Improving caregivers’ skills: a Mind inclusion online training

From 10. to 19. of June, the Mind Inclusion partners held an interesting online training. For a total of 7 days, international participants discovered new things, shared experiences and just generally had a lot of fun!
The participants had access to a full training by mixing the attendance to theoretical sessions with practical, hands-on activities. The goals of this training were mainly to increase knowledge about the methodology and tools developed in the Mind Inclusion project; increase facilitation skills related to innovative educational methods; and increase knowledge about the complex concept of inclusion.
It was a great opportunity to gather the project partners as well as educators and caregivers working with people with intellectual disabilities. Together, the consortium spent a great time online. A big thank you to all the participants!
Started in November 2018, the Включение разума 2.0 project , funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Commission, aims to find sustainable and inclusive solutions that help caregivers improve their skills, on one hand, and allow disabled individuals to participate in social life on the other hand – with to help people with disabilities with overcoming obstacles when accessing public places through technology. The project consortium gathers lead partner Маргарита: Società Cooperativa Onlus (Италия) вместе с Научно-исследовательский институт Polibienestar, Фонд ИНТРАС (Испания), Social IT Software & Consulting Srl (Италия), Lietuvos sutrikusio intelekto zmoniu globos bendrija «Viltis» (Lithuania) and ALDA.

From 10. to 19. of June, the Mind Inclusion partners held an interesting online training. For a total of 7 days, international participants discovered new things, shared experiences and just generally had a lot of fun!
The participants had access to a full training by mixing the attendance to theoretical sessions with practical, hands-on activities. The goals of this training were mainly to increase knowledge about the methodology and tools developed in the Mind Inclusion project; increase facilitation skills related to innovative educational methods; and increase knowledge about the complex concept of inclusion.
It was a great opportunity to gather the project partners as well as educators and caregivers working with people with intellectual disabilities. Together, the consortium spent a great time online. A big thank you to all the participants!
Started in November 2018, the Включение разума 2.0 project , funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Commission, aims to find sustainable and inclusive solutions that help caregivers improve their skills, on one hand, and allow disabled individuals to participate in social life on the other hand – with to help people with disabilities with overcoming obstacles when accessing public places through technology. The project consortium gathers lead partner Маргарита: Società Cooperativa Onlus (Италия) вместе с Научно-исследовательский институт Polibienestar, Фонд ИНТРАС (Испания), Social IT Software & Consulting Srl (Италия), Lietuvos sutrikusio intelekto zmoniu globos bendrija «Viltis» (Lithuania) and ALDA.
First training of the "MIND INCLUSION 2.0" project held in Spain!

The first training of the “MIND INCLUSION 2.0” project held in Valladolid in Spain ended on Friday.
14 educators and technician partners of the project had the opportunity to discuss and learn about the use of participatory methodologies to co-create an app to facilitate the connection of intellectual disable people with their community. The aim of this training was to acquire skills and identify the strategies to run in an effective and truly inclusive way the Local Action Groups, the special space where educators and final users will co-create the app.
The concepts and activities that the participants explored were several and very innovative. The participants developed strategies and common procedures to create and consolidate the Local Action Groups creation. They got acquainted with the concepts at the base of the project, such as agile methodology, cognitive accessibility and inclusive settings. Some design-thinking tools were introduced to support participants understanding, such as the exercise of creating “personas” or “proto-personas” to support focus on user needs, contextual factors and people’s motivations (a concrete life scenario of a third person to maintain neutrality of discussions). Some information regarding the potential difficulties for planning the participatory sessions and communication challenges that may arise with the end-users during the LAG were also shared.
The new methodologies that were created and explored during the 3 days will turn into action very soon. Besides being presented at the International Conference on Innovation, Documentation and Education (INNODOCT/19) taking place on November 2019 in Valencia, Spain, the methodologies will be soon applied in the process of co-creation of the online platform that will allow intellectual disable people to review the initiatives, events and activities of their communities.

The first training of the “MIND INCLUSION 2.0” project held in Valladolid in Spain ended on Friday.
14 educators and technician partners of the project had the opportunity to discuss and learn about the use of participatory methodologies to co-create an app to facilitate the connection of intellectual disable people with their community. The aim of this training was to acquire skills and identify the strategies to run in an effective and truly inclusive way the Local Action Groups, the special space where educators and final users will co-create the app.
