Blue economy represents 5.4 million jobs and a gross added value of just under €500 billion yearly. As part of the EU Integrated Maritime Policy (2012), it aims to strengthen the potential for jobs and growth of EU's seas. This requires investing in a well-skilled workforce to meet the labour market needs. However, coastal communities are often isolated with limited access to technology, public infrastructure, training opportunities, lack of financial resources for local start-ups, lack of coherent marketing strategies and the inability to diversify activities to overcome seasonality, which limit the sector’s capacity to create sustainable jobs. Various EU studies emphasise that the maritime industry does not currently provide to professionals the potential for different careers opportunities in the sector.PESCAVET’s main objective is to create favourable conditions for increased opportunities for sustainable entrepreneurship in the pesca-tourism sector and to contribute to the development of coastal communities in the Mediterranean and Black sea basins. The main target group addressed are professionals either currently employed in or/and unemployed desiring to enter the pesca-tourism sector wishing to develop their competences. The latter is a relatively new concept of fisheries related tourism aiming to support the supplement incomes of fishermen and their families and to provide knowledge on mechanisms for creating attractive activities for tourists visiting the coast.The project aims to contribute to society awareness about the problems of the marine sector and traditional fishing culture and to the improvement of entrepreneurial skills via the implementation of a benchmark exercise on new processes and marketing techniques for designing, promoting and review of products or services in pesca-tourism (IO1), the creation of a Gateway for technical support with specific training and coaching activities (IO2) and the development of an e-course on enhancing entrepreneurial skills in pesca-tourism (IO3).The PESCAVET project brings together 4 partners from 4 countries in the Mediterranean and Black Sea basins (LV, IT, CY, BG), dealing with Blue Economy, providing a coherent response to the challenges faced by the sector, complementing existing initiatives developed by various stakeholders.The total number of people, who will benefit from or will be targeted via the project activities during its duration, is moderately estimated at approximately 5000 people. Partners in each country will aim to achieve, as much as possible, the number of such beneficiaries and, in general, of people informed about the project, its objectives and results attained. It is expected that this will contribute towards greater awareness of the issues with opportunities to develop the needed competences for the up skilling of professionals working and/or wishing to enter the blue economy sectors.The implementation of the aforementioned actions is expected to result in the:• Change the way of thinking of different communities in the Mediterranean area and Black Sea, to a more comprehensive approach, establishing the pesca-tourism concept in one of the most attractive areas in Europe;• Boost the sustainable economic growth of the European maritime sectors, upgrading the services of the marine environment, its resources and the cultural heritage in the most sustainable way.• Improvement of the employ ability skills related to fisheries related tourism and competences of professionals planning to choose a career path in this field;• Increased awareness of pesca-tourism potential and increased visibility and attractiveness of blue career opportunities not only for professionals but for the wider public;• Increase of the awareness of benefits from the modernisation and transformation of the pescatourism sector for society and the local economies;• Building and strengthening partnerships between the organisations participating in the project; This project will also include 4 transnational project meetings that will contribute to the preparation, implementation and evaluation phase of the project. All information gathered and the promotion of the project itself will then be uploaded on the Gateway. Multiplier events and a joint staff training are also foreseen. Furthermore, the Consortium will deliver an Action Plan for presenting the project results offered for further valorisation of PESCAVET and specific recommendations for further development of new training courses and the PESCAVET Gateway sustainability.Considering that the identified challenges and needs regard not only the participating countries in specific, but the majority of EU countries and that the efforts of the EC targeting the maritime sector aim the whole of the EU, the aim of the project should be treated trans nationally.

