Mentor Me Project Manual
A manual to guide and support young refugees interested in cross-border national or European voluntary service programmes. This manual navigates tools, resources and outcomes based on the efforts and all project outcomes achieved by Mentor Me project partners from Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain and Sweden.
The aim of this manual is to offer mentors and youth workers useful tools, engaging activities, and reliable resources, particularly relating to the context of Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Sweden. It is based on the valuable efforts of the migration-miteinander NGO and its partners, with a focus on the Mentor Me KA2 project. In addition, many positive outcomes from the earlier “moveurope!” efforts are shared. Moveurope! initiative’s knowledge and skill collection, combined with the all-inclusive mobility kit and training programme of the recent “Mentor Me” project, have cleared the path for a more sustainable development of an inclusive gateway that helps refugees and immigrants recognise their rights, benefit from the existing opportunities and services in Europe, and prepare themselves to be mobility mentors in the present and the future.
Authors:
- Lara Villieras-Guepey, Karla Kästner, Prathisha Hoffmann (migration_miteinander, Germany)
- Anmar Al Rikabi, Sukaina El Outa (IFYD, Bulgaria)
- Francesco Rossi, Sandro Coccoi (CIAC ETS, Italy)
- Eman Albohtori (Support Group Network, Sweden)
- Katarina Complova, Lucile Peyroux (Pistes Solidaires, France)
- Zoé Saine, Clara Cadena, Melanie Liu, Ella O’Reilly (Lighthouse Relief, Greece)
Revision:
- Anmar Al Rikabi
- Sukaina El Outa
Design:
- Sukaina El Outa
Evaluation and Monitoring:
- Irene Hernández Gómez
TACC Training Toolkit on Youth Leadership and Advocacy
I. TACC – Youth Leadership and Advocacy Training Toolkit
II. TACC – Youth Leadership Training Curriculum
III. TACC – Youth Advocacy Training Curriculum
This manual has been created within the framework of TACC project “Take Action, Create the Change”, managed by the International Foundation for Y-PEER Development.
It consists of three main documents:
I. The theoretical part includes knowledge and information on leadership and advocacy elements that youth can be equipped with. It is developed by CONEXX-EU.
II. The leadership training curriculum which provides an agenda, sessions and toolkit to be used by youth workers and peer educators to indulge in their work and volunteerism. It is developed by IFYD.
III. The advocacy training curriculum that consists of an agenda, sessions and toolkit to be used by youth
workers and peer educators that supports them to implement their own activities and training locally and beyond. It is developed by IFYD.
Particular thanks is extended to the authors of this manual:
Anina Chileva, Ana Mosiashvili, Anmar Khalid, and Sukaina El Outa from IFYD and Laura Pardo from CONEXX EU. Similarly, many thanks to IFYD team members who contributed to developing the training curricula including Yuliya Andzhekarska, Feifei Zeng, Joana Branco Coelho and Anas Badawi. Also acknowledged are the partner organizations that supported with peer reviews during the whole process of developing this manual and the testing of the training curricula of TACC project: FuturEurope (Gizem Özöztürk Barutçu, Rolands Busers), Youth On Board (Sanja Maksimova, Pane Stefanov, Angela Vitanovska), Youth Human Impact (Magdalena Koniecko, Katarzyna Dębiec), CONEXX-EU (Laura Pardo Garcia, Amaia Garzon, Allende Solaun), Support Group Network (Eman Albohtori, Najat Almerdi, Bilal Almobarak) and Migration_Miteinander e.V. (Lara Villieras-Guepey, Carlo Alberto Italia and Tauqeer Kazmi). Last but not least, our team appreciates the participation and active involvement of promising youth workers when Leadership and Advocacy Training were implemented in Sofia, Bulgaria and Istanbul, Turkey, respectively.
Within the framework of “TACC” project, our mutual cooperation has paved the way to Take Action and Create the Change together!
