Please briefly present the partner organisation/group (e.g. its type, scope of work, areas of activity and if applicable, approximate number of paid/unpaid staff, learners and members of the group).

Active Youth Association (AY) is a for-purpose organisation working with youth and communities in need in Lithuania and across borders. We have extensive experience in non-formal education, as well as a range of other topics. Most important among which: migration, entrepreneurship, healthy lifestyle, human rights.

AY has been actively involved in local and international (youth) projects since the very start of its existence. Up until now, the organization has successfully implemented (getting just the highest scores from the evaluators) more than 20 separate project actions on its own (and several times that as a partner). What is more, our NGO has built up a large partnership network all over Europe (more than 400 organisations). All of that can be used for the current project.

In whatever activity we carry out, we follow our 4 core principles: 1) dedication – meaning that we give our 100% and more; 2) openness – we work with – and for the public; 3) positivity – we see opportunities rather than problems; and 4) enthusiasm – we want to change our surroundings for the better. Surely, it’s easy to list these values on paper and a lot harder to follow them through in real.

That is why, we focus extensively in having the right team for every project (presently, our paid staff is 7). Commited people are professionals with relevant experience and a record of success (whether in youth work and/or the topic of the project). We also rely on a deep pool of volunteers (over 1000) and potential partners to ensure: 1) the project’s implementation goes smoothly; 2) the dissemination efforts reach the specified target groups.

The projects AY takes on, as a rule, focus on demanding and sensitive issues (e.g. refugee integration in Lithuania). Hence, we look forward to challenges offered by the current project.

What are the activities and experience of the partner organisation in the areas relevant for this project?

To be filled according to the project’s topic.

AY has been active in the field of x for years. We have carried out the following projects/initiatives: x. They have focused on: x. This experience will allow us to contribute to the objectives of X.

Our aim is, by definition, to not just address the issue, but also inform the local communities about 1) the benefits of such projects; and 2) the seriousness of the issues being brought to light. For that reason, AY pays attention to every detail and carries out the full spectrum of activities. From early research to later stages of result dissemination. Such approach & competences are relevant for any project.

What are the skills and/or expertise of key persons involved in this project?

Key person involved in this application is the board member of AY – Gediminas Kondrackis. He is accompanied by other staff of the association, who all have international experience.

Our staff are young leaders, who developed during their studies & life in Spain, Sweden, Portugal, Italy, USA, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Lithuania and Latvia. This has not only given them strong educational basis but has also taught them how to communicate with people coming from different cultural and social backgrounds.

The key staff involved have been part of all the previous activities of the association (see above). Therefore, they have the necessary knowledge to chip in to the current project as well.

Through their other endeavours, they have led seminars for youth to develop their entrepreneurial skills (Lithuania), educated children about studies abroad (Lithuania, the Netherlands), worked as animators in youth clubs (Denmark), organized international student competitions and study fairs, social inclusion programs of foreign students to the local community, youth university exchanges (Latvia), and several sport events encouraging healthy lifestyle (Lithuania). In addition, they have participated in previous ‘Youth in Action’ & Erasmus+ projects themselves (e.g. “Creative Approaches for Youth” in Ukraine, “Be Part of It” in Romania, “Eco Startup” in Spain), courses about NFE methods, environmental initiatives, and activities supporting Ukraine during the “Euromaidan” events. All of this has given them a range of skills and competencies usable for a project as this one.

Furthermore, the key staff has a truly entrepreneurial spirit. Apart from AY, they have also founded their own business enterprise – “MB Wellness Travels”, where they create further employment opportunities for youth. With this business, they have appeared in a few publications aimed at inspiring the young (e.g. “BZN Start”, “Panele” journals), start-up events and award ceremonies, as well as youth employment forums to deepen their insights in the field. Additionally, the board members have started a Lithuania-based initiative aiming to help and integrate the incoming refugees from Syria & Africa (http://refugees.lt & http://refugeeseurope.com).

All in all, the previously mentioned activities have indeed given the key staff the needed experience to work in a multinational environment.

Please provide a short presentation of your organisation (key activities, affiliations, size of the organisation, etc.) relating to the area covered by the project. (limit 2000 characters*).

Active Youth Association (AY) is a for-purpose organisation working with youth and communities in need in Lithuania and across borders. We have extensive experience in non-formal education, as well as a range of other topics. Most important among which: migration, entrepreneurship, healthy lifestyle, human rights.

AY has been actively involved in local and international (youth) projects since the very start of its existence. Up until now, the organization has successfully implemented (getting just the highest scores from the evaluators) more than 20 separate project actions on its own (and several times that as a partner). What is more, our NGO has built up a large partnership network all over Europe (more than 400 organisations). All of that can be used for the current project.

In whatever activity we carry out, we follow our 4 core principles: 1) dedication – meaning that we give our 100% and more; 2) openness – we work with – and for the public; 3) positivity – we see opportunities rather than problems; and 4) enthusiasm – we want to change our surroundings for the better. Surely, it’s easy to list these values on paper and a lot harder to follow them through in real.