The concepts and activities that the participants explored were several and very innovative. The participants developed strategies and common procedures to create and consolidate the Local Action Groups creation. They got acquainted with the concepts at the base of the project, such as agile methodology, cognitive accessibility and inclusive settings. Some design-thinking tools were introduced to support participants understanding, such as the exercise of creating “personas” or “proto-personas” to support focus on user needs, contextual factors and people’s motivations (a concrete life scenario of a third person to maintain neutrality of discussions). Some information regarding the potential difficulties for planning the participatory sessions and communication challenges that may arise with the end-users during the LAG were also shared.
The new methodologies that were created and explored during the 3 days will turn into action very soon. Besides being presented at the International Conference on Innovation, Documentation and Education (INNODOCT/19) taking place on November 2019 in Valencia, Spain, the methodologies will be soon applied in the process of co-creation of the online platform that will allow intellectual disable people to review the initiatives, events and activities of their communities.
Making local democracy work - ALDA and the LDAs in the spotlight in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine
The Communication officer of ALDA Irene Zanetti presented the work of the association, and the specificity of the local democracy agencies, during the First Seminar of the South-Eastern Programme organized by our member association the Ukrainian School of Political Studies, in cooperation with the Council of Europe. The seminar was held in Dnipropetrovsk during the week 14-19 July.
***
The session ALDA was invited to contribute to was titled ‘Making local democracy work’, and the experiences of the LDAs in the field are a best practice whose value is more and more visible. Even in Ukraine and in Dnipropetrovsk, where the future LDA will be established, thanks to the collaboration with the Region of Dnipropetrovsk and international partners, the Polish Region Lower Silesia, as well as with the Municipality of Akmene, in Lithuania.
Participants showed a great interest in the working method of the LDAs and expressed all their support to the future agencies. On the occasion, Irene Zanetti met with the representatives of the Dnipropetrovsk Region, Mr Volodymyr Peregudov and Ms Yana Gorobets.
The Communication officer of ALDA Irene Zanetti presented the work of the association, and the specificity of the local democracy agencies, during the First Seminar of the South-Eastern Programme organized by our member association the Ukrainian School of Political Studies, in cooperation with the Council of Europe. The seminar was held in Dnipropetrovsk during the week 14-19 July.
***
The session ALDA was invited to contribute to was titled ‘Making local democracy work’, and the experiences of the LDAs in the field are a best practice whose value is more and more visible. Even in Ukraine and in Dnipropetrovsk, where the future LDA will be established, thanks to the collaboration with the Region of Dnipropetrovsk and international partners, the Polish Region Lower Silesia, as well as with the Municipality of Akmene, in Lithuania.
Participants showed a great interest in the working method of the LDAs and expressed all their support to the future agencies. On the occasion, Irene Zanetti met with the representatives of the Dnipropetrovsk Region, Mr Volodymyr Peregudov and Ms Yana Gorobets.
ALLIANCE WTD IN THE EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT DAYS 2012.BRUSSELS 16-17 October 2012

ALDA Alliance WTD, Working Together for Development, has been selected by the European Commission to be included in the next European Development Days programme. EDD 2012 will take place at the Tour & Taxis venue in Brussels, Belgium (16-17 October 2012).
ALDA will organize acreative laboratory conceived as a learning café session aiming at brainstorming and proposing recommendations integrating the contributions of experts and practitioners on the advantages of creating real synergies between LAs and CSOs in development cooperation.In order to achieve its main objective, the WTD Working Together for Development learning café is structured in a dynamic and creative way, which allows not only experts but also practitioners to have a real contribution to the formulations of recommendations. The learning café method allows having informal discussions on themes that are usually threaded in a very formal way. In this manner, WTD learning café wants to formulate recommendations responding to 6 key themes identified as the main features characterizing the joint involvement of LAs and CSOs in development cooperation processes.
For more information please contact Alfonso Aliberti, Project Manager of WTD, at alfonso.aliberti@aldaintranet.org.

ALDA Alliance WTD, Working Together for Development, has been selected by the European Commission to be included in the next European Development Days programme. EDD 2012 will take place at the Tour & Taxis venue in Brussels, Belgium (16-17 October 2012).
ALDA will organize acreative laboratory conceived as a learning café session aiming at brainstorming and proposing recommendations integrating the contributions of experts and practitioners on the advantages of creating real synergies between LAs and CSOs in development cooperation.In order to achieve its main objective, the WTD Working Together for Development learning café is structured in a dynamic and creative way, which allows not only experts but also practitioners to have a real contribution to the formulations of recommendations. The learning café method allows having informal discussions on themes that are usually threaded in a very formal way. In this manner, WTD learning café wants to formulate recommendations responding to 6 key themes identified as the main features characterizing the joint involvement of LAs and CSOs in development cooperation processes.
