Project Reference: 2022-1-IT02-KA210-ADU-000082849

 “Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.”

EUcovillages

Programme: Erasmus+

Action Type: KA210-ADU – Small-scale partnerships in adult education

Start: 01/09/2022 – End: 29/02/2024

Project Reference: 2022-1-IT02-KA210-ADU-000082849

EU Grant: 60.000 EUR

LEAD PARTNER: SOS EUROPA

ABOUT THE PROJECT

EUcovillages stems from the significant importance that environmental issues are currently having and aims to be a prompt response to the need for greater dissemination and knowledge of the so-called green practices, often associated with isolated realities known as ecovillages or sustainable organizations. 

The overall goal is to increase the spread of green skills and practices within organizations active in the Erasmus+ world. Based on a careful needs analysis that will be further detailed later, the project has identified three specific objectives:

    -Promote the exchange of best practices between ecovillages and sustainability-focused entities with organizations active in the Erasmus+ world and engaged in European project planning.
   -Increase the involvement of ecovillages and sustainability-focused entities in international projects.
   -Provide visibility to ecovillages and introduce them, along with green and community practices, to those interested in experiencing alternative lifestyles.

EUcovillages aims to create:

   -A Green EU Practices Training Course (TC) in which there will be an exchange of best practices between an organization active in the Erasmus+ context, two ecovillages, and an organization active in the promotion of alternative lifestyles.
   -A Green Vademecum, that all partners will work on following the TC, which will be a guide to sustainability and will also contain a collection of sustainable practices that can be implemented within the framework of European projects. We expect that consulting the handbook can provide tools to all organizations interested in incorporating sustainability into their European projects, as well as in the organization of their own realities.
   -Launching the EUcovillages.net Web Platform: This platform aims to be a reference point for all those ecovillages that would like to approach the world of European project planning and seek guidance and support. It also aims to be a place for organizations active in European project planning to find partners and ecological locations to carry out their projects.

Thanks to the crucial contribution of ecovillages and an Italian organization active in the promotion of alternative lifestyles, the project aims to enable a greater diffusion of sustainable practices within organizations active in the Erasmus+ context (and beyond), so that new European projects can concretely incorporate sustainability.The project will serve as a means through which project management skills can become useful knowledge for writing project proposals by partnership members who have so far either never had access to European funds or have only played the role of a partner and not an applicant.

PARTNERSHIP

ASSOCIAZIONE SOS EUROPA- ITALY

Furthermore, for several years, it has been disseminating European policies in the youth sector through the numerous courses it frequently organizes. These courses are attended by representatives from various entities working closely with young people from across the national territory.

SOS Europa was born as a community and aims to address the communities of Italy and Europe, reaching out to all those entities that have successfully integrated individuals from outside, highlighting their characteristics and positive aspects. This is achieved through on-site activities focused on enhancing relational skills.

Youth Horizons, Greece

Priority of YoHo is to give the opportunity to young people, people with fewer opportunities and people who feel and act as young to gain experiences that expand their horizons both abroad and in local level (volunteering, educative, social, cultural, environmental, athletic interactive activities).

YoHo, by having as its benchmark the understanding of the European and International diversity and mobility, enables young people to participate in activities abroad such as: youth exchanges, training courses, apv, cme, evs etc. Through their co-existence with young people from different cultures, the involved people share ideas, goals, knowledge, concerns, traditions and gain skills and competences essential for their life paths. Furthermore, they develop the way of thinking and acting in their societies and expand their spiritual and experiential horizons… their ‘Youth Horizons’.

Asociación Multideportiva (AM) Euexia, Spain

AM Euexia’s team is composed of professionals with Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Sports and a long-lasting experience in youth work and Erasmus+ Programme. All members are EVS ex-volunteers and have an international background and a great expertise in sports animation and promotion.

AM Euexia also has a great experience in the coordination of national and international projects, with a strong focus on Erasmus+, especially EVS and youth exchanges projects, where it has given its contribution both as a project partner and as a project coordinator. It has notably been the coordinator of the E+ project “Youth Care through Associationism”.

CHAKRUNA A.P.S. ITALY

For explorers who participate, it means discovering unexplored places on Earth, venturing off the tourist circuits, and undergoing formative journeys of profound transformation. Organization members also offer both in-person and online courses through which they disseminate ancient knowledge and their life experiences in eco-villages. In recent years, Chakruna has published a book on community living, has plans for a book about a tour of Italian eco-villages, and is working on a new tour, this time of European eco-villages.

Kick Off Meeting

Megara, Greece

28/01/2023

Representatives of partner organisations have defined all aspects of project implementation and all activities in which organisations will be involved. After an introduction and making sure that the partners are aligned in terms of project objectives, the expected results of the project were defined together and each partner shared their intentions about sharing project results.

Representatives of organisations used this opportunity to exchange good practice and to deepen synergies between them and the complementarity of their skills and capacities.

The KOM was the first meeting between representatives of the project partners and allowed:

-The creation of a team spirit and greater cohesion of the project partners, a key feature for the success and achievement of the project objectives.

-Partners’ awareness of their role and responsibilities within the project cycle -feeling that they are part of a reliable and supportive team.

-Partners will be able to assess their project expectations.

-Creation of guidelines and a common strategy for project implementation and deadlines.

During the Kick off meeting a questionnaire was delivered. The results of the questionnaire are the basis for evaluating the success of our project during the final meeting, where the same questionnaire will be administered again to evaluate any deviations in the results.

RESULTS OF KICK OFF MEETING