Care2Care

<< Background >>We applied for this project because, together with our partner organisations, we felt that by combining the knowledge and experience we had accumulated individually, we could develop an effective program that simultaneously empowers young people in care and supports the further development of the partner organizations. Our aim was to design a program where young people could enhance their self-confidence and social skills, experience the power of mutual support and community, and contribute to the long-term increase in social inclusion. We also aimed to foster mutual learning among the organisations, which would not have been possible without the close collaboration enabled by this project.Needs addressed by the project:- Providing a learning-friendly environment for young people in care, built on mutual respect and trust, which strengthens solidarity and community cohesion.- Creating an inclusive and supportive community that enhances the sense of belonging and self-esteem.- Empowering young people and promoting their active participation through the transfer of mentoring and coaching techniques.- Facilitating international exchange of experiences and sharing of best practices among partner organisations.<< Objectives >>Our primary goal was to enhance the inclusion and mental well-being of young people living in care within our communities. To achieve this, we set the following medium-term objectives:1. Building a supportive community where older youths act as mentors to help younger ones.2. Strengthening relationships within the communities by fostering trust in staff and belief in their willingness to help.3. Increasing young people's self-esteem, sense of belonging to the community, and trust in one another.4. Establishing an international network between organizations and young people in care.Expected outcomes of the project:1. Creation of cohesive communities where young people feel safe and know there is always someone to listen to and support them.2. A total of 24 young people acquire mentoring and coaching skills to assist their younger peers.3. Strengthened trust and cohesion within communities, indirectly supporting approximately 200 young people.4. Establishment of an international network connecting child protection institutions, organisations, and young people.5. Significant improvement in the participants' self-esteem, social engagement, and sense of inclusion.<< Implementation >>Main activities completed during the project:- Project management (planning, tracking, evaluating).- Sharing good practices, exchanging competencies, learning about local contexts.- Creating documentation (participation forms, declarations, assessment forms).- Developing a three-week international training program for young people in care, focusing on skills development, self-confidence, community involvement, and learning mentoring and coaching tools.- Organising local leisure and trust-building programs for younger peers by participants, where they could apply their acquired knowledge.- Creating an international network connecting organisations, institutions, and youth groups involved.- Communicating about the project and disseminating the results (website creation, videos, social media presence, events, and outreach to relevant organisations).- Publishing a four-language online publication presenting the project, activities, and outcomes.<< Results >>Key outcomes of the project:- Successful collaboration among partner organisations: we shared best practices, jointly developed new solutions, and strengthened our capacities.- Completion of an international training program: an international training program was successfully implemented, with 24 young people in care completing the program. These participants acquired mentoring and coaching skills to support their younger peers.- Establishment of an international support network: this network connects young people in care, enriches their intercultural experiences, and supports their mental well-being.- Application of knowledge through local programs: the young participants tested their acquired skills by organising local programs. These experiences boosted their self-confidence, developed their abilities, strengthened their roles within the community, and encouraged active participation.- Development of a booklet: a booklet capturing key insights, activities, and tools was created, alongside a website, videos, and communication materials to reach a wider audience.- Inspiring other organisations: through dissemination activities, the project inspired other organisations and highlighted the values of inclusion and diversity.