The project is set around the trend of youth work recognition, which is enhanced both on European and national, level. The idea of youth work recognition often can be seen as a two-fold process: on one hand directed to the youth work providers aiming to make their work effective and to provide space for real and meaningful support for young people, while on the other hand ensuring that youth workers are competent for the job. The project is coordinated by CEREBRA BiH, with partners from Belgium (Youth for Exchange and Understanding) and North Macedonia (Center for Intercultural Dialogue)The project's main aim is to strengthen the recognition of youth workers competences and assessment of the quality of youth work providers, by capacity building of youth workers and evaluators based on the principle of self-assessment and peer-assessment. Objectives of the project are the following: - To build capacities of youth workers to be able to provide peer-review of their work and self-assess their competences within a given competence framework for youth workers (portfolio) - To raise awareness on the need to develop learning to learn competences within youth work and motivate youth workers for lifelong learning- To develop and try out specific recognition tools for youth work providers (quality label tools) and for youth workers (recognition portfolios) as examples of non-formality in the recognition of youth work- To develop participants’ understanding and knowledge of various forms of youth work systems and discuss their applicability in different contexts- To exchange good practices of youth work recognition between youth workers and their associations from the 3 participating countries but also on European level Key project activities include:Training course on assessment of youth workers competences: It aims to build capacity of youth workers and decision makers in the youth field about the need for quality assessment and provide ideas of assessments.Creating tools for assessment of youth work providers and self-assessment and peer-review of youth workers. Youth Work material – overview of tools and practices of youth work recognition and assessment of youth workers Study visit on youth work recognition in Belgium in order to share examples of peer-reviews in youth workDissemination workshop for national youth work recognition will be held in Belgium, BiH and Macedonia andSeminar “Assessing the assessment – where next?” which aims to provide an overview of the process and to draw conclusions related to recognition tools developed by the project and their applicability in youth work and beyond.

Living in the “digital era” offers a wider range of opportunities for youth activism and engagement but does not always gives the desired impact and the change we want to see. Starting from this assumption, the project ON|OFF LINE: Youth Engagement Using Digital Tools strives to detect which tools of active youth engagement are better to be used, whether using online or offline tools, or maybe a combination of both, eventually results in achieving the desired effect, the goals that are placed and thus changes occur. The project also transfers the capacities of all three partners’ organizations around this common idea to detect the potential of using digital tools for youth activism and engagement. The project addresses the development of innovative methods for enhancing digital skills of young people and promotes their active citizenship at the same time. Digital skills are developed in parallel with skills for civic engagement in dealing with current social issues. Youth engagement recognizes young people’s right to participate in decisions that impact them and acknowledges the great skills and strengths they can bring to the table. It injects young people as valued stakeholders into creating effective and inclusive policies, programs and environments. Youth engagement can and does change lives. However, effective youth engagement leads to positive outcomes for young people at several levels: (1) Individual level-increased personal skills, healthy choices, and sense of identity, (2) social level-stronger positive connections with friends and adults, and a larger support network, (3) system level-greater civic engagement, policies and programs responsive to the needs of young people, and new creative ways to govern. When young people are engaged in decision-making, they feel connected to their environment and community; they build relationships with their peers and adults and learn new skills. They are more likely to make the right decisions, have socially adequate behaviour and make fewer wrong risks. Engaged youth are also more likely to do well in education and continue learning throughout their lifetime. But what makes youth engagement effective and how it can be achieved? The issue of finding the right approaches and methods to engage youth effectively, continuously troubles youth CSOs as they struggle in channeling their efforts to convert youth participation into youth engagement, achieve impact and improve the situation of youth through the world. Participation is the simple act of showing up, but engagement occurs when head, heart, feet and spirit are involved. Engagement is a process that is dynamic, reciprocal and interactive.The project aims to discover which methods provide biggest impact on youth and what kind of tools prove to be most efficient in order to inspire young people on action. This enables support to overcome the abovementioned challenges and further supports youth organizations and youth workers.

