Next Small Step
NGO “Actio Catholica Patria” ·Lithuania
About this project
<p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 15px"><span style="color: #606060"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif">Project “Next Small Step” addresses the societal gap between more autonomous and socially vulnerable young people who, due to lack of skills, are excluded from full and equal participation in the community by not recognizing their needs and stigmatizing them, as well as turning them into objects in the media and everyday life. The project will involve 150 socially vulnerable young people aged 14-29. As part of the overall goals of the APF program, the project will first and foremost contribute to empowering vulnerable young people to become independent, recognize their own and their community's needs, and take the responsibility for representing them. </span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 15px"><span style="color: #606060"><span style="font-family: "Source Sans Pro", Arial, sans-serif">In addition to the usual social services, young people will be encouraged to become more aware of needs of the community and take responsibility for their own initiatives, participate in events inviting other young people to engage, raise topics of interest to them in working groups and policy meetings, and volunteer in other organizations. Due to the trainings, strengthened AC Patria and youth team will provide training for other youth professionals, empowering youngsters to be co-trainer. The change of roles will empower youth as well as other professionals participating in the trainings to experience different relation of power.</span></span></span></p>
Bilateral cooperation results
Strategic training with partners from Norway (organization MEDVIRKNINGSAGENTENE) was implemented. A multi-day training session was held, during which the team took time to clarify the organisation's values, overall direction and a 3-year action plan. The partners are still consulting the organisation remotely to ensure that the strategic plan and the activities with young people are implemented. It is appreciated that the shared experiences in the partner's country context have opened the eyes of the project promoter, provided inspiration and advice to help them achieve their goals more effectively. And the friendship has moved from training to practical work with young people. During and after the project, the trainer (from the partner from Norway) helped set up a music room in the space of the Open Youth Centre "Vartai" of the NGO "Actio Catholica Patria". In the future, the aim is to gain more experience in communication and formulating a clear message about the organisation's work within the organisation and sending it to the public.
Project partners
- Participation Agency Donor project partner· Norway
- NGO “FUTURA OGGI” Project partner· Lithuania