The main aim of the project is to improve the competencies and quality of the youth work of 24 youth workers in the fields of communication, facilitation, and youth engagement by using non-formal educational methods and stand-up comedy techniques.
In order to achieve the main aim, the project had the following objectives:
- To improve the communication skills (verbal and non-verbal) of youth workers, including public speaking, presentation, persuasion, negotiation, articulation and active listening
- To facilitate the exchange of good practices, methodological approaches and resources for youth work, communication and facilitation between the participants and organisations
- To introduce the basic principles, elements and features of humor and stand-up comedy as well as different strategies, techniques, and practical tips for developing and performing them
- To learn and practice ways of how humor and stand-up comedy can be used by youth workers in improving young people’s engagement or addressing social issues
- To improve the skills of participants to plan, develop, facilitate and evaluate non-formal learning activities and methods for improving young people’s engagement in social issues and/or personal, professional and social development.
- To strengthen the cooperation and networking between involved organisations by providing an opportunity for partnership-building
- To promote the recognition and validation of competencies and experience through NFE by learning about and using the Youthpass certificate and its key competencies framework
- To raise awareness about the Erasmus+ programme and opportunities it provides to youth workers and young people in key competencies development and addressing social issues
The project will contribute towards the general objective of Erasmus+ by providing professional and personal development of youth workers from 8 European countries who later will share their competencies and practices with the young people they work with in their communities, countries and beyond. The project will work towards improving the quality of youth work in the fields of key competencies development, engaging youth participation and strengthening the attitudes towards common European identity. The project will use and therefore promote non-formal and informal learning mobility and active participation among young people, as well as cooperation, quality, inclusion, creativity and innovation between youth organizations and youth workers.
The project is closely linked and promotes Youth goals #7 (Quality Employment for All), #8 (Quality Learning) and #11 (Youth Organisations & European Programmes) from the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027. The project also promotes European values in accordance with Article 2 of the Treaty on the EU and provides their wider promotion.
The project “Comedy as a Tool – Enhancing Youth Engagement through Humor” is funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union through the Key Action 1: Mobility of youth workers and granted by the Macedonian National agency for European educational programs and mobility.