A Guidance on Meaningful Adolescent and Youth Engagement (MAYE)
Empowering Youth: A Pathway to Meaningful Adolescent and Youth Engagement
This guidance has been created within the framework of the TACC project, “Take Action, Create the Change,” managed by the International Foundation for Y-PEER Development, and funded by the European Union.
The process was led by migration_miteinander, and it represents the second expected project result. The development of this guidance relied on the following methods:
- Research on the topic of meaningful engagement of adolescents and youth, which involved consultations with local youth and organizations in each participating country, literature reviews, and focus groups with young people, especially those at risk of social exclusion.
- Conducting around 100 interviews in person and online with young people from disadvantaged groups, youth workers involved in working with disadvantaged youth, decision-makers, and representatives of organizations and institutions working for youth. The objective of these interviews was to collect real-life case studies of youth participation and civic engagement from all stakeholders involved in these processes.
We express our gratitude to the youth from various regions around the globe for their valuable contributions to the creation of this collection of resources. We wish to acknowledge and thank those who dedicated their precious time to participate in interviews, focus group discussions, and the online questionnaire.
Our deepest gratitude to all the professionals, partners, and colleagues who contributed their expertise and knowledge to the development of this guidance. It underwent numerous consultations, drafts, tests, and modifications before its release to the public, with a focus on reaching youth workers and young people.
Special thanks go to the individuals who played significant roles in developing this guidance, including Carlo Alberto Italia, Solène Barbier, and Lara Villieras-Guepey from migration_miteinander e.V.; Anmar Al-rikabi and Sukaina El outa from the International Foundation for Y-PEER Development; Gizem Özöztürk Barutçu and Rolands Busers from FuturEurope; Pane Stefanov and Angela Vitanovska from Youth On Board; Magdalena Koniecko and Katarzyna Dębiec from Youth Human Impact; Amaia Garzon and Allende Solaun from CONEXX-EU; and Eman Albohtori and Bilal Almobarak and Mahmoud Younes from Support Group Network.
Together, within “TACC” project, this collaborative effort aims to Take Action and Create the Change!
ONLINE COURSE: Role of Young People in Peacebuilding, Conflict Resolution and Violent Extremism Prevention
The International Institute for Youth Development PETRI – Sofia just launched the online course on the role of young people in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and violent extremism prevention. The project is supported by UNFPA EECARO.
The online course aims to provide knowledge and skills for young people on peace, conflict and violence, the YPS agenda, the roots of violent extremism and the basics of communication skills. The information is presented in short videos.
The topics are following:
1. Introduction to peace and conflict studies
2. Violence and nature of violence
3. Trends and causes of armed conflicts
4. Peace, pacifism, and non-violence
5. SDG 16 and resolution 2250
6. Culture, power, and gender
7. Negotiations
8. Mediation in theory
9. Violent extremism
10. Communication skills
See the online course to the following link: http://petri-sofia.org/en/online-course/
Gender and Development
Explore the relationship between gender and international development
What does gender have to do with international development? Is ‘woman’ the centre point of gender and development? What is it that brings gender and development together?
These are some of the questions you will be asking and answering on this course. You’ll explore the gendered dimensions of contemporary international and community development and ultimately learn how and why gender is so important.
Без кондом 1+1=3
Brochure сalled “Without condoms 1+1=3” in Bulgarian describes Sexually Transmitted Infections and how to use the condom properly.
“I just want basic things! – We are not there yet”: Understanding the needs, services and challenges of LGBT community members and NGOs in Sofia, Bulgaria [Research report]
I-JUST-WANT-BASIC-THINGS-WE-ARE-NOT-THERE-YET_LGBT-needs-assessment
The European Voluntary Service (EVS) volunteers, Viktorija Bondikjova from North Macedonia (hosted by Y-PEER PETRI – Sofia) and Carmen Rivas from Spain (hosted by Smokinya Foundation) conducted a qualitative community-based research as part of their personal project within the EVS program in their hosting organizations. This research report is part of the local needs assessment which aimed to understand the needs, services and challenges of LGBT community members and NGOs in Sofia, Bulgaria. The final event for promotion of the findings was held on July 18th in Dada Cultural Bar and it was attended by around 40 people.
