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Collaborative Economy for Youth Work
Start date: Feb 2, 2015, End date: Aug 1, 2016 PROJECT  FINISHED 

In the EU-28 in 2012, there were on average 5.6 million unemployed persons aged 15-24 and 24.4 million persons of that age group in the labour market, according to the EU labour force survey. This gives a youth unemployment rate of 23.0 %. It should also be recorded here that there are no appreciable difference in neighbouring EU countries as lots of young people in these regions wait anxiously to migrate into EU thereby causing more unemployment challenges. Youths unemployment and exclusion from economic main stream in EU and neighbouring EU countries demands a strategic review, with commitment to contribute to EU's strategic aim at reducing youth unemployment, increase youth-employment rate in line with the wider EU target of achieving a 75% employment rate. The international project - “Collaborative Economy for Youth Work” is a two-level ERASMUS+ project, that fights against the pessimistic view of the current situation, which leads young people to social exclusion, and presents itself as an opportunity to develop new attitudes, presenting social and business actions that can contribute to change, in time when these are extremely necessary. A Spanish proverb says “hunger sharpens the wit”, this throws light on the development of a this new movement called “collaborative consumption (CC)” or “sharing economy” (SE) examples are barter trade markets, car/bike/house sharing, coworking, crowdfunding, couch surfing, peer to peer lending and renting, even virtual currencies, what happens if we introduce this concept in the field of youth work? Can we meet the needs that the actual economic situation has created, and use these new methodologies of sharing to improve the quality of the youth work projects? The answer is YES! CC as a new tool in youth work require expansion and devolvement which made us to implement the project to make it grow and get bigger and bigger. CC was a 2 phased project, first the Training Course and second Youth Exchange. The project analysed the sharing movement and equip youth workers with new tools that helped them used these platforms in concrete projects at local and international levels. 1. TC - Collaborative consumption, new word in Youth work; took place in Manchester, UK from 19th - 25th July, 2015. The training was on collaborative consumption (CC) - the new class of economic arrangements, where participants shared access to products or services, rather than having individual ownerships. CC especially in times of crisis, is the perfect tool that could be used in youth work. the 1st stage of the project - TC - focused more on giving information about different types and methods of shared economy, while the 2nd stage (YE) focused on most motivated and active participants of the TC as leaders to extrapolate with other young people and utilize skills learnt in the training programme practically during the Youth Exchange programme . 2. YE - Sharing Unites Everyone; took place in Bakuriani, Georgia, from 27th March to 3rd April, 2016. Participants were given practical tasks to experiment different models of CC in their lives and work. Importantly YE explored the financial contributions of members of the public through Crowd funding platforms, sharing mediums such as book sharing, food banks, couch surfing and other sharing platforms. Participants' experience(s) of Sharing Economy was tested, fulfilling the aim of the project which is to promote CC, implement in practice some of the models during the project, produce a manual for CC for youth work and also spread it widely, in order to provide best practice for other young people, youth workers and associations. Its a fact that Collective Consumption is known to young people in Europe, some use carsharing or bike sharing platforms , or couchsurfing instead of hostels, exchange platforms, buy second hand goods, instead of renting an office share office spaces, share books, videos etc. CC generates some sort of curiosity and interest among young people; it is trendy; new, interactive and playful and a perfect way to promote active citizenship and create environmental sustainability drives. Objectives: •Raised awareness towards CC and promote its idea •Promoted use of CC tools in youth work and create the manual •Worked on and practice the concept of collective sharing,CC, social economy •Provided creative and innovative tools against the crisis •Strengthened entrepreneurship, creativity and initiatives among youths •Shared the best practices of youth work •Promoted intercultural exchange, tolerance and solidarity •Prepared future youth leaders •Promoted Erasmus+ and cooperation between EU and partner countries •Built new partnerships and create new projects Project methodology used was non-formal education and peer to peer education, valorizing the knowledge and experiences of the young people. Countries involved in the project were Georgia, UK, Egypt, Spain, Lebanon, Jordan, Poland and Germany.

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