Transnational project meeting

online

Wendesday, 28.12.2022

Minutes

1-3pm

 

 

Present:

Giba András, Crime Stop Alapítvány

Mészáros Mercedes, Crime Stop Alapítvány

Pósa Kornél, Crime Stop Alapítvány

Mesut Budak, Bozyazi Kultur Sanat Ve Muzik Dernegi

Ayse Gül Kaba, Bozyazi Kultur Sanat Ve Muzik Dernegi

Kadar Solgun, Bozyazi Kultur Sanat Ve Muzik Dernegi

Gülname Kayhan, Bozyazi Kultur Sanat Ve Muzik Dernegi

 

Responsible organization: Crime Stop Foundation

 

Topics: closing meeting, project closing, summary

 

1. Professional materials, results

 

a) Good practices, methods in learning projects for people with barriers

 

This result mainly presents good practices that can be used, applied in the everyday practical work of other similar and/or relevant organizations.

Both the selection and the description are eclectic. It focuses primarily on the programmes and activities that have emerged and been implemented in the PROGRESSION project - the professional results listed here have been achieved in many different ways, in many different situations and contexts. What they all have in common, however, is that they use and develop the arts and/or digital competences for our target groups with barriers or fewer opportunities.

 

As a small NGO, for the first time in the international field and in a foreign language, we are proud that, despite the difficulties of our daily practical work, our particular existence and the challenges of the profession, we have produced a professional result in the framework of the partnership – although not of uniform content- and form-wise – but certainly a professional result that we can present.

 

Thank you for the support and for the opportunity.

 

Disadvantage is a relative concept, it can be defined by comparing the target group with other members of the society to see how and to what extent they are disadvantaged. It is a mixed set of biological, demographic and social phenomena, and almost everything within it can be considered both cause and effect at the same time.

 

The concept of being disadvantaged can stigmatize, label. This is why the regulations establishing the programmes of Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps use the term "young people with fewer opportunities", who are individuals "who, for economic, social, cultural, geographical or health reasons, due to their migrant background, or for reasons such as disability or educational difficulties or for any other reason, including a reason that could give rise to discrimination under Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, face obstacles that prevent them from having effective access to opportunities under the Programme".

 

In other words, the concept of disadvantaged should be replaced by the concept of those with fewer opportunities or with barriers.

 

Who belongs here? What barriers are we talking about?

 

• Disabilities;

• health problems;

• barriers linked to education and training systems  (early leavers from education and training, drop puts, NEETs (people not in education, employment

  or training) and low-skilled adults);

• cultural differences (migrants, refugees, minorities);

• social barriers (limited social competences, anti-social or high-risk behaviors, (former) offenders, (former) drug or alcohol abusers, or social

  marginalization; family circumstances, for instance having lived or currently living in institutional care;

• economic barriers (low income, unemployment, etc.);

• barriers as a result of discriminations linked to gender (gender identity, gender expression, etc.), age, ethnicity, religion, beliefs, sexual orientation,

  disability, or intersectional factors (a combination of one or several of the mentioned discrimination barriers);

• geographical barriers.

 

A joint strategic partnership was established between two organizations - the Hungarian Crime Stop Foundation and the Turkish Bozyazi Kultur Sanat Ve Muzik Dernegi to support the aforementioned target group, to promote and develop joint work and cooperation during the project period and beyond. Our objective is to enhance the learning capacity of the final beneficiary group, i.e. those facing any kind of barriers, to identify opportunities, to learn and share experiences together, to learn and apply systems, methods and potentials unused by the organizations before.

It is no secret that we also have the objective of increasing organizational capacity and organizational development - both organizations are relatively small but they are constantly working. This is because when organizations grow and develop, it necessarily has a positive impact on the life chances of their target group, as they can do better, higher quality and more professional work, which has a significant impact on the quality of life of their clients.

 

b) Methodological guide

 

The aim of this methodological guide is to show how and in what way the partnership thinks about the possibilities of combining art and digital competence, which can in some way empower, develop and help a target group with any kind of barrier (social, health, etc.).