Valuable materials are leaking from our economies. In a world where demand and competition for finite and sometimes scarce resources will continue to increase, and pressure on resources is causing greater environmental degradation and fragility, Europe can benefit economically and environmentally from making better use of those resources. Since the industrial revolution, our economies have developed a ‘take-make-consume and dispose’ pattern of growth — a linear model based on the assumption that resources are abundant, available, easy to source and cheap to dispose of. It is increasingly being understood that this threatens the competitiveness of Europe.Moving towards a more circular economy is essential to deliver the resource efficiency agenda established under the EU2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The Circular economy offers an opportunity to reinvent our economy, making it more sustainable and competitive. With this new plan to make Europe’s economy cleaner and more competitive, the EC is delivering ambitious measures to cut resource use, reduce waste and boost recycling.Higher and sustained improvements of resource efficiency performance are within reach and can bring major economic benefits. The EC adopted an ambitious Circular Economy Package, which includes revised legislative proposals on waste to stimulate Europe's transition towards a circular economy which will boost global competitiveness, foster sustainable economic growth and generate new jobs.Successful implementation can create more than 180000 direct jobs in the EU by 2030, in addition to the estimated 400000 jobs that will be created by the implementation of the waste legislation in force. It will lead to satisfying between 10 and 40% of the raw material demand in the EU, while contributing to achieving the 2030 EU target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40%.In this context, CICLO visions the development of an interactive, needs-oriented online Circular Economy labor market ecosystem and skills mapping and provide a training package for employed and unemployed persons to equip them with basic circular economy jobs skills related to recycling management, reuse and remanufacturing opportunities, servitisation (services instead of products) development.CICLO and its training accredited partners will secure the recognition of skills and qualifications of CICLO participants based on the EQF, and the ECVET maximizing their potential for access to the labor market, social and financial integration and simultaneously offering new inclusive pedagogies in education.CICLO it satisfies a number of Erasmus+ objectives such as:• Develop a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation among EU citizens• Support inclusive training initiatives and digital inclusion for all•Open and innovative education, training and youth work, embedded in the digital era•Provide an innovative ICT–based educational practice that will motivate the adults to commit in active learning•Transparency and recognition of skills and qualifications to facilitate learning, employability and labor mobility•Sustainable investment, performance and efficiency in education and training•Combine higher levels of excellence and attractiveness of training and education with increased opportunities for all, including those at disadvantage•Strengthening key competences in C-VET curricula and providing more effective opportunities to acquire or develop those skills through I-VET and C-VET• Enhancing access to training and qualifications through C-VET, by increasing the quality, supply and accessibility of C-VET, validation of non-formal and informal learning, and promoting work-place learningThe work of the consortium will be broken down into a series of overlapping phases incorporating research and analysis, design and development, testing and implementation, validation, localization, communication and exploitation of project outputs. The consortium consists of 8 partners from 7 European countries, covering a wide range of expertise related to the scope and the aims of the project, having as well a Pan-European outreach in their activities. Longer term benefits: -Place the new, expected economic shift of EU towards Circular Economy and its accompanied labor market skills at the heart of a flourishing EU Market and establishing the EU the pioneer actor in the global market -Address contemporary employment, economy and digital skills at EU Level offering advanced tools for relevant skills upgrade and accreditation -Empower stakeholders to use accredited innovative ICT-based educational practices in enhancing people’s entrepreneurial, collaboration, problem solving, and innovation skills

<< Background >>According to the recommendations made by the Research for CULT Committee - Teaching Common Values in Europe back in 2017, each nation should try to find a good balance between policy steering and giving autonomy to schools. The perspective of steering expresses what society expects from all schools with regard to teaching common values. Autonomy, on the other hand, gives schools the space to develop their own pedagogical vision for developing values, within their own context, through the active involvement of teachers and students.Schools should be at the centre of their community and serve as the pedagogical engine for community development. Parents, community groups and NGOs should surround the school and partner up in educating young people. Mutual support makes education more meaningful for students and can create a strong pedagogical community. The European Union's fundamental values are respect for human dignity and human rights, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law. These values unite all the member states – no country that does not recognise these values can belong to the Union. We wish to carry out the project in a transnational way to reach further and apply common core European values in action within the school community in 4 different countries (Poland, Spain, Italy and Ireland) with 8 different organisations.Conscious of its spiritual and moral heritage, the Union is founded on the indivisible, universal values of human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity; it is based on the principles of democracy and the rule of law. It places the individual at the heart of its activities, by establishing the citizenship of the Union and by creating an area of freedom, security and justice.The Union contributes to the preservation and to the development of these common values while respecting the diversity of the cultures and traditions of the peoples of Europe as well as the national identities of the Member States and the organisation of their public authorities at national, regional and local levels; it seeks to promote balanced and sustainable development and ensures free movement of persons, services, goods and capital, and the freedom of establishment. To this end, it is necessary to strengthen the protection of fundamental rights in the light of changes in society, social progress and scientific and technological developments by making those rights more visible.