Solidarity Mission

🌟 Empowering Change through Design Thinking! 🌟

A few days ago, we had the honor to be part of the "Strategic Planning Retreat" in Bansko, Bulgaria (December 5-11, 2014), organized by the ALTER Network / Сдружение "Алтер Нетуърк" and co-funded by Erasmus+.

On Day 5 our founder Apostolos Papalexiou facilitated an inspiring workshop on "Design Thinking for Solidarity Projects".

This interactive session brought together passionate participants and representatives from European youth organizations to explore how design thinking can transform ideas into impactful local initiatives.

By the end of the day, participants were energized and equipped with practical tools to start implementing their visions for meaningful community change.

💡 It was a day of creativity, collaboration, and innovation—a true testament to the power of solidarity in action.

📸 Check out the photos from this empowering workshop and join us in celebrating the spirit of youth-driven impact!

🎉 New Learning Opportunity in Poland for Greek residents
✨ Youth on Plus in Finance | Youth Exchange
📅 When: 13 - 19 November 2024 (including travel days)
📍 Where: Teresin, Poland
🎯 Objectives :
Increase Financial Literacy: enhance participant's knowledge of personal finance, investments, saving, credit, and other key financial aspects by 40%.

Promote Healthy Financial Habits: encourage the development of healthy financial habits, including regular saving, controlled spending, and avoiding excessive debt.

Enhance Planning Skills: improve participant's ability to create short and long-term financial plans and achieve their financial goals by 35%.

Develop Practical Skills: improve practical skills such as budgeting, retirement planning, investing, and understanding basic economic concepts by 30%.

Support Entrepreneurship: develop entrepreneurial skills and prepare participants to start their own businesses.

Increase Community Engagement: encourage involvement in community activities related to financial education, such as running workshops for other community groups.

🌐 Solidarity Mission is giving the chance to 5 young people aged 18-30 y.o., residents of Greece to travel to Poland and take part in the youth exchange.

⚠️ Note: With your participation in this program, you are signing up for taking part in all the activities and stages of the program.

🏠 Accommodation and food covered 100%
✈️ Travel costs covered 100% up to the maximum reimbursement of 250€
📋 Participation fee to the sending organization: 50€ (in case of selection)
📝 Application form and info pack : https://forms.office.com/e/J9T8TQyEav
❗ Deadline for applications: 01/10/2024

🗨️ We highly appreciate it when you share this information within your networks and with people who might be interested in it.

URGENT: We have a few extra spots for You are Unique that will take place on 01-07 October 2024.
Apply now!

🎉 New Learning Opportunity in Poland for Greek residents
✨ You are Unique | Youth Exchange
📅 When: 01-07 October 2024 (including travel days)
📍 Where: Baliki, Poland

🎯 Objectives :
Develop Key Competences: Help goals young people build essential skills for personal growth, employability, and active citizenship through non-formal education.
Raise Awareness: increase Understanding of key competences among young people, especially those with fewer opportunities, to help them recognize and strengthen these skills.
Promote Lifelong Learning: Foster the continuous development of key competences from early childhood to adulthood in various contexts, including family, school, and community.
Expand Erasmus+ Awareness: Make more people aware of the Erasmus+ programme and get new participants involved.

🌐 Solidarity Mission is giving the chance to 6 young people aged 18-30 y.o., residents of Greece to travel to Poland and take part in the youth exchange.

⚠️ Note: With your participation in this program, you are signing up for taking part in all the activities and stages of the program.

🏠 Accommodation and food covered 100%
✈️ Travel costs covered 100% up to the maximum reimbursement of 255€
📋 Participation fee to the sending organization: 50€ (in case of selection)

📝 Application form and info pack : https://forms.office.com/e/1pR3yc8XzY

❗ Deadline for applications: 11/08/2024

🗨️ We highly appreciate it when you share this information within your networks and with people who might be interested in it.

A small recap from our participants in the "Rights in Motion for Human Dignity" program regarding their experience there and follow up activities in Greece.

"This Erasmus+ project focusing on human rights has been an eye-opening experience. A key highlight of the project was a thought-provoking speech about the LGBTQI+ community, which shed light on the current situation and challenges faced by this community in Lithuania. The speech offered valuable insights, helping us understand the broader context of human rights issues and the need for more inclusive and supportive policies. Another impactful activity was conducting interviews with local people. This experience was particularly engaging as it allowed us to hear directly from individuals about their perspectives on the human rights situation in Lithuania. These conversations were enlightening, providing us with diverse viewpoints and a deeper understanding of the societal attitudes towards human rights and minority groups.

We also enjoyed participating in theatre play activities, where we created and performed sketches highlighting violations against minorities. These activities were not only educational but also fostered creativity and empathy, allowing us to explore sensitive issues in an engaging and accessible manner. Lastly, the cultural nights were a vibrant and enriching part of the project, offering a chance to celebrate diversity and foster cross-cultural understanding. Through music, dance, and shared stories, we
deepened our appreciation of different cultures and strengthened the bonds among participants. Overall, this experience was a learning experience that broadened our understanding of human rights and reinforced the importance of advocacy and solidarity in promoting equality and inclusivity for all communities.

We organized an activity that really brought the group closer and opened our eyes to the diversity within our team. The activity took place when we were out for a drink one evening. We decided to do the activity called "Step Forward," which aimed to raise awareness about social inclusion and the different experiences people have based on their backgrounds. To start, we randomly assigned each participant a different role, representing various social, economic, or cultural backgrounds. Some were students from rural areas, others were business owners, and so on. As the facilitator read out a series of statements—like “I have traveled outside my country” or “I feel comfortable in diverse groups”—we were asked to drink a sip if we felt the statement applied to the identity we’d been given.