That is why, we focus extensively in having the right team for every project (presently, our paid staff is 7). Committed people are professionals with relevant experience and a record of success (whether in youth work and/or the topic of the project). We also rely on a deep pool of volunteers (over 1000) and potential partners to ensure: 1) the project’s implementation goes smoothly; 2) the dissemination efforts reach the specified target groups.

The projects AY takes on, as a rule, focus on demanding and sensitive issues (e.g. refugee integration in Lithuania). Hence, we look forward to challenges offered by the current project.

Please describe also the role of the organisation in the project. (limit 1000 characters).

To be filled according to the project’s topic.

AY has been active in the field of x for years. We have carried out a few/several/many related projects/initiatives: x. They have focused on: x. This experience will allow us to contribute to the following objectives of X:

Therefore, AY’s role in the project consists of: 1) …; 2) …

As a rule, AY pays attention to every detail and can carry out the full spectrum of activities (from early research to later stages of result dissemination). Such approach & competences are relevant for any project.

Operational capacity: Skills and expertise of key staff involved in the project / network

• Gediminas Kondrackis

Description changes according to the project’s topic.

Co-founder of AY, who will be responsible for X. He is the general manager of the association. Thus, has experience in all 1) finance-related; 2) organisational; and 3) legal matters. Mr. Gediminas has contributed to many international & local projects (more than 20). Mostly, by providing trainings on social entrepreneurship (e.g. in “More than Money: Social Entrepreneurship Heroes” and “Together: Refugees & Youth) & other topics (“X”). In his work, Mr. Gediminas focuses on NFE methods and is constantly updating his knowledge, which will be very important for the current project as well.

He is also able to build online platforms & use professional software, such as Photoshop. This is an asset for any project team. Mr. Gediminas holds a BSc degree in Economics from University of Amsterdam.

“Active Youth” Association (Asociacija “Aktyvus jaunimas”) is a non-profit organization based in Kaunas that unites young leaders from Lithuania willing to work on a voluntary basis to facilitate an intercultural dialogue and enhance competence of the European youth. We cooperate with organizations of similar profile from all over Europe (more than 70 partnerships) to organize events and trainings using non-formal education (including sport) as a powerful instrument to encourage youth to take an active part in a society. By doing this we help young people to improve their skills and social awareness, share experiences and ideas, integrate them within the multinational environment of the EU, facilitate cooperation, create new joint initiatives and promote healthy lifestyle. In particular, we concentrate on youth (18-30 years old) that have fewer opportunities and/or disadvantaged backgrounds.

In general, the key goals of the NGO corresponding to Sports projects are: helping the underprivileged in Lithuania and other EU countries to (1) be better integrated into the society and (2) get access to using all the public (sports) facilities. At the same time, we (3) help youth build new cooperations for sports initiatives, increase the needed skills for that as well as motivation for (sports) volunteering; (4) enhance self-esteem of the underprivileged (e.g. disabled); digital & multilingualism skills, social awareness, tolerance and other important values; (5) facilitate cooperation between different Lithuanian sport organisations, NGOs, youth workers, and sport trainers; (6) raise awareness about EU citizenship, work towards reducing youth unemployment; defend human rights and work on elimination of discrimination; (7) initiate social inclusion and provide opportunities for everyone willing to do sports; (8) raise awareness of the importance of health-enhancing physical activity through grassroots sports. At the same time we aim to inform the public about different minorities in order to boost tolerance and lower xenophobia. This is done by also promoting Erasmus+ projects and opportunities behind it, because it is one of the best ways to fight the previously mentioned problems. Apart from other activities, we have massive experience and expertise in hosting Erasmus+ youth exchanges and training courses, that address key social topics for youth. Since September 2014 we have been coordinators for 12 Erasmus+ projects (as of February 2019).

In terms of sports, we are currently focusing on promoting voluntary activities in sport, integration of minorities, helping underprivileged youth, and providing equal opportunities through physical activity and grassroots sports, thus, we have been recently taking an active organizational part in Erasmus+ Sport project “Train with Brain”, “Move to Improve”. At the same time, we’re coordinating Erasmus+ Big Collaborative Sports project “Empowerment Through Sports”, which focuses on social inclusion of those with fewer opportunities through sports.

In addition, we have been organizing many different sports events/seminars/open practices for children and youth within Lithuania. Some of the examples include coordinating 3×3 basketball championships, 6×6 football championships, public sports management & marketing seminars for sports management students, sports managers and simple sports enthusiasts, etc. However, one of our biggest sports projects is the kindergarten basketball championship of Lithuania, where more than 150 teams participate every year (since 2013). By this championship we promote grassroots sports, gender equality, social inclusion and increase awareness of healthy lifestyle since young days.

Apart from organizing youth exchanges, sports initiatives and trainings, our association is also involved in educational activities for kids, cultural events, blood donations, clothes donations to those in need, quizzes, discussions on topics which are interesting to youth, and other projects aimed at helping youngsters, supporting and facilitating their creative initiatives. One of our main priorities is a healthy lifestyle and well-being of youth; thus, we help organising educational courses for healthcare specialists working with children and youth.