<< Objectives >>We wish to promote the European Union values through school education by empowering teachers and pupils with the tools to make those values effective and practical. Among some of our key objectives are:- Stimulating teachers to acquire content knowledge about values and knowledge about learning and teaching these values. - Acquisition by teachers of value-related skills and learn how to help students reflect, enter into dialogue with others and develop democratic skills. - Support teachers in dealing with controversial issues, in particular, by offering collegial support and profound expertise on the content involved. - Provide teachers with possibilities to experience the values of the European Union themselves, as well as value teaching and learning processes, in local, national and international settings.‑ Identifying core European values and learning goals for students in a cross-curricular way.‑ Detecting opportunities and dangers for students during the learning process of common European values.‑ Making students as well as all teachers aware of the need for developing and exemplifying common European values.‑ Creating effective tools to be used in by teachers and educators to motivate and engage their students with core values.‑ Creating theatre plays led by teachers to be enacted in schools by students for the entire school community.‑ Awareness of opportunities that common European values will bring to future generations.‑ Development of materials based on box of values to implement exercises and games.<< Implementation >>The project activities will achieve the aims of the project, through the teachers and students motivation to learn more about European core values. The Europe Plus Project intends to promote common European values through schools by enacting the values (in a cross-curricular way), through theatre plays and the box of values, a tool to implement European values in schools by means of games and practical exercises aimed at the students. This will lead our students to reach the key goals of our project, helping them to feel part of Europe and learn about the core values Europe promotes. Education confirms this procedure as something crucial to achieve the ultimate end.The Europe Plus Project will reach the goals since the teachers will develop skills and abilities to help pupils and parents in the process of acquiring common and core European values. Their motivation will increase, they will participate in plays and games and we will see a better predisposition to put into practice the European values we wish to promote. These activities will also develop their collaboration skills to create new knowledge, leading also to an increase in their self-esteem.If the knowledge about our European values and their significance is lost, we will simultaneously lose the foundation of our free, modern and democratic European society. We wish to make sure that the core values of the European Union are respected and taught in a practical and attractive way to make sure our future generations don’t lose that perspective.<< Results >>We expect to have to main Results / outputs:R1: Value Theatre (Forum Educativo) - Teachers will be challenged to develop their own educational vision on teaching common values through theatre plays. Studying each other’s visions and holding dialogues about them can further contribute to a meaningful debate on what constitute the common values in the EU, and what is the role of education in cultivating them in citizens, in particular young people and newcomers. Different stakeholders like NGOs, civil society organisations and parents can participate in such dialogues. The EU values can stimulate the development of innovative practices (and curriculum materials) that can function as examples for teachers. Theatre is conflict-oriented, the focus is on social and personal conflicts. Starting out from these specific stories, it is easy to get talking about one’s own attitudes and views.R2: Box of Values (I & F Education) - This result / output will focus on the development of materials based on a box of values to implement exercises and games to pass on those values in classroom practice. This activity will aim to reach all teachers in a cross-curricular way. Teaching common values needs more reflective and dialogical learning processes in which students reflect and enter into dialogue with others about their experiences and values. Teaching common European values also needs more democratic learning in which students can learn to collaborate, deliberate, appreciate differences and find consensus. These different kinds of learning processes require a school organisation that facilitates teachers in working with their students in less traditional and more pedagogical ways. The box of values can be an excellent means to achieve this purpose.Other results and outcomes will endeavour to:-Stimulate teachers to acquire content knowledge about values and knowledge about learning and teaching these values.-Get teachers to acquire value-related skills and learn how to help students reflect, enter into dialogue with others and develop democratic skills. -Support teachers in dealing with controversial issues, in particular, by offering support and profound expertise on the content involved. -Provide teachers with possibilities to experience the values of the European Union themselves, as well as value teaching and learning processes, in local, national and international settings. ‑Identify core European values and learning goals for students in a cross-curricular way. -Detect opportunities and dangers for students during the learning process of common European values. ‑Make students as well as all teachers aware of the need for developing and exemplifying common European values.‑Create effective tools to be used in by teachers and educators to motivate and engage their students with core values. ‑Create theatre plays led by teachers to be enacted in schools by students. ‑Awareness of opportunities that common European values will bring to future generations. ‑Develop materials based on box of values to implement exercises and games to pass on those values in practice. -Disseminate the results of those plays and box of values to other schools and institutions that could benefit from this output.

