Website: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/projects/search/details/2023-1-IT03-KA151-YOU-000128288
Start date 01-06-2023
End date 31-05-2025
Budget: 86.056,00 €
Icse & Co.
Objectives
Through the implementation of the activities planned in the second year of accreditation, we set out to achieve four main organizational objectives:
Objective 1: Engage the local community, both in terms of the beneficiaries and the territorial stakeholders.
Objective 2: Focus on the qualitative aspects of the learning process, also by applying good practices acquired in other contexts.
Objective 3: Ensure that young people with limited economic or cultural resources have access to learning and development opportunities. At the same time, support youth workers and organizations in improving their skills to enhance the quality of their actions towards beneficiaries.
Objective 4: Expand our local and European network and reorient our activity proposals toward innovative approaches that can increase our impact on young people. One of the goals was also to create project continuity with some of the participating organizations.
As for the activities implemented in the plan, we focused on three main thematic areas:
ecological and sustainable practices,
the promotion of the EU Youth Goals,
the promotion of active and democratic participation.
For this second year of accreditation, we chose to address the theme of environment and sustainability. The plan included the implementation of the youth exchange: RUBY – Rural-Urban Youth Connection.
RUBY took place from 9 to 16 June 2024 in Dicomano (Metropolitan City of Florence). The exchange involved 33 young people (aged 18–25) from Croatia, Spain, Latvia, Romania, and Italy, some of whom came from rural areas. Participants engaged in workshops and hands-on activities focused on sustainable tourism, exploring the development potential of the Mugello area.
RUBY aimed to contribute to the European Youth Goals. Its specific objective was to promote dialogue between young people from rural and urban areas on the topic of sustainable tourism. Key discussion points included:
the real effects of mass tourism in Europe and how it puts pressure on certain areas, such as Florence, while it could become a valuable resource for more remote regions;
the environmental, social, and economic impacts of tourism;
how we can travel and experience tourism more sustainably;
broader reflections on individual and societal behavior in relation to sustainability.
We also implemented two mobility activities for the staff of youth organizations—one focused on active participation, and the other on game-based learning as an educational tool.
PART-Y – Youth Work is Participation
This training course aimed to promote awareness and the importance of inclusive participation in the youth sector. It was held in Florence from 4 to 11 July 2024. Using non-formal education and a learning-by-doing approach, the course provided a foundational theoretical framework and practical tools for designing, managing, and implementing effective participatory opportunities.
The initiative supported youth empowerment and intercultural exchange, laying the groundwork for new local and transnational initiatives and offering replicable methodologies for organizations interested in building cohesive and democratic communities.
YOUR GAME – Youth Work is a Serious Game
This training course focused on how to use and design educational games in the youth sector, particularly to promote active youth participation. It was held (or will be held) in Florence from 30 August to 6 September 2024. The training aimed to share methodologies and techniques that can be applied in various contexts, with the ultimate goal of developing local and transnational activities that empower young people—especially those living in disadvantaged conditions.
Implementation
Activities carried out in the second year of the accreditation plan
1. APV & Youth Exchange – “RUBY: Rural-Urban Youth Connection”
Five European organizations were involved in the youth exchange: ICSE&Co (Italy), Rumbo Europa (Spain), E.A.S.T. (Croatia), Alba Eglesia (Romania), and Cēsu Novada Vecpiebalgas Apvienības Pārvalde (Latvia). The selection of partners ensured a multicultural and diverse experience, bringing together young people from urban and rural, socially and economically varied backgrounds. This diversity enriched the discussions and interactions throughout the project.
1.a) APV (Florence, 9–10/06/2024)
The preparatory visit was attended by 5 organization representatives and 2 facilitators. All 5 participants were women who served as group leaders during the exchange. The meeting defined the logistical, methodological, and pedagogical aspects of the upcoming activity.
1.b) Youth Exchange (Dicomano, 9–16/06/2024)
The exchange gathered 33 participants, including 2 facilitators. Among them, 11 came from disadvantaged backgrounds due to geographical or socioeconomic conditions. The group included 19 women and 14 men, aged between 18 and 27 (average age: 25). Participants, supported by their leaders, developed national workshops on sustainable tourism, environmental/social sustainability, and civic responsibility. Activities were conducted through non-formal methods such as workshops, role-playing, brainstorming, and learning-by-doing.
2. Training Course “PART-Y – Youth Work is Participation” (Florence, 4–11/07/2024)
This activity involved 10 organizations from different European countries: ICSE&Co (Italy), Tomorrow Hub (Romania), Rumbo Europa (Spain), Emotic (Austria), Active Green Solution (Greece), Creative Youth (Malta), More Coaching (Croatia), Next Level (Germany), Tvibit (Norway), and Lorelei Youth Centre (France). The course offered both theoretical and practical insights into inclusive youth participation, integrating innovative methodological approaches. The diverse backgrounds of the partner organizations (e.g. working with young migrants, rural areas, and vulnerable communities) allowed for a broad and enriching exchange.