Firstly it must be noted the project was not completes. It was unfairly terminated by the British council and still no specific reason has been given only a copy and paste from the grant agreement. More on this is raise in the difficulties section.Project aim: The Main aim of the project was to provide an opportunity to emerging youth workers to gain knowledge, skills and practical experience necessary for supporting youth especially those from marginal backgrounds (ethnic minorities, low income families, etc.), vulnerable situations (disabilities, linguistic barriers, etc.) and NEET’s (not in employment, education and training). The project contributed to the professional development of a group of youth workers in education and/or training in Macedonia, Estonia and the United Kingdom through involving them in training and practical working experience in all nations, as well as through developing tools both off and online that they can use in their future work in this field. One of the major aims of the collaboration was the development of accreditation and recognition of professional youth work both in the UK, Estonia and Macedonia as well as Europe and even on a Global context. Activities: 1. Meeting of partners in Wales Januaray 2018 (M1) 2. Training course for 21 youth workers from the United Kingdom, Estonia and Macedonia in Tallinn. (C1) 3. A 2 month long-term mobility of youth workers with 1 participant from UK and 1 from Macedonia in Tallinn, Estionia (C4) 4. A 2 month long-term mobility of youth workers with 1 participant from Estonia and 1 from Macedonia in Cardiff, Wales (C2) 5. Half of A 2 month long-term mobility (1 month) of youth workers with 1 participant from Cardiff, Wales in Kumanovo, Macedonia (C3) These were before and at the beginning the 10 month long-term mobility’s. The idea of these were to offer management placements in different nations for those in year 2 studying Youth and Community Education’ in Cardiff Metropolitan University, Tartu and Tetovo University. This happened in part as the candidate from UK in Estonia studied at a different university to Cardiff, Tetovo had stop its university programme, but Macedonian candidates were part of the union of youth workers for Macedonia and were working towards recognigiton of youth work in Macedonia. 6. Change of Estonian partner Involved MTU to Sauga ANK, this was due to the fact that there seemed to be a huge conflict of interests in the use of Involved MTU's funds as well as inadquate housing for the volunteers that breached health and safety law in both the UK and Estonia. The organisation was also demanding more finances that existed in the project for their hosting costs and seemed unable to provide the appropriate placements required for the project. We made offcial compaints to both the UK and Estonian national agency. However, never seemed to have the will to support or help us. 7. Second transnational meeting in Macedonia February 2018 (M2) 8. Start of 10 long-term mobility of youth workers in Cardiff, Wales – each youth worker (1 Estonian, 1 Macedonian) was to spend 10 months working with a variety of young people including NEET young people. Due to the termination they did 4 months and 3 months respectively, however at the time of this writing they continued there work with no alowance as they were providing a vital service to young people. Both were distraught at the British Councils decision and made compaints. 9. Start of 10 long-term mobility of youth workers in Parnu, Estonia – the youth worker (1 Macedonian) was to spend 10 months working with a variety of young people including NEET young people. Due to the termination they did 2 months. 10. Development of online support tool for youth workers working with a variety of young people including those mentioned (NEETs, Vulnerable young people, etc.) The tool was never completed due to the termination but was to developed in parallel to the long-term mobility’s of youth workers and will be based on their experiences of working with a variety of young people from a different background and in a unique situation. Despite the termination the tool will be completed with the help of a Council of Europe project with the support of YEU International. 11. Final events in the UK and Estonia occured in June to present the reflections, experiences and learning made over the whole project and the online platform resources at www.thefutureofyouthwork.cymru. 12. Third transnational meeting for evaluation never happened due to the termination. The following results were achieved: - Youth workers developed their basic skills and competencies for working with young people, - Youth workers acquired knowledge and skills of using progressive tools in the work with young people - Youth workers developed their skills and competencies for implementing activities for young people More results were achieved and are mentioned in the report.