Project title: BOCOTO - Boosting Community-based Tourism and Youth Work for Global Sustainable DevelopmentDuration1/11/2018 - 5/5/2021The project proposed an international capacity building program by exposing participants to various aspects of “community-based tourism” & youth work from different countries & organizations from Italy, Spain, Nepal, Vietnam, Turkey, India & Kenya. Through a transnational approach, the project was examining concepts & practices underpinning “community-based tourism - CBT” & its potential in the youth field in all targeted local communities & regions. Perspectives on CBT was explored through a holistic concept of protection & valorisation of biodiversity, cultural diversity, local development and the promotion of human rights. The project was engaging youth organizations & stakeholders to work together to develop & promote CBT as a catalyst for inclusive & sustainable economic growth, youth employment, social inclusion, well-being & poverty reduction, while at the same time protecting cultural values and the natural heritage.Target groups- Youth workers and young leaders who work in community-based projects with & for young people & that are interested in community-based tourism and sustainable development.Final beneficiariesRural communities involved in the project, who can benefit from increased touristic activities bringing local economic & social benefits.General objectiveTo strengthen the capacity of youth organisations & local communities to promote community-based tourism in rural and remote areas.Specific objective- To enhance the socio-professional development of youth workers and organisations to promote CBT in their local communities and regions.- To encourage the exchange of experiences, community approaches and organisational cooperation among youth organisations from EU, Asia & Africa in the field of youth work and CBT.Results achieved- Increased socio-professional development of youth workers who are equipped with knowledge, key competences & employable tools on “community-based tourism & sustainable development” through different cultural perspectives, educational approaches and community experiences from different regions of the World.- Increased transnational cooperation, exchange of good practices and capacity building between youth workers, organizations and NGOs active in the sustainable development field from different World context.Outputs- BOCOTO learning platform: an open educational resource targeting young people and youth workers and serving as a key tool in the awareness-raising on the CBT concept, in the promotion of 'community-based tourism' packages and in reaching the audience of young people & responsible travellers interested in taking part. - Sustainable Development and Community-based Tourism Training Manual: presenting a full learning module of non-formal learning activities on Sustainable Development and Community based tourism, designed for international context for the benefit of youth workers and trainers who aim to enhance the competences of young people on SD and CBT.- BOCOTO Catalogue: including CBT packages developed and offered by partners (2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months duration) characterised by holistic discovery of cultural diversity, natural products and gastronomy, while giving opportunity for travellers in the engagement of local social, educational and environmental initiatives.- Country analyses on CBT in 7 partner countries: SWOT analysis of resources & good practices in the local contexts.Mobility activities including a TC & a final seminar in Italy (Caltanissetta), study visits in India (Bhubaneswar & Odisha), Kenya (Kisumu), Nepal (Palpa), Spain (Elche), Turkey (Istanbul), Vietnam (Hanoi & Ha Giang).

"E-mploy-Me! is an innovative project whose main objective is to promote the socio-labor integration of unemployed immigrant women through new technologies and e-learning. It takes as its starting point the absence of specific transnational initiatives in Europe that promote the socio-labor integration of unemployed immigrant women through these innovative methodologies. Its fundamental group are socio-labor integrators and immigrant women, as E-mploy-Me! it provides them with the necessary resources specifically designed to promote access to employment for the target group. With this objective, during 25 months, the partnership of the project: Magenta Consultoría Projects, S.L.U. (Spain), CSI (Cyprus), VereinMultikulturell (Austria), PRISM (Italy) and EUFRAK(Germany) will implement E-mploy-Me! through the following activities and intellectual results: - Study of the situation of the target group (O1) - Platform E-mploy-Me! (O2) - On-line gamified course of socio-labor integration (O3) - Manual of good practices for professionals (O4) - International training event - 4 National Formations - 4 Multiplier events: ""BE-mploy-Me!"" The result of the project is a boost to access to employment for unemployed immigrant women. E-mploy-Me! has contributed, in accordance with the Europe 2020 Strategy, to build an inclusive Europe in which access to employment is part of European growth and any group has the same opportunities to access it."