Project Description
In today’s society, hate, discrimination, prejudice, and unemployment are prevalent issues affecting European citizens, particularly young people. Nearly 22% of the EU population is at risk of poverty or exclusion, and the youth unemployment rate stands at 15%. Recognizing the importance of intervening with young people to break this cycle, it’s crucial to provide them with the necessary conditions for personal, social, educational, and professional success.
Traditional formal education is no longer sufficient to equip young people with the skills needed to thrive in various aspects of life. Non-formal and informal educational spaces, such as volunteering, play a crucial role in promoting social values, developing competencies, and fostering active community participation.
Despite efforts to engage young people in volunteering, many remain unaware of these opportunities. Reasons for this include perceived stigma, lack of interest, and uncertainty about how to get involved.
To address these needs, initiatives like GENESIS, a KA1 – Youth Exchange project, aim to bring together young people from different European countries to work on European values, competency development, and civic participation. Through activities like intergenerational volunteering, GENESIS seeks to promote social, educational, and professional inclusion among young people while demonstrating the benefits of volunteering for societal transformation.
Main Objectives
- To encourage the incorporation of values adjacent to Erasmus+ and volunteering practices, such as solidarity, justice, mutual help, respect, social responsibility and active citizenship;
- To develop critical competences in young people, such as teamwork, leadership, communication, entrepreneurship, creativity, proactivity, networking and self-awareness, etc.;
- To promote young people’s awareness of the benefits of volunteering, particularly intergenerational volunteering, for personal, social, educational and professional development.
In conclusion, our aim is to foster a culture of solidarity, justice, and mutual respect among young people through initiatives like Erasmus+ and volunteering. By developing critical competencies such as teamwork, leadership, and communication, we empower youth to navigate today’s challenges with confidence and creativity. Through promoting awareness of the benefits of volunteering, especially intergenerational volunteering, we strive to create opportunities for personal growth, social engagement, and professional development. Together, let’s inspire a generation of active citizens committed to making a positive impact on their communities and the world.