For more information please contact Alfonso Aliberti, Project Manager of WTD, at alfonso.aliberti@aldaintranet.org.
VOLUNTEERISM AS A FACTOR FOR SOCIAL COHESION
In the period of 25 and 26 April 2012, in Caen, the capital of the French Region Lower Normandy, the Coalition of youth organizations – SEGA and the House of Europe in Caen, will organise Study visit on the topic “Volunteerism as a factor for social cohesion”. The Macedonian delegation will be represented by one representative of youth organisation working with volunteers and one representative of Macedonian municipality.
During the visit, the Macedonian delegation will have an opportunity to meet with representatives from Lower Normandy organisations working with volunteers. Macedonian representatives will also visit governmental institutions and CSOs responsible for implementation of the programme Service Civique (Citizen Service).
This activity is part of the component: Youth, Local and European Citizenship within the Project for decentralized cooperation between Republic of Macedonia and the region of Lower Normandy – France, managed by ALDA, implemented by the Coalition of youth organizations SEGA – Macedonia and the European House of Caen – France. For more information please contact Katica Janeva katica.janeva@aldaintranet.org, or visit the сайтом of the cooperation.
In the period of 25 and 26 April 2012, in Caen, the capital of the French Region Lower Normandy, the Coalition of youth organizations – SEGA and the House of Europe in Caen, will organise Study visit on the topic “Volunteerism as a factor for social cohesion”. The Macedonian delegation will be represented by one representative of youth organisation working with volunteers and one representative of Macedonian municipality.
During the visit, the Macedonian delegation will have an opportunity to meet with representatives from Lower Normandy organisations working with volunteers. Macedonian representatives will also visit governmental institutions and CSOs responsible for implementation of the programme Service Civique (Citizen Service).
This activity is part of the component: Youth, Local and European Citizenship within the Project for decentralized cooperation between Republic of Macedonia and the region of Lower Normandy – France, managed by ALDA, implemented by the Coalition of youth organizations SEGA – Macedonia and the European House of Caen – France. For more information please contact Katica Janeva katica.janeva@aldaintranet.org, or visit the сайтом of the cooperation.
CIVIL TRUST BUILDING PROJECT WELCOMES CANDIDATE STATUS OF SERBIA
The partners of the Civil Trust Building project, in a press release, expressed their congratulations to the political leaders on their decision and the positive steps taken by Serbia to reach candidate status.
The European Council has granted candidate statues to Serbia at its meeting on 1-2 March
2012 which paves the way to start negotiations for EU membership.
“This positive development reaffirms the commitment of societies of the Western
Balkans to European integration in general and the prospect of European Union membership
in particular”, is written in the press release.
The partners of the Civil Trust Building project, in a press release, expressed their congratulations to the political leaders on their decision and the positive steps taken by Serbia to reach candidate status.
The European Council has granted candidate statues to Serbia at its meeting on 1-2 March
2012 which paves the way to start negotiations for EU membership.
“This positive development reaffirms the commitment of societies of the Western
Balkans to European integration in general and the prospect of European Union membership
in particular”, is written in the press release.
LDAs NIS (CSS) AND MOSTAR PARTNERS OF THE PROJECT "THE PROMOTION OF EUROPEAN CHARTER FOR EQUALITY OF WOMEN AND MEN IN LOCAL LIFE"
LDA Central and Southern Serbia, based in Nis, and LDA Mostar (BiH) are partners to NGO “Fenomena” from Kraljevo (Serbia), NGO “Anima” from Kotor (Montenegro) and “Kvinna till Kvinna foundation” from Sweden in the implementation of the project named: “The Promotion of European Charter for equality of women and men in local life”. The project is granted by EC, Western Balkans and Turkey, Civil Society Facility programme within partnership actions: Empowerment of Woman. It will be implemented with in 12 months starting from the 01st of December 2011.
The overall objective of the project is contribution to development of the local gender sensitive policies, measures and budgeting in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, with the specific goal to create the basic preconditions for development of the local gender sensitive policies, measures and budgeting in Serbia (City of Nis – City Municipality Mediana and City of Kraljevo), Bosnia and Herzegovina (City of Mostar) and Montenegro (Municipality of Kotor) . The associate cities are City Municipality Mediana and City of Kraljevo from Serbia and City of Mostar from BiH.
