PROJECT ORGANISATIONS:
ASOCIACIÓN INICIATIVA INTERNACIONAL JOVEN (SPAIN)
Asociación Iniciativa Internacional Joven (Youth International Initiative Association) is an NGO from Malaga (Spain) created in 2003 from a group of youths who after participating in international programmes and activities, concluded that these experiences had been very important to change their life. Therefore, they decided to share them with other young people, collectives and associations, to enhance the interest in participating in international programs and exchanges, learning languages, realizing voluntary work, raising awareness, tolerance and respect for other cultures, etc. thereby contributing to personal and professional development of young people and adults. The mission of the organisation is to contribute to the comprehensive development and improvement of the quality of life of citizens, especially young people. We work at local and international level in the following areas of intervention: (1) Participation and Volunteering; (2) Culture of Peace and Interculturality; (3) Gender Equity; (4) Sustainable and Healthy Life; (5) Art and Creativity; (6) Personal development and entrepreneurship.
IASIS NGO (GREECE)
IASIS is a non-governmental and non-profit organisation active in the field of social inclusion, mental health and education. It was founded in 2005 and it is based in Athens. Its main purpose is to provide psychosocial support, education and training to people with fewer opportunities and at risk of social exclusion in order to contribute to their development and inclusion. Since its foundation, the organisation has expanded its activities by offering services also to homeless people, asylum seekers/refugees, children in need, unemployed people, young people at risk of social exclusion, young offenders and battered women. The person and their integral care are at the centre of all the projects developed by the organisation. IASIS manages different day centres, refugee accommodation, shelters, training centres and youth centres. It is an organisation that has an extensive network of international collaboration, having developed and coordinated dozens of large-scale European projects. It currently employs more than 100 professionals in various specialities.
STICHTING GO-WOMAN ALLIANCE EUROPE (THE NETHERLANDS)
Go-Woman Alliance Europe (GWAEU) is a foundation, based in Leiden, established in 2022 with the aim of addressing social exclusion and increasing innovation among ethnic minority communities across Europe. One of its main objectives is to promote and provide opportunities for the social and economic inclusion of people from disadvantaged communities and, in particular, those with low self-esteem or low self-worth due to different symptoms or mental health problems. The organisation and its professionals are specialised in working with disadvantaged communities and/or those at risk of exclusion, such as migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, young people, women and older people. GWAEU uses its expertise in the field of social innovation and it supports people to develop their confidence, empower themselves and finding a job according to their needs and skills. The organisation is part of CEFEC Social Firms Europe, the only Europe-wide network of social enterprises.
METAINTELLIGENZE (ITALY)
MetaIntelligenze: Centro Studi Internazionale ONLUS is a non-profit organisation based in the city of Palermo. Its main aim is to promote all types of intelligences by enhancing the set of cognitive and emotional processes that enable people to achieve harmonious development throughout their lives. MetaIntelligenze ONLUS focuses more on each person’s “resources” than on their “limits” with the goal of increasing people’s awareness of their potential and their ability to manage cognition and emotions. The interests of the organisation are broad and pervasive and include Emotional intelligence, body-mind health, school performance and multiple intelligences, specific learning difficulties, artificial intelligence and educational robotics, multiculturalism and Intelligences during ageing. The organisation believes that effective intervention requires a systemic approach, with a high professional and human profile, working on a local, national and international scale. The activities of MetaIntelligenze ONLUS are especially aimed at people who are disadvantaged and/or at risk of exclusion due to their physical, mental, economic, social and family conditions.
ASSOCIAÇAO MAGNOLIA METHOD (PORTUGAL)
Magnolia Method is an association based in the district of Lisbon, which works to promote equality, resilience, autonomy and dignity for adolescents and young people with special educational needs, with disabilities and/or at risk of social exclusion in a natural and inclusive environment. Although the association was officially founded in 2018, its activities are based on more than 15 years of previous work and experience. The main areas of work of the organisation are: (1) Support for children and adolescents: early intervention, child and youth coaching, extracurricular activities, study rooms, toy library and therapies; (2) Horto-pedagogy: dynamisation of the space “Ser Tierra”, training workshops, events, training, adventure games and artistic activities in nature; (3) Development and empowerment: training and social reintegration of young people and adults, accompaniment services, coaching, development and guidance for people at risk of social exclusion, preparing them for the labour market, an independent, healthy and prosperous life.
ST. MICHAEL’S YOUTH PROJECT LIMITED – CORE YOUTH SERVICE (IRELAND)
St. Michael’s Youth Project Limited/CORE Youth Service is an independent community youth service set up in 1986 to work with young people aged 10–24 in and around the Dublin suburb of Inchicore. The mission of the organisation is to support and assist young people to reach their full potential through: (1) Development of relationships with other young people based on mutual respect; (2) Creation of a space