Sending Countries
What is to be a Sending Country?
Organisation from the sending country send marginalised groups to work with hosting organisations that are also marginalised.
“With the economic downturn, unemployment has
been particularly severe among disadvantaged young people. In light of the
success of our Mobility projects we wanted to transfer the modus operandi to
other Western EU countries, namely Spain and Italy. Both countries have the
highest youth unemployment 40% and 27% respectively, so we felt we had an
important contribution to make. The main objective has been to get each partner
to a level where they were comfortable applying for funding for their own
mutual assistance projects.”
Paul Baron
However Spain and Italy are not the only 2 affected countries. Youth unemployment is only increasing the number of difficulties the young people need to face in order to find the right career path for themselves. According to Eurostat Youth unemployment rates are generally much higher than unemployment rates for all ages:
However – whether in Western or Eastern Europe - any country could join the project, as long as
their underprivileged young people could benefit from participation in such project!
“I gained a lot of things from this project-
confidence in my own abilities to work away from home, since returning to the
UK I have had employment which has involved staying away from home”
David Coleman, 13.08.2010
Through participation on a mutual assistance mobility placement unemployed and underprivileged young people are given the opportunity to expand their understanding of themselves and develop an awareness of their place within Europe. As the target group are marginalized and excluded within
their own communities through this project they could have the dual benefit of personal development, allowing them to overcome barriers to inclusion in their own communities and through positive challenges to their attitudes to Europe they could develop an awareness of their role as citizens within Europe.
In the similar projects we have witnessed through helping vulnerable people in other countries the participants’ self-esteem increases and the feel a lot more useful to society.
“I really enjoyed the experience it gave me
the confidence to apply for work away from where I live which is quite remote.
I now work and live at an outdoor centre in the Lake District”
Tony Swales, 11.08.2010
Participants could gain vocational skills that will enable them to progress into employment, education and training.
The central themes through each of the mutual assistance mobility projects could include the following:
- To help the young people from the sending country gain an unforgettable overseas experience, acquainting with entirely new culture and thus broadening their horizons, but also gaining essential skills that would assist them in their future career
- To provide the young people with sufficient certification and recognition of the placement
period – Europass documents, certificates by the host organisation, etc - To assist another marginalised group in the hosting country (i.e. – work in an orphanage in Bulgaria), whereby the young people would undertake a project such as painting murals in orphanages and off course socially interact with the children
- Allow the young people to experience the hosting country, typically this would include
excursions, traditional meals etc - To teach the young people about the customs and traditions of the hosting country
Through numerous previous projects we have witnessed ourselves the immense benefit to all parties concerned particularly:
*The young people themselves, the difference in attitude and in their outlook from when they arrive in the hosting country to when they return. The young people are more prepared and willing to seek employment and further education with an improved self esteem.
*The children of the orphanages abroad, often these children feel abandoned and forgotten, a visit from such a team demonstrates that they are not forgotten.
*Motivation of the staff of orphanages and social institutions in the hosting countries, we often think of the Hawthorn experiment, the difference in attitude from the staff is considerable, and generally speaking the moral of the whole institution is improved.
We implement a very well working model for mutual assistance mobility projects and we invite you to be part of it! If you are an organisation whose target group are anyway marginalised young people you think they can benefit from a mutual assistance mobility placement abroad - join our growing network now!
If you would like to register as a Sending organisation
please fill this application/ make a profile/ register and read our very
comprehensive guide on the project: THE GUIDE
“I am so happy with all my certification that
I gained. I was rather surprised of how many certificates that were given
to me. Am so thrilled of all of them and seen that people have saw that hard
work that me and the group have done. Am so grateful for my certificates.”
Jodie Gardiner 09/09/2010
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