"Rebus Student Research Academy has set itself the goal and managed to involve the student community in the legislative process and strategic decision-making in connection with the development of European legislation.In the contract period, the project was implemented through seasonal seminars between the partner organizations, where law and international relations students received professional expertise from prominent specialists in the field of international law and legislative technique. On several occasions, it was necessary to change the originally set dates for the activities due to unforeseen circumstances with the planned participants, such as illness and objective inability to travel.The last partnership meeting (TPM 6) and seminar (LTT 6) were not held due to the global crisis and the danger to the health of the participants of the Covid - 19 pandemic.(https://vt.government.bg/documents/rd-01-124-vuvejdane-protiepidemichni-merki.pdf; https://www.mh.government.bg/bg/normativni-aktove/zapovedi-pravilnitsi-instruktsii/;)the orders of the rector of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski ”(halls for seminar 6 - C6, TPPM6 were reserved there);(https://www.unisofia.bg/index.php/bul/novini/novini_i_s_bitiya/zapoved_na_rektora_na_sofijskiya_universitet_sv_kliment_ohridski;https://www.unisofia.bg/index.php/bul/universitet_t/fakulteti/biologicheski_fakultet2/novini/zapovedi_na_rektora_na_su_v_v_vr_zka_s_izv_nrednoto_polozhenie_za_vsichki_prepodavateli_sluzhiteli_i_studenti; )the recommendations of the Ministry of Interior for refraining from traveling in the Republic of Northern Macedonia and Turkey(https://www.mfa.bg/bg/embassyinfo/republic+of+north+macedonia; https://www.mfa.bg/bg/embassyinfo/turkey;);the long-lasting ban on closing the borders of the Republic of Northern Macedonia and Turkey traveling from there to Bulgaria and back. A decision in principle was made by the General Assembly of the Student Science Academy in agreement with our partners that the health of our volunteers and participants is in the first place and we will not put them at risk, so the last activities will not be carried out. Among the lecturers we had asked to take part in the last seminar - C6 there were those who were diagnosed with coronavirus - Prof. Yanaki Stoilov, and others were contact.As a result of the shock and danger to their lives, they flatly refused to participate in face-to-face or online seminars due to their inability to perform their duties. Two volunteers from the Republic of Northern Macedonia and Turkey, as well as 38 from the Faculty of Law of Sofia University ""St. Kliment Ohridski ”, but we were faced with the hypothesis of“ force majeure ”.Namely - an objective obstacle or the so-called (circumstance, event of) force majeure - a circumstance (event) entirely dependent on and due to unpredictable or unpredictable events or factors independent of the will or actions of one or more persons and in this sense non-preventable such as: a global pandemic threatening human life and health. In case of force majeure, the parties to an agreement shall be temporarily released from liability in case of non-performance due to objective impossibility until the force majeure ceases to exist.That is why we decided to suffer the sanction of not receiving funding for these activities, but to prefer to preserve the life and health of the participants in the project.We had a wonderful relationship with our partners, which was based on the exchange of good practices and contractual relations - Center for Intercultural Dialogue (CID) and Pi Youth Association.The activities with which the students were engaged during the project were participation in seminars, where they got acquainted with the European legislation, the methodology and the procedures for its transposition into the national legal systems. This was done by simulating legislative sessions such as those in domestic and Community legal systems - the European Parliament.They were assisted and trained in the performance of their tasks by lecturers-experts in the field of law and international relations, and the overall idea is that they acquired practical knowledge on the creation, translation and transposition of Community legal acts in the national legal peace.The methodology of the work is based on the acquisition of knowledge through practical tasks, games and competitions between the individual participants, and last but not least will focus on understanding and overcoming cultural, socio-economic and political differences between different European communities through cultural evenings, intellectual pursuits and structured dialogue.Student Research Academy ""REBUS"" has set a goal and we believe that we have fulfilled it, namely to be able, through the resources of this project to prepare young people to join the legislative process in the countries they represent. On the other hand, the result of their participation was the dissemination and sharing of knowledge and skills among their colleagues in their student communities.This newly created circle of young lawyers and specialists, from the humanities, operating in different European countries has led to a better understanding, application and creation of European legislation. The long-term benefits of the project are related and we are still developing them, namely the dissemination and recognition of European values ​​by the various European communities, as well as strengthening the structured dialogue between young professionals and European and state institutions.Last but not least, we place the long-term exchange of good practices and the implementation of youth activities."