Why did we decide to conduct this LGBT needs assessment?
Due to the lack of research background on LGBT needs and rights in Bulgaria, as well as insufficient funding to implement research projects on this matter, we conducted this local needs assessment to provide critical information about LGBT community needs as identified by them and by the NGOs working with them. The aim of this project is the increase the knowledge and raise the awareness of the critical issues which affect the LGBT community, and contribute to more mobilized and organized LGBT community. The goal of this needs assessment project is to offer possible ideas on how to improve the situation of the LGBT community in Bulgaria in different areas of life, such as law, health, education, media and community organizing, and explore ways to address LGBT peoples’ and NGOs needs.
We are tremendously grateful to Y-PEER PETRI – Sofia and Smokinya Foundation for supporting the research report and to the Rainbow Hub for their collaboration during the entire research process.
The PDF version of the report is attached below.
If you have any questions, you can always contact the authors:
Viktorija Bondikjova at viktorijabon@gmail.com
Carmen Rivas at carmenjoserivas@gmail.com
We hope you enjoy reading the content! 🙂
Research report – Young People Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health: Toward a New Normal
Yield_full-report_June-2019_final
Young People Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health: Toward a New Normal is a research report documenting the multiple benefits of meaningful youth participation and leadership in sexual health and rights (SRHR) programs. It synthesizes global evidence from the field on how to foster authentic youth engagement, the impacts that result, and recommendations that can strengthen and scale this stream of programming investment.
The report is a product of the YIELD Project, which is guided by a Steering Committee comprised of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The Summit Foundation, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
For more information, please contact: info@yieldproject.org.
You can read more here: https://www.youthlead.org/resources/young-people-advancing-sexual-and-reproductive-health-toward-new-normal
“I just want basic things! – We are not there yet”: Understanding the needs, services and challenges of LGBT community members and NGOs in Sofia, Bulgaria [Research report]
I-JUST-WANT-BASIC-THINGS-WE-ARE-NOT-THERE-YET_LGBT-needs-assessment
The European Voluntary Service (EVS) volunteers, Viktorija Bondikjova from North Macedonia (hosted by Y-PEER PETRI – Sofia) and Carmen Rivas from Spain (hosted by Smokinya Foundation) conducted a qualitative community-based research as part of their personal project within the EVS program in their hosting organizations. This research report is part of the local needs assessment which aimed to understand the needs, services and challenges of LGBT community members and NGOs in Sofia, Bulgaria. The final event for promotion of the findings was held on July 18th in Dada Cultural Bar and it was attended by around 40 people.
Why did we decide to conduct this LGBT needs assessment?
Due to the lack of research background on LGBT needs and rights in Bulgaria, as well as insufficient funding to implement research projects on this matter, we conducted this local needs assessment to provide critical information about LGBT community needs as identified by them and by the NGOs working with them. The aim of this project is the increase the knowledge and raise the awareness of the critical issues which affect the LGBT community, and contribute to more mobilized and organized LGBT community. The goal of this needs assessment project is to offer possible ideas on how to improve the situation of the LGBT community in Bulgaria in different areas of life, such as law, health, education, media and community organizing, and explore ways to address LGBT peoples’ and NGOs needs.
We are tremendously grateful to Y-PEER PETRI – Sofia and Smokinya Foundation for supporting the research report and to the Rainbow Hub for their collaboration during the entire research process.
The PDF version of the report is attached below.
If you have any questions, you can always contact the authors:
Viktorija Bondikjova at viktorijabon@gmail.com
Carmen Rivas at carmenjoserivas@gmail.com
We hope you enjoy reading the content! 🙂
Well-being and safety of women, North Macedonia – OSCE-led study on violence against women
Safety-and-wellbeing-of-women-in-N.Macedonia_OSCE-research
The OSCE has strong commitments on combating violence against women and girls (VAWG). On 6th of March 2019, the main results report of the OSCE-led Survey on the Well-being and Safety of Women was launched. This is the first comparable representative study conducted in South-East Europe and Eastern Europe. The OSCE Gender Section is organizing a high-level conference on 6-7 May 2019 to disseminate the main results of the survey and discuss next steps with key stakeholders.
