SWIFT: Solidarity Writing and Implementation Fundamentals Training
Project id: 2022-1-HR01-KA151-YOU-000060762
Main Objectives of the project
SWIFT is an immersive Erasmus+ Training Course designed to ignite passion for promoting volunteering values and activities in local communities, with a focus on youth, through the opportunities brought forth by the European Solidarity Corps, namely Solidarity Projects.
01
Exploring SWIFT
SWIFT is a special training opportunity, which took place from the 2nd to the 8th of March 2024. This project was funded by Erasmus+ and aimed to inspire people like you to get involved in volunteering, especially with young people in your local area.
02
Learning About Solidarity Projects
During SWIFT, participants got to learn about something called Solidarity Projects, which are volunteer activities supported by the European Solidarity Corps. They discussed how to write and run these projects to benefit both the community and the young people involved.
03
Building Skills and Connections
SWIFT wasn't just about learning—it was also a chance to meet other professionals from different parts of Europe and share ideas. Through teamwork and cooperation, participants developed their skills and gained a better understanding of how youth work is done across Europe.
Participants Experience
The training, held in Sibenik, a small town by the seaside, had to do with the idea behind the European solidarity Corps, about volunteer and occupational placement, the activities that can be covered by the Corps, the people who can register in the Corps and last but not least, how to write our own solidarity program. When it comes to this, we learnt about the costs that are covered by the European union and the four thematic areas. The participants of the program were from Greece, North Macedonia, Spain, Croatia and Portugal. Our trip started from Athens, were we took of, and after staying for some hours in Zagreb, we arrived at Sibenik.
The project’s main goal was to help young individuals to acquire new knowledge and skills. Moreover, to engage young people in meaningful volunteer activities, with the focus on developing solidarity projects, this program offers an opportunity to design supporting activities for both the local community and the personal development.
On the first day, we started with an ice-breaking activity. We walked around the room and we had to draw each other, while talking, and meeting with everyone. Later, we made a solidarity project jam board. It was an interesting way of learning about the first aspect of the training course we applied for. In the afternoon, after having a very tasty lunch, offered by our beautiful hostel, we went back to our colorful building, were we played another game, to give the opportunity to everyone to learn people’s names. At the end of the day, we focused on the theory and the knowledge of separating the solidarity programs from the volunteering and training programs.
On the next day, after we got separated in groups, that included people from all the representing countries, each team had to choose a solidarity program, from the ones that are posted in the EU portal, and we had to carefully read it, comprehend it, and make on a piece of paper a presentation where we analyzed and show to the rest of the groups the how, what, where, why and who of the chosen program. Every team had to choose a solidarity program from a different thematic area (inclusion and diversity, environmental protection, sustainable development and climate action, digital transformation, and participation in democratic life). After our lunch break and our short siesta (as the Spanish team taught us) we continued our activities in the hostel, since it was raining and hard for us to reach the association. After we completed our project, each team presented the work they had done. Even though it was a fun day, the highlight was the intercultural night, were each team represented their sending countries.
The 5th of March, after talking with our organizer, we decided to take advantage of the sunny weather and had a free day. The Greek team, joined by members of the other teams, decided to visit the Krka National Park, a beautiful place that helped us connect with nature.
After the free day, we went back to following our schedule, where we learnt how to apply for a European solidarity project and we also tried to create our own project, based on the solidarity projects we saw the previous days.
On the last day we had a recap of what we talked about, said our goodbyes, and left the beautiful town of Sibenik.
Partner Organizations
Udruga mladih "Mladi u EU"
Hosting organization
S.I.S.E.R.A. Greece
Partner
Youth For Chanege NGO
Partner
Onda Verde
Partner
Asociación Juvenil Illipula
Partner
