Institute of Research and Training on European Affairs – I.R.T.E.A., Greece
I.R.T.E.A., is the lead partner for this project and was created by youth workers and youth experts. I.R.T.E.A. aims to become a powerful Think Tank in Greece and Southern Europe, bridging the gap between Youth, Policy Making, Society and the Labour Market. Utilizing its advisory status in the European Parliament, I.R.T.E.A. aims to support young people, especially those belonging to vulnerable groups, by promoting innovative actions and policies on issues relating to European priorities. I.R.T.E.A. promotes the structured and open dialogue between civil society stakeholders, while, through its projects and activities, strengthening, the active participation of young people, the idea of European citizenship and the concept of citizenship in general.
I.R.T.E.A.’s vision is one Europe with cities and metropolitan areas committed to youth and actively involving youth policies in local and regional development, participatory processes and decision making.
I.R.T.E.A.’s philosophy considers youth participation, equal opportunities for youth and sustainability of youth structures as driving forces of medium and long term urban development, with a key contribution to the quality of life of all inhabitants of cities and the surrounding regions.
I.R.T.E.A.’s vision takes into account youth policies and strategies of the European Union, the Council of Europe and the United Nations, and aims implementing them effectively at local level.
Website: IRTEA – Institute of Research & Training on European Affairs
ZAVOD MLADINSKA MREZA MAMA – Youth Network MaMa, Slovenia
Youth Network MaMa is a non-governmental umbrella organization combining 50 organizations that run youth centers or are active in the field of youth work in Slovenia. MaMa Network was established as a non-formal network in 2001 at the initiative of youth centers by the bottom-up approach, thus it was created as a response to the needs of youth centers to have a networking umbrella organisation. Its main purpose is to connect youth centers and represent their interests in relation to the government sector, decision makers and other stakeholders. It regularly cooperates with local and national stakeholders in order to create measures and policies that would improve the position of young people in society. With its operation the MaMa Network: – Connects organizations performing their activities of youth centers or operating in the field of youth work in Slovenia; – Represents common interests of its members in relation to the government sector; – Regularly informs members and other interested public on all activities concerning youth and youth work; – Organizes meetings and encourages communication and project interaction between members; – Offers professional help to members; – Provides non-formal education for youth and youth workers; – Encourages and promotes creative activities of youth; – By carrying out different national and international projects it is also strengthening youth centers and youth work on a local level. With its activities the Youth Network MaMa stimulates and promotes creative activities of the youth and emphasizes the principles of tolerance, cooperation and at the same time social awareness among the Club MaMa members and the wider public.
Website: https://www.mreza-mama.si/about-us/
Change Your Live Now – CYLN, Greece
The non-profit organisation “Change Your Life Now” was founded in 2018 with the primary objective of promoting the establishment of mediation and peaceful conflict resolution.
The programs aim at helping children, teenagers, and adults develop their social skills and learn techniques on how to better manage their anger and peacefully resolve potential conflicts, and promoting effective teamwork and understanding of the notions of anger, rights, respect for diversity, conciliation and solidarity in an experiential manner using non-formal learning approach and methodology. The main goal is also the protection and defence of the rights of individuals belonging to vulnerable social groups or those suffering discrimination, their empowerment to express their needs and gain access to services allowing them to make choices. They promote participation based on the premise that all people, including children, young people and those belonging to vulnerable social groups, have the right to express their opinion on decisions affecting them and learn to claim their rights.
Website: https://change-your-life-now.gr/
Municipality of Ciniselo Balsamo, Italy
The Youth Policy Department of the City of Cinisello Balsamo plans and manages actions with and for young people under 35. In particular, it promotes activities for the implementation of transversal skills with a view to developing the human and social capital of the territory, civic sense and participation. The projects include training and professionalizing actions at various levels (from school-work alternation , to training internships, international mobility, training courses and refresher courses), the promotion of a sense of initiative and entrepreneurship (for example by financing actions proposed and managed by young people, work placements, coworking spaces); actions aimed at social and labor inclusion (information and orientation services, employment proposals, projects for access to housing); support for the active participation of young people in social life (National Civil Service, European Solidarity Corps), training courses for the development of youth worker skills, international exchanges that have seen the participation of about 300 young people in 10 years. Since 2005, the Service has taken part in or managed about 30 European projects funded by Youth in Action, Lifelong Learning Programme, Erasmus+, Europe for Citizens. The Office is composed of 1 municipal employee (Massimo Capano), a Eurodesk consultant who deals with information, guidance and European planning (Elisa Scardoni), 3 trainees and 3 young people of the Universal Civil Service, engaged for 12 months within the service.
Website: https://www.comune.cinisello-balsamo.mi.it/spip.php?rubrique3888&lang=en
Vsl “Amicus Certus”, Lithuania
Amicus Certus is a private NGO, seeking to reflect the needs of society, including youth organizations. NGO is a small, but flexible organization, working in the field of youth policy, youth empowerment, helps youth to gain additional skills and competences, to see the world with the more opened eyes and attitudes. The vision of organization – open-minded, critically thinking and successful youth, who contributes to the well-being of the society. While seeking to ensure that youth needs are reflected Applicant is closely cooperating with different type of organisations – municipality, local business, educational institutions, youth organisations and youth representatives. International relations are established with UBC, BSSSC, ERB networks. Organization is now working on the establishment of Regional Youth network (Youth Regio-NET), which will closely work with ERB, BSSSC networks and increase youth skills in advocacy, youth representation spheres.
Website: https://amicuscertus.weebly.com/
DYPALL NETWORK, Portugal
DYPALL Network (Developing Youth Participation at Local Level) is a European platform of over 80 civil society organizations and local authorities from more than 30 countries, that aims to involve young people in decision-making processes at local level, and thus enable municipal and regional authorities to address the needs and interests of youth, engage young people as active actors of problem-solving and increase the level of ownership, commitment and involvement of an important part of our communities.
YP Lab is a resource and mobility centre within DYPALL Network with the focus on research development and capacity building in the field of local youth participation.
Website: https://dypall.com/
KEKS STODFORENING, Sweden
KEKS is network of local departments for youth work with over 70 municipalities from Sweden, Slovenia and Finland as members and partners in many other countries. We have common aims and a common system for documentation and follow up. Based on this we develop competence, methods, tools, organisation and policy in youth work.
Website: www.keks.se/eng
Private Company BOLT Virtual Services and Productions, Greece
Bolt Virtual is an award-winning market leader in the field of emerging eXtended Reality (XR) technologies in Greece. We were the first company to deal exclusively with this new technology.
Bolt Virtual is a XR software company creating applications in the fields of education & edutainment, cultural heritage, tourism products & destinations, gaming, and marketing of products and services. Bolt Virtual is specialized exclusively in XR services, while being the only Greek company that combines development of tailored-made VR software, organization of VR events at the chosen premises of its customers, XR experiences exploited commercially by Bolt Virtual and extensive research activities. The business model includes three pillars, in full operation:
· Developing and Producing VR content. Bolt Virtual is currently developing cross-platform VR applications for marketing, tourism, educational and health promotion purposes in partnership with major Greek enterprises, universities and museums with in-house and external developers.
· Participation in Research Projects towards the development of XR.
· Introducing the technology of immersive, room-scale VR to the Greek market via the flagship initiative, The VR Project – Greece’s first VR showcase premises. The space has been visited by thousands of customers, hundreds of schools for educational trips, catered to several corporate events, delivered Visual art seminars and Digital Art Exhibitions and has housed several seminars and workshops. After the onset of Covid 19, the operation of The VR Project has been discontinued.
Website: www.boltvirtual.gr