The OSCE-led survey therefore provides a wealth of information, including data on social norms and attitudes, prevalence rates of violence against women, its consequences as well as reporting and help-seeking by survivors. The research shows that gaps in the ability of local institutions’ to understand and address women’s and girls’ experience of personal insecurity and violence continue to exist. The survey data suggests that beliefs in female subservience, spousal obedience and silence surrounding VAWG continue to persist in the region and that those women who hold such beliefs are more likely to say they have experienced violence.
This report presents the findings from the OSCE’s qualitative and quantitative study in North Macedonia. The study was implemented in spring/summer 2018 and involved:
• 15 key expert interviews, which provided an overview of issues related
to VAW and of conflict-related acts of violence;
• A survey on experiences of violence among a representative sample
of 1,910 women aged 18–74, including 496 women who completed
the survey in Albanian; the survey used a multistage, stratified, random
probability sample design;
• Eight focus groups with women from various demographic backgrounds (two
with Albanian and two with Roma women) on their attitudes towards the
subject;
• Four in-depth interviews with women who had experienced violence in order
to understand, in more detail, the impact the violence had on
them (including one Albanian and one Roma woman).
Policy Briefs 3 and 4 on Sexuality Education by BZgA and UNFPA
PB-3-4-on-Sexuality-EducationThe Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) in Germany and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia jointly developed a series of policy briefs on sexuality education.
The first two issues published in 2015 (also in cooperation with the WHO Regional Office for Europe) have now
been complemented by Policy Brief n° 3 and 4: Policy Brief No. 3 ‘Introducing Sexuality Education: Key Steps for Advocates in Europe and Central Asia’
provides an overview of the most important steps for the introduction (or revision) of national in-school sexuality-education programmes and reviews of existing resources.
Both policy briefs are also available from following website:
https://www.bzga-whocc.de/en/publications/policy-briefs-on-sexuality-education-new/
Threats on Women’s Rights in Europe – the case of abortion
Assaults on women’s reproductive health & rights take many forms in Europe today. Barriers to safe abortion care are among the most problematic.
Sexual and reproductive rights are human rights. Governments have very clear obligation under international human right law to respect these rights. However, women in Europe still have these rights denied or restricted as a result of laws, policies and practices that ultimately reflect continuing gender stereotypes and inequalities.
Women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights cover:
– comprehensive sexuality education
– affordable and accessible contraception
– safe abortion
– quality maternal health care
There has been immense progress across the world and in Europe. However at the same time, perhaps because of that progress, we have begun to see backlash. Even where the law allows abortion, women face multiple obstacles to access it, including:
– Financial, social and practical barriers
– Denial of care and services
– Third-party authorisation, mandatory counseling and waiting periods
In December 2017, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe addressed a set of recommendations to European States to ensure all women’s sexual and reproductive rights. They focused in particular on women’s rights to life, freedom from torture and ill-treatment, health, privacy and equality.
Freedom – International Day of the Girl
Every day girls around the world are fighting for their freedom. This International Day of the Girl – join them and raise your voice:
1. Share the film and tell us what #FreedomForGirls means to you
2. Take action at http://www.globalgoals.org/dayofthegirl
In 2015 when leaders signed up to the UN Sustainable Development Goals – the Global Goals – they made a promise – to empower all girls. There has been progress but we need to keep up the pressure. If we work together we can make sure world leaders deliver and every girl grows up healthy, safe, empowered and able to fulfil her dreams.
Preventing cervical cancer in Georgia
With UNFPA support, Georgia is piloting an organised cervical cancer screening programme, one of the first such programmes in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It is designed to reduce cervical cancer in Georgia, a disease that leads to 18,000 deaths in Eastern Europe and Central Asia every year, although it is almost entirely preventable.