The group included 30 participants, 2 of whom were trainers. There were 18 women and 12 men, with an average age of 29. Nine participants came from disadvantaged backgrounds. The training provided practical tools for integrating active participation into the daily work of youth organizations, promoting empowerment, civic engagement, and social cohesion.
3. Training Course “YOUR GAME – Youth Work is a Serious Game” (Florence, 30/08–6/09/2024)
This course focused on using games as educational tools to encourage youth participation. Thirteen organizations participated: ICSE&Co and LUMEN (Italy), Rumbo Europa (Spain), Next Level (Germany), E.A.S.T. (Croatia), Tsampa (Greece), SYTEV (Slovakia), SYL (Jordan), Arché (Romania), Youth Center Drenas (Kosovo), Spin (Portugal), Let’s Do It Georgia (Georgia), and Epoka e Re (Albania). The partnership enabled rich exchanges between European and non-European realities, fostering cross-cultural learning and educational innovation.
The group was composed of 30 participants, including 3 trainers. There were 22 women and 8 men, with an average age of 29. Nine participants came from disadvantaged backgrounds. The training focused on equipping participants with practical tools to design and use educational games in youth work. Through non-formal methods (learning by doing, co-design, simulations), the course encouraged active involvement, critical thinking, and creativity, enabling participants to create replicable tools for local and international use.
Results
The project successfully achieved all the objectives set for the second year of accreditation, strengthening the coordinating organisation’s capacity to design, manage, and evaluate high-quality mobility projects in the youth sector. Three international activities were implemented (one Youth Exchange and two Training Courses), as well as one APV, involving a total of 89 participants (31 young people and 58 youth workers), excluding trainers and facilitators. These participants came from over 14 countries, including 12 new partner organisations.
Approximately 70% of the partners involved operate in rural, remote, or disadvantaged areas (e.g. islands, mountainous zones, or urban peripheries), reinforcing the project’s commitment to inclusion and equitable access to Erasmus+ opportunities. Among the partner organisations were several newcomers to the Erasmus+ Youth sector, including organisations from Romania, Spain, and Italy. Additionally, non-EU countries such as Kosovo, Jordan, Georgia, and Albania were involved. This contributed to the development of new strategic partnerships and the exchange of practices among organisations with diverse experiences and contexts.
The project also involved local stakeholders such as APS Icché Ci Vah Ci Vole, the Tourism Office of Mugello, the Municipality of Dicomano, and the Kennedy Institute for Human Rights, which contributed to the implementation of activities at the local level and were introduced for the first time to the Erasmus+ Programme. Collaboration with both non-formal and institutional actors broadened the local impact and fostered new synergies across sectors (youth, culture, environment).
Key quantitative results:
30 participants with fewer opportunities took part (due to geographical, socio-economic, or educational reasons);
36 green travel journeys were carried out;
4 successful transnational activities were implemented, in line with the objectives of the accreditation plan.
Impact on participants (Youth Exchange):
The young people involved in the RUBY exchange experienced an engaging international environment, stepping out of their comfort zones and interacting with peers from diverse backgrounds. The non-formal education activities focused on environmental sustainability, responsible tourism, and active citizenship, fostering personal, relational, and linguistic growth (particularly in English). Participants reported increased self-confidence, initiative, and environmental awareness. Some expressed a desire to continue their journey within Erasmus+, while others asked to undertake university internships at ICSE&Co—demonstrating the long-term impact of the experience.
Impact on youth workers (Training Courses):
The PART-Y and YOUR GAME courses enhanced youth workers’ skills in designing and delivering participatory and sustainable activities. Practical tools were shared to support the integration of active participation and educational games into the daily work of youth organisations. The exchange of diverse experiences led to the sharing of good practices that can be replicated in the participants’ local contexts and to the co-creation of future projects for 2025, particularly in the areas of environment and non-formal education. Toolkits were also developed and distributed among the partner organisations to facilitate the adaptation of project methodologies in their respective contexts.
Impact on organisations:
The project contributed to expanding the international network of the coordinating organisation and facilitated the first entry into the Erasmus+ Programme for many partner organisations. Participating organisations strengthened their competencies in project management, strategic planning, and inclusion. For ICSE&Co, the project provided a concrete opportunity to consolidate its territorial role as a promoter of mobility and educational innovation, while reinforcing cooperation with public and cultural institutions at the local level.
Impact on the local community:
The visibility and interest generated by the activities led to the establishment of new collaborations in the Florence area. Some of the involved organisations were supported in drafting their first Erasmus+ applications, with the shared goal of expanding international mobility opportunities for young people. As a result, the project’s impact went beyond the direct participants, contributing to strengthening the presence of the Erasmus+ Programme in the local community, especially among stakeholders who had not previously been engaged.