 

The Methodological Guide aims to provide assistance and guidance in the planning of projects for professionals and volunteers who work with the target group. We try to provide information about our approach and methodology, possibly by presenting some tools as well. We have tried to make the professional material more plastic by using images and client’s creations. Our intention is that this will lead to new ideas, groups, programmes and projects.

It is the product of a partnership between two NGOs, small in size and scope, and characterized by a great geographical and cultural distance, but with common core values, which is perhaps why, despite all the difficulties, the project was exciting. Moreover, it is the first project of the coordinating organization - Crime Stop Foundation - on the international stage, at a time which does not bring progress for NGOs, either professionally or financially (meaning that finding the resources to carry out activities is much more difficult than before). Professionals from NGOs, including Crime Stop Foundation’s too, are forced to take jobs in other places or even elsewhere in order to make a living. Nevertheless, we have tried to carry out the project and the publication as correctly as possible, to the best of our professional knowledge, in a foreign language and in international partnership. Thus, although there may be some flaws in this publication, we are still pleased to have been able to summarize our experiences so far in a structured way.

 

It is useful to clarify the three basic concepts that appear in the material:

 

Approach is the way one views certain issues and/or phenomena, which is linked to a worldview/ideology/philosophy. This includes the resulting vision, perception, view, response, process implementation, etc.

We are talking about method when we consciously use an application mode of our choice to achieve a goal. It is a practical process, procedure, course of action to perform a task, to strive for results, and to choose a way of application to achieve those results. It can be understood as a consistent and conscious process.

Tool is an activity necessary to achieve a goal, which may be part of the method or independent of it, but which can be well-applied in order to achieve that goal.

 

2.  Project impact

 

The most important impact of the project can be observed in the positive change in the internal organisational culture of the two small NGOs and the development of their competences. In our understanding, the point of Small-Scale projects is to give organisations the chance to try themselves on the international stage, who in fact had no chance in the case of the "big" Erasmus+ projects. The Small Scale project has allowed Crime Stop Foundation to be part of an international partnership and to get to know other international partners and to be known. The impact of the project was to be involved in the professional preparation of a large Eramus+ project (coordinated by a Spanish organisation). Although the project was not funded, we learned a lot from it.

 

The primary impact has therefore been on professionals, who have seen their skills and competences develop and expand at both a personal and organisational level. Running the project required a range of extra competences, from managing trips abroad to communicating in a foreign language. All of this has moved the organisations in a positive direction.

 

At the same time, an important impact was that such a level of coordination is somewhat beyond the capacity and capability of an organisation of the size and scope of the Crime Stop Foundation. Of course, the unforeseen change in the global and national dimensions, which culminated at the end of the year, also contributed to this.

 

In the case of the target group, moving out of the comfort zone has been very difficult (at least in Hungary), so we probably need to think on an even smaller scale in the future.

 

Nevertheless, as a cooperating partner, we want to continue to participate with clearly defined tasks. We would like to continue to practice and develop, so that the target group with fewer opportunities can really benefit from our own development at a professional level.

 

The impact of the project is definitely felt in our daily work - it is also felt and developed by the target group.

 

Impacts at the local level:

 

- we will continue to develop our skills and knowledge, which has made the two organisations stronger professionally

- we have more partnerships at local level, which also has a positive impact on the life chances of the client group

- we have become a positive model for small NGOs, i.e. we have shown that an organisation of this scale can also carry out an international project.

 

Regional level:

 

- continue to look for opportunities for further partnership

- we are looking forward to being a partner in further projects

- we are in contact with several international organisations

 

European level:

 

- cooperation with European organisations to develop and implement project ideas.

 

In this respect, the Erasmus+ small-scale project is definitely effective, with one of its main aims being to raise the profile and recognition of the applicant organizations at the European level.

 

Both organisations will continue their work on the topic and joint practical cooperation after the end of the project, and plan further cooperation and project implementation contacts.

 

At a personal level, international contacts and friendships have also been established.