The activities in short are: translation into local languages of the “European Charter for equality”, “Guide for implementation of the Charter” and ”The Town for equality”; training on gender based strategic planning and local equality action plan creation; studies methodology production; local studies’ researches implementation (collection of relevant information broken down by gender); studies’ analysis production; production of promo video and audio material; production of network’s Internet site; local action plans publication and dissemination; network’s protocol of cooperation, participation on the European Commission’s opening and closing conference.
The first project meeting is planed for 11-12 January 2012.
LDA Central and Southern Serbia, based in Nis, and LDA Mostar (BiH) are partners to NGO “Fenomena” from Kraljevo (Serbia), NGO “Anima” from Kotor (Montenegro) and “Kvinna till Kvinna foundation” from Sweden in the implementation of the project named: “The Promotion of European Charter for equality of women and men in local life”. The project is granted by EC, Western Balkans and Turkey, Civil Society Facility programme within partnership actions: Empowerment of Woman. It will be implemented with in 12 months starting from the 01st of December 2011.
The overall objective of the project is contribution to development of the local gender sensitive policies, measures and budgeting in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, with the specific goal to create the basic preconditions for development of the local gender sensitive policies, measures and budgeting in Serbia (City of Nis – City Municipality Mediana and City of Kraljevo), Bosnia and Herzegovina (City of Mostar) and Montenegro (Municipality of Kotor) . The associate cities are City Municipality Mediana and City of Kraljevo from Serbia and City of Mostar from BiH.
The activities in short are: translation into local languages of the “European Charter for equality”, “Guide for implementation of the Charter” and ”The Town for equality”; training on gender based strategic planning and local equality action plan creation; studies methodology production; local studies’ researches implementation (collection of relevant information broken down by gender); studies’ analysis production; production of promo video and audio material; production of network’s Internet site; local action plans publication and dissemination; network’s protocol of cooperation, participation on the European Commission’s opening and closing conference.
The first project meeting is planed for 11-12 January 2012.
OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE TANDEM PROJECT IN BELARUS: INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE WITH PRESENTATION OF MINI GRANT PROJECTS (Minsk 16-17 December 2011)
The project “TANDEM – cooperation for citizen participation and community development in the Republic of Belarus” was officially launched during the International Conference “Sustainability and partnership between NGOs and local authorities”, held in Minsk on December 16 and 17 2011. The conference, that was organised by ALDA and the Lev Sapieha Foundation, was devoted to the presentation and discussion of mini-grant projects that will be supported as part of TANDEM.
The conference was opened by the Head of Operations at the Delegation of the European Union in Belarus, Mr. Llewellyn Edwards and was attended by Belarusian non-governmental organisations, local authorities and community groups as well as representatives of municipalities and NGOs from Latvia and Lithuania.
The representatives from Lithuania and Latvia shared their experience of cooperation between local authorities and community organisations and told participants about the situation and work conducted in their municipalities. The Representatives of Belarusian NGOs, Local Authorities and community groups presented the goals and objectives of their projects which will be supported as part of TANDEM. A further part of the conference was devoted to project management, reporting and concrete questions on ways to manage the projects successfully.
About ten projects have been selected to receive support under TANDEM. These projects all aim at supporting cooperation between local authorities and civil society organisations and will implement activities to create sustainable development at the community level.
The variety of projects and geographical diversity is remarkable: among the projects is an initiative of a bicyclist organisation in Minsk which wants to improve the quality of bike paths in the Belarusian capital and create a micro-level bicycle infrastructure there. The Association of Gomel children and young people” (ASDEMO) in cooperation with the local authorities in Gomel will create a leisure activities place for young people in Gomel’s district number 19. Another project covering the cultural heritage will be implemented by the Information and Regional Studies Center at Golshanskaya Rural Library District Oshmyany in Northwestern Belarus. The initiative will set up a virtual museum of the Struve Geodetic Arc, a chain of commemorative plaques and obelisks which were built along the meridian line from Norway to Moldova in the 19th century. The project aims to share the knowledge of the Struve Arc and to disclose the historical and cultural potential of the regions where the Struve Arc runs. The Arc became World Heritage in 2005. The project will be implemented with the support of the Latvian municipality Gulbene, which is also situated near the line of the Arc.
The sub granting projects will now apply for registration at the Department of Humanitarian activities under the Presidential Administration of Belarus to be able to receive the allocated grants. The sub-granted projects will last 12 months.
The TANDEM project is supported by the European Union’s Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in Development programme and will be implemented by ALDA together with the Lev Sapieha Foundation and the Belarusian Organisation for Working Women and will last until first half of 2013.
