TV Show

Some of our activities through non-formal education

Enegizers: The aim of these activities is to facilitate the getting-to-know-each other, to energize them and also to facilitate the switch between the activities.

Usually these activities are group games that take up to 15 minutes.

Bingo

Participants received papers and pens and were given 20 minutes to go to other participants and ask questions about themselves. Some questions regarded their hobbies, favourite types of food, favourite actors, but the participants had no limits regarding the questions and they turned out to be very creative. In this way, they had to fill in each empty square drawn on the paper with the name of the participant and the answer. Afterwards, the facilitator chose randomly some of the names of the participants. When the youngsters heard that name, each person that had information about him/her, shared it with the others. In this way, all the participants found out new things about the others. When the participants had a line or bingo, they received a prize.

Chair chain

Aim: to facilitate communication and cooperation between participants

Method: teambuilding activity

Description: Participants were splitted in 2 teams. They put the chairs in a circle and each of them stood behind a chair. They leaned a little bit the chairs in front of them and when the facilitator gave them the signal, they had to move to the chair in their right and also, by using only one hand, they had to catch the chair and not let it touch the ground or fall. Every team thought about a strategy, identified a leader and found its own rhythm in order to succeed.

Some of the main activities

City rally

Aim: to facilitate teamwork

Method: teamwork activity

Description: Participants were splitted in mixed teams; each team received a list with several tasks, such as finding a European flag, making interviews with youngsters from the community about the “Erasmus+” Programme, helping some old people to carry the bags from the supermarket to their homes.  They also had to gather some proofs, like taking photos or making videos, in order to show to the other participants that they have successfully completed the tasks. While doing this activity, all the participants had the chance to discover the local community  and to interact with the citizens.

"Erasmus+" and Youthpass presentation

Aim: to present the new “Erasmus+” Programme and discussing on new opportunities

Method: interactive presentation, Q&A

Description: Due to the introduction of the new “Erasmus+” Programme, we considered a good opportunity to discuss on the differences between the actual and the former programme, “Youth in action”. We also had a debate about the new features of the  “Erasmus+” Programme and discovered together the new opportunities of merging with other cultures. We also discussed about the Youthpass certificate; what it means, what skills and competencies it validates and what are the benefits of having such a certificate.

Name, motto, logo

Aim:  to establish the first elements of identity of the company

Method: teamwork and sensorial presentation

Description: In the teams already formed, participants were given all the necessary materials to create these three elements of identity for their start-ups. The facilitator gave them the basic information and adviced them when in need. When they had to present their work to the other teams, the participants were asked to do a sensorial presentation. They had to present using all the senses beside talking, so the other participants can guess what are the name and the logo of the company.

Start your own company

Aim: to decide upon the domain of each company

Method: teamwork, debate

Description: Participants were splitted in teams of 6 or 7 people. They were explained how important was to discuss about the domain of the companies; all the members should agree on the domain and it would be better to choose something they would trully love to do in their real life also. In order to accomplish this goal, the participants discussed for 15 minutes about the qualities and the passions each member of the team has, so they can use these advantages when choosing the domain and when working on the business plan, later on. They were also given some informations and questions, in order to guide them during the process.

Advertise your company

Aim: to identify new ideas and methods of advertising a product or service

Method: teamwork, brainstorming

Description: The participants had to brainstorm and to come up with creative ideas to advertise their companies. They discussed and then they decided what each of them should do, based on the professional qualities of each member of the team. Firstly, the participants created a Facebook page (Happy 3 Houses, Phonection+, Re-Cool It, Think & Live Different, To XI) of the company and did all the necessary settings. Then, each team created an eye-catching video in order to present the company to the others. Each team had its strategy and did the video (Happy 3 Houses, Phonection+, Re-Cool It, Think & Live Different, To XI) using different tools. Afterwards, the participants posted the videos on their Facebook pages.

Intercultural Nights

We were anxious from the beggining to get to know more about each participating country and its culture, so the cultural nights that every country organized offered us the best opportunity to feed our curiosity. During the whole week, the participants of each country prepared the program of these nights as they wished; this usually included a presentation of the country, a presentation of customs and traditions, traditional music and dances, traditional clothes, food and drinks. We enjoyed every difference and similitude that we discovered and we were all very enthusiastic to find out more during the whole period of the project.

Business plan presentation

After doing a lot of work for their companies, but enjoying at the same time the whole process, the participants had an entire day to prepare the business plans. Firstly, the facilitators gave them information and hints about how to do a good business plan. The participants put the pieces of the puzzle all together (elements of identity, advertising plan, the marketing and budget planning parts and all the other necessary elements). They read it carefully and then, respecting the given deadline, they sent the business plans to us, on mail. This was the first thing to do in order to enter the competition called Lions Arena.

