Project visit participants
From October 28 until November 4, 2019 total of 26 GIRLACT project participants traveled to Amsterdam, the Netherlands for a study visit.
Youth workers (both teachers and NGO workers) from Albania, Belgium, and Serbia visited Amsterdam for a study visit. The study visit provided an opportunity for youth workers to learn about different educational systems, and to be able to go back to their respective countries and implement these programs in the classroom.
During the first two days, youth workers visited Child Helpline International and Amnesty International. Both organizations have similar aims: break the cycle of poverty whether through providing access to financial services, empowering children to build their assets or providing financial and social education. As part of these visits, participants engaged in discussions about policies and programs in their respective countries.
As the aim of the study visit was an exchange of ideas on social and financial literacy, youth workers also participated in Aflatoun International’s Global Social and Financial skills conference where they had the opportunity to listen to the importance of social and financial education as well as to hear how various global project partners are able to implement programs. During the opening of the conference, one of our participants, a youth activist and worker Stasa Cvetkovic, who has been trained using GIRLACT educational programs, was able to explain the importance of social and financial education to her and youth like her.
Panel discussion during Day 2 of Aflatoun International’s Global Social and Financial Skills Conference 2019
On day 5, youth workers had the opportunity to visit SOS Children’s Villages and learn about the priorities of the Dutch branch of the organization and the projects they have for youth. Following the visit to SOS, participants visited the TropenMuseum’s “What a Genderful World” exhibition. The exhibition is meant to allow visitors to discover how gender is expressed and experienced worldwide.
Pomoc deci team with youth workers from Serbia during a visit to SOS Children’s Village
On day 6, participants were able to get to know the various techniques in working with youth through different sample activities used in Aflatoun International curricula, such as image theater and through a discussion on gender and societal norms, such as image theater and through a discussion on gender and societal norms. This was especially beneficial as it allowed for an exchange of ideas, thoughts and experiences. Final presentation of the day was a presentation on IMC Weekendschool. The aim of the organization is to provide young children in underprivileged neighborhoods with the skills and knowledge that allows them to grow and empowers them to become successful adults in the future.
Aflatoun International’s “Aflateen” Workshop
IMC Weekendschool Presentation
The last presentation allowed participants to learn about the Dutch educational system thanks to New2NL, an organization that helps foreign families settle in the Netherlands. This was helpful as it introduced different educational systems and provided the basis for a discussion for participants to compare it to their own countries.
All in all, this was a very fruitful visit. Youth workers will meet again during a youth workers’ visit in Belgium to continue the exchange of information and experiences.
GIRLACT project visit: Mobility of youth workers and study visit to Belgium
From October 26 until November 4, 2021 a total of 24 GIRLACT project participants travelled to Brussels, Belgium for a study visit.
Youth workers (both teachers and NGO workers) from Albania, the Netherlands and Serbia visited Brussels for a study visit. The study visit provided an opportunity for youth workers to learn about different learning models in peer education and horizontal learning process and to be able to go back to their respective countries and implement these programs in their activities.
The first four days were divided into workshops for half a day and introduction to Brussels interculturality in the other half of the day.
The last two days were dedicated to the joint activities of all the participants from all four countries, exchange of experience and impressions from peer education trainings in their countries.
Although COVID-19 related restrictions limited both the number of the participants that could gather at the same place at the same time and the possibilities for organising introduction of the participants to various models of peer education practiced by different local organisations in Brussels, or visit to the European Parliament and other EU institutions, this study visit was evaluated as very useful, successful and interesting by the participants.