Many young people are increasingly disengaged from both community programs and other types of civic and political participation in different parts of Europe. Young people often lack the necessary tools and capacities to influence public debate. Furthermore, creating environment where young people feel valued and motivated to contribute to community development and decision-making processes aligned to their personal goals remains a challenge for many youth organizations in Europe.Disappointment with mainstream politics is heavily present among the young people in the participating countries of this Strategic Partnership. The failure of national governments to address effectively many of the challenges young people are facing, has led to widespread discontent among youth. Young people are not adequately represented within formal political structures, policy-making and decision-making processes as evidenced by the low rates of parliamentary involvement, political party participation and electoral activity among them. The number of young skeptics in relation to politics is particularly significant in Slovakia. According to Youth Report compiled by IUVENTA - The Slovak Youth Institute, in average 80% of young people aged between 15-24 years do not trust the government and the parliament. 82% to 72% of respondents think that politicians do not really care about them. The majority of young people are convinced that “young people don’t have the power to significantly influence political decisions”. In North Macedonia, according to the survey of Westminster Foundation for Democracy, only 8% of young people have taken steps to solve a particular societal problem and 80% of young people state that the authorities do not care about them at all or only partially care about them and their needs and problems. Furthermore, only 3% of young people are fully satisfied with their place in society.The situation is a bit different in Armenia, where a revolution began with protests in 2018. The heavy participation of young Armenians was one of the most striking features of the protest movement, which as a result provided Armenia a peaceful transition to democracy from semi-authoritarian regime. Participation of young people in building democratic institutions in Armenia is of a vital importance. However, participation of young people especially in rural and remote areas, particularly among women remains low and currently there is a fertile ground to set up different youth participation schemes and initiatives. Youth organizations, youth councils and schools in Slovakia, North Macedonia and Armenia are not being considered as platforms for discussions on social or political issues. Young people do not share the belief that these organizations can have an influence on youth policies making. The involvement in student councils, parliaments or municipal youth councils and their initiatives is not attractive among youth.Being actively involved in civic and political actions and feeling concerned about youth disengagement in our countries, we have come together to develop this Strategic Partnership project - “Up to You(th)!”. This is a Partnership between 3 youth organizations, based in different regions of Europe that are civically and politically active on local, national and European levels. The project aims at promoting youth engagement and active citizenship through exchange of best practices and equipping youth workers and educators with capacity, tools and methods to work effectively with individual youngsters and groups of young people not active on a local level.The Strategic Partnership pursues the following goals:A. Building capacities of 15 youth workers, project managers and educators to effectively outreach and engage individual youngsters and groups of young people not active on local level in partner countries;B. Jointly exploring new forms of youth engagement and active citizenship, including digital participation;C. Equipping youth workers and youth organizations with capacity, tools and methods to deliver high quality workshops on youth participation and active citizenship;D. Identifying main obstacles for youth participation through a Survey on “Youth participation in community life” among young people;E. Exchanging methods, training materials and best practices on youth participation and civic engagement between partners;F. Supporting youth workers and trainers to incorporate values and methodologies of youth participation and active citizenship in the work of their organizations.The Consortium believes that the project should be implemented transnationally as all the members of the Consortium are part of an international network that tries to offer transnational solutions to local challenges. We believe that the results of the project cannot be achieved through national or local funding as the achievement of the project goals can be done only by ensuring active involvement of each partner.