The project “TANDEM – cooperation for citizen participation and community development in the Republic of Belarus” was officially launched during the International Conference “Sustainability and partnership between NGOs and local authorities”, held in Minsk on December 16 and 17 2011. The conference, that was organised by ALDA and the Lev Sapieha Foundation, was devoted to the presentation and discussion of mini-grant projects that will be supported as part of TANDEM.
The conference was opened by the Head of Operations at the Delegation of the European Union in Belarus, Mr. Llewellyn Edwards and was attended by Belarusian non-governmental organisations, local authorities and community groups as well as representatives of municipalities and NGOs from Latvia and Lithuania.
The representatives from Lithuania and Latvia shared their experience of cooperation between local authorities and community organisations and told participants about the situation and work conducted in their municipalities. The Representatives of Belarusian NGOs, Local Authorities and community groups presented the goals and objectives of their projects which will be supported as part of TANDEM. A further part of the conference was devoted to project management, reporting and concrete questions on ways to manage the projects successfully.
About ten projects have been selected to receive support under TANDEM. These projects all aim at supporting cooperation between local authorities and civil society organisations and will implement activities to create sustainable development at the community level.
The variety of projects and geographical diversity is remarkable: among the projects is an initiative of a bicyclist organisation in Minsk which wants to improve the quality of bike paths in the Belarusian capital and create a micro-level bicycle infrastructure there. The Association of Gomel children and young people” (ASDEMO) in cooperation with the local authorities in Gomel will create a leisure activities place for young people in Gomel’s district number 19. Another project covering the cultural heritage will be implemented by the Information and Regional Studies Center at Golshanskaya Rural Library District Oshmyany in Northwestern Belarus. The initiative will set up a virtual museum of the Struve Geodetic Arc, a chain of commemorative plaques and obelisks which were built along the meridian line from Norway to Moldova in the 19th century. The project aims to share the knowledge of the Struve Arc and to disclose the historical and cultural potential of the regions where the Struve Arc runs. The Arc became World Heritage in 2005. The project will be implemented with the support of the Latvian municipality Gulbene, which is also situated near the line of the Arc.
The sub granting projects will now apply for registration at the Department of Humanitarian activities under the Presidential Administration of Belarus to be able to receive the allocated grants. The sub-granted projects will last 12 months.
The TANDEM project is supported by the European Union’s Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in Development programme and will be implemented by ALDA together with the Lev Sapieha Foundation and the Belarusian Organisation for Working Women and will last until first half of 2013.
INTACT PROJECT: STUDENT MEETING ON EUROPEAN VALUES, ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP AND TWINNINGS IN BRINDISI (16th December 2011)
As a part of the INTACT project, funded by the Europe for Citizens Programme of the European Union, has been realized in Brindisi (Italy) an event for students of secondary schools.
The meeting, promoted by the Municipality of Brindisi with the ALDA Office cooperation in the city, the Youth Information Office and in collaboration with IPRES, took place on 16th of December in the City Hall.
During a first introductory moment the promoters presented the project and its aims and the twinning activities of the Municipality of Brindisi.
The students were then involved in a debate on active citizenship and twinnings, aimed at the identification of new needs or perceptions on those issues.
Divided into working groups, the boys discussed the issue and answered a questionnaire on European identity and the results were then presented to all participants during a plenary session.
It was possible to verify the level of knowledge of youth on twinning activities in the area and were collected moods and proposals on active citizenship, European identity and twinning programs.
The results of the plenary discussion will be shared with other partners of the INTACT project and will form an “owned” basis for all the institutions involved in the definition of new activities in international cooperation and twinning.
Download here the press clipping on the meeting
Download here a video
As a part of the INTACT project, funded by the Europe for Citizens Programme of the European Union, has been realized in Brindisi (Italy) an event for students of secondary schools.
The meeting, promoted by the Municipality of Brindisi with the ALDA Office cooperation in the city, the Youth Information Office and in collaboration with IPRES, took place on 16th of December in the City Hall.
During a first introductory moment the promoters presented the project and its aims and the twinning activities of the Municipality of Brindisi.
The students were then involved in a debate on active citizenship and twinnings, aimed at the identification of new needs or perceptions on those issues.
Divided into working groups, the boys discussed the issue and answered a questionnaire on European identity and the results were then presented to all participants during a plenary session.
It was possible to verify the level of knowledge of youth on twinning activities in the area and were collected moods and proposals on active citizenship, European identity and twinning programs.
The results of the plenary discussion will be shared with other partners of the INTACT project and will form an “owned” basis for all the institutions involved in the definition of new activities in international cooperation and twinning.
Download here the press clipping on the meeting
Download here a video