The next day, we set up the activity room in such a way that resembles to an arena, to fit in with the whole atmosphere created. There was also prepared the official table for three investors (the 2 facilitators and the head of the hosting organization) who, based on the presentation of each team and the business plans, decided whether to invest or not in that company. Every team had 8 minutes to present their business idea and then they answered the questions that the “investors” had.

All the teams did a really great job and they payed attention to details, that made the competition even more keen, so finally, all the teams got prizes. The judge decided to invest in each of the business ideas, so the participants received a lot of coins made from chocolate, but also a white envelope. They were asked to open it at a certain moment, all together. They enthusiastically  found a fridge magnet with the picture of the whole group on it. J

About the project...

The "Young enterprises" project is a multilateral youth exchange under the "Erasmus +" Programme which will be held in the town of Eforie Nord, Constanta county, Romania between 7 to 17 November 2014.

During 9 days (excluding travel days), 32 young people aged between 18 and 25 years and 8 leaders without age limit from 7 different EU countries (Bulgaria, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Spain and Turkey) will meet together in order to exchange experiences, to learn and to focus on actions on promoting the entrepreneurship spirit.

Each country will be represented by 4 young participants aged between 18 and 25 years and 1 group leader no age limit, except Romania, which will include into the national group 8 participants (18-25 years old) and 2 group leaders.

The main objective of this project is the to increase awareness of the need to develop the entrepreneurship spirit and to increase the level of knowledge and skills in entrepreneurship for 40 young people aged between 18-25 from the 7 participating countries (Bulgaria, Italy Latvia, Poland, Romania, Spain and Turkey).

The activities included in the project support the project objectives; thus, they argue the active participation of young people in generating ideas for entrepreneurship using methods of non-formal education, youth involvement in the set up of companies and creating business plans, promotion of participatory attitudes of young people to develop ideas to increase the participation of youth with fewer opportunities, and promoting the "Erasmus +" Programme. 

Specifically, during the youth exchange we aim to simulate the setting up of new companies and to create a realistic business plan for each company. Thus, the activities of our project meets the needs of young people: the access to information, the needs for involvement and active participation, tolerance, solidarity, awareness of the importance of developing entrepreneurial initiatives in the current economic climate, the needs to have a job.

The non-formal working methods that are proposed in the activities are designed to support the promotion of active citizenship among young people, to develop a participatory attitude, to support reflection, to promote tolerance, to support the integration of intercultural differences in the creative process and support the common understanding between young and cooperative and creative process. The non-formal working methods included are diverse; these include verbal and non-verbal communication, visual communication and also, written communication.

Also, at the end of the project, the young people whom will participate in the exchange will receive a Youthpass certificate. This will recognise the acquired skills through participation in this project.

Our hosting organisation...

“Initiative Sociale” Association is a NGO that has been created in July 2012 from the founders wish to produce changes in youth mentalities and to motivate the young generation to cooperate for a better society and to motivate them in taking initiative.

"Initiative Sociale" is an association of young people and its mission is to promote and implement non-formal programs for the young generation.

It founders are dynamic and ambitious young people, from different academic backgrounds like Tehnical University of Construction Bucharest – the Faculty of Constructions, University of Bucharest - the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work and University Ovidius from Constanta – Faculty of Law. Two of them are also certified as Trainers in Social Entrepreneurship and have all necessary information regarding the conception of a business plan.

They also have a vast experience regarding participation in international projects like: Youth exchanges Action 1.1., Cooperation with partner countries Action 3.1.a, Cooperation with partner countries – Training and networks Action 3.1.b, and Training program and networking Action 4.3. and they also have experience being involved in local projects.

Our objectives and mission are to create and develop national and international youth exchanges, programs to promote European partnership among young people, professional development of European standards and practice, to organize summer schools and conferences to promote social initiatives among young people, to create and develop different programs regarding orientation and professional counseling.

We would also like to implement activities that can generate capital and jobs for young people, to create and develop project for community development, especially for rural community development and to create and develop projects for the European Voluntary Service.

We would also like to concentrate on promoting social economy and social entrepreneurship; we would like to offer support and provide technical assistance to young people who want to start a business, especially the social businesses initiatives. Also, we would like to provide support in creation and development of programs for democracy among young people and will promote the concept of Active European Citizenship.

Another objective is to create partnerships with private companies, NGOs and public institutions to create projects for community and social initiatives among young people.