As the statements continued, it became clear that some articipants were drinking more. The experience was entertaining and this version was more relaxed, but it still led to some eaningful conversations about the diversity within our group."

🎉 New Learning Opportunity in Bulgaria for Greek residents
✨ The Art of Presence | Mobility of Youth Workers
📅 When: 06-14 October 2024 (including travel days)
📍 Where: Bansko, Bulgaria

🎯 About the training:
In a sea of distractions of today's world, we often lose touch with our bodies, thoughts, and emotions. They become distant strangers who are hard to understand. But this is not how we are designed to live. Feeling good in life is not about cutting off unpleasant emotions or neglecting our body. It is about becoming friends with them.

In this journey, we will Use mindfulness, meditation and holistic movement techniques to get closer to ourselves. To discover background thoughts and emotions that run our lives without us even noticing. And to explore our body which stores all these feelings. Because only when we give them attention and welcome them in our life, harmony comes into our life experience.

🌐 Solidarity Mission is giving the chance to 4 youth workers, educators and volunteers involved in youth work in NGOs aged 18+ y.o., residents of Greece to travel to Bulgaria and take part in the mobility.

⚠️ Note: With your participation in this program, you are signing up for taking part in all the activities and stages of the program.

🏠 Accommodation and food covered 100%
✈️ Travel costs covered 100% up to the maximum reimbursement of 180€
📋 Participation fee to the sending organization: 50€ (in case of selection)
📝 Application form and info pack : https://forms.office.com/e/zmbvzWPF8D
❗ Deadline for applications: 29/08/2024

🗨️ We highly appreciate it when you share this information within your networks and with people who might be interested in it.

This August our organization took part in a Youth Exchange project titled "Rights in Motion for Human Dignity" funded by the European Union, Erasmus+ programme 🇪🇺

👉Main mobility took place from 13th till 21st of August, 2024 in Kaunas, Lithuania.

👉The project involved young people from 6 European countries - Lithuania, Poland, Italy, Greece Hungary and Romania to protect the core values of the European Union, which include human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.

Recently our team had the opportunity to attend a training course in Balvi, Latvia 🇱🇻, which was a truly fulfilling experience.🌍 The course brought together participants from various countries, including Italy 🇮🇹, Republic of North Macedonia🇲🇰🇷, Romania 🇷🇴, Turkey 🇹🇷, Lithuania 🇱🇹 and Latvia🇱🇻. 🇴The training course was part of the Erasmus+ Mobility of Youth Workers, named "Learning to Learn: Non-Formal Education (NFE)." One of the most important facts was the enrichment of the learning experience with fellow youth workers and teachers from Greece, Romania and Republic of North Macedonia 👨🏻‍🏫👩🏻‍🏫 who shared their valuable contribution💭💡 to the integration of non formal education into formal education contexts🏫.
The other major enriching experience was the intercultural night during which the participants had the chance to get to know about different cultures, customs and traditions 💃🏼🪭, and try local food🍴 from the fellow participants' homelands🌆🛬. This experience truly formed our participants' intercultural knowledge. 📚
The training course lasted 6 days 🗓 and during the course, it helped our participants gain knowledge and skills which they can implement to other formal and non-formal education contexts. Lastly, it helped them broaden their horizons and learn how to work in an intercultural environment
Jaunatnes starptautisko programmu aģentūra
Erasmus+ Latvija
,

🌍 Just wrapped up the first four days of the "Learning to Learn NFE" Erasmus+ training in Balvi! The participants have been diving into group dynamics, exploring the essence of Non-Formal Education and sharing best practices from across Europe. Excited for what's next!

🌍✨ Over the past 8 days in Blagoevgrad, our participants together with other youngsters embarked on an incredible Erasmus+ adventure organised by Active Bulgarian Society that was both educational and inspiring. Through scavenger hunts, creative workshops and discussions on SDGs, they connected on a deeper level, learning from each other and growing together. The cultural nights were filled with laughter, dance and a rich exchange of traditions that brought us even closer. They explored new ideas, tackled important global issues and formed bonds that will last a lifetime. This experience wasn’t just about learning—it was about creating something meaningful together. 🌟

🎉 New Learning Opportunity in Poland for Greek residents
✨ You are Unique | Youth Exchange
📅 When: 01-07 October 2024 (including travel days)
📍 Where: Baliki, Poland

🎯 Objectives :
Develop Key Competences: Help goals young people build essential skills for personal growth, employability, and active citizenship through non-formal education.
Raise Awareness: increase Understanding of key competences among young people, especially those with fewer opportunities, to help them recognize and strengthen these skills.
Promote Lifelong Learning: Foster the continuous development of key competences from early childhood to adulthood in various contexts, including family, school, and community.
Expand Erasmus+ Awareness: Make more people aware of the Erasmus+ programme and get new participants involved.

🌐 Solidarity Mission is giving the chance to 6 young people aged 18-30 y.o., residents of Greece to travel to Poland and take part in the youth exchange.

⚠️ Note: With your participation in this program, you are signing up for taking part in all the activities and stages of the program.

🏠 Accommodation and food covered 100%
✈️ Travel costs covered 100% up to the maximum reimbursement of 255€
📋 Participation fee to the sending organization: 50€ (in case of selection)

📝 Application form and info pack : https://forms.office.com/e/1pR3yc8XzY

❗ Deadline for applications: 11/08/2024

🗨️ We highly appreciate it when you share this information within your networks and with people who might be interested in it.