthening of an international network of organisations active in the field of facilitating the reintegration and supporting the inclusion of PWDs to labour market through innovative education, raising awareness and sensitisation of employers to employ PWDs by promoting the cooperation of labour market actors from different sectors and at different levels.The specific objectives of the project included the creation of an e-collection of good practices, round-table discussions, questionnaire surveys for employers and successful PWDs, innovative training programme for PWDs, a package of services for employers and dissemination materials (i.e. a flyer, website, brochure). The partnership engaged 4 organisations from 4 partner countries - CA Spoluprácou pre lepšiu budúcnosť - Veľký Meder (Slovak Republic), Napra Forgó Nonprofit Közhasznú kft. (Hungary), IZAP - Slunečnice z.ú. (Czech Republic), Fundatia crestina diakonia filiala Sfantu Gheorghe (Romania) providing consultancy services and career guidance to disadvantaged groups, social services for PWDs or, as accredited employers of PWDs, operating sheltered workshops.The main product of the project is the Innovative Training Programme for PWDs considering the requirements of the current labour market. The most important areas of education and labour market training for the target group were identified based upon:1.electronic collection of 12 good practices and experiences from the international environment,2.recommendations from 57 labour market actors collected during round table discussions,3.conclusions of questionnaire surveys participated in by 69 employers, and4.in-depth interview with 43 successfully employed PWDs.The innovativeness of the education programme lies in the fact that it has been developed based upon a comprehensive approach to the reintegration of the target group focusing on success factors, it is flexible, comprehensive and effective. The education program has been tested in partner countries on the sample of 37 participants.The outputs of the project also include an innovative package of services for employers containing various forms of cooperation and learning opportunities, recommended methods and services to enhance their empathy to employing PWDs.The brochure contains a collection of successful life stories that can serve as an example for other persons with disabilities.All materials prepared under the project are available free-of-charge electronically on the website http://success-erasmusplus.eu.Impact:The project had a positive impact on the staff of partner organisations, contributed to obtaining new knowledge and to the development of their professional, methodological and social competences in the field of international cooperation as well as cooperation with PWDs. The international cooperation between partner organisations has intensified during the project cycle. Project activities at national level contributed to the creation of partner networks between experts and organisations operating in different sectors. The innovative training programme has been integrated in the educational portfolio of each partner organisation and made available for other candidates. Participation in the pilot testing of the education programme has contributed to the strengthening of self-confidence, communication skills and social competencies of PWDs and increased their employability in all partner countries. The main benefit for the employers was that the project activities contributed to raising their awareness, enabled networking of organisations and facilitated the exchange of experience in the field of employing PWDs.The long-term benefits of the project include the following:•free access to project products and their utilisation in everyday practice by other organisations,•strengthening the involvement of organisations working with disadvantaged persons in the education process,•motivation of PWDs to lifelong learning,•better understanding of the situation of PWDs and reducing their discrimination, •strengthening the motivation of other employers to employ PWDs,•utilisation of experience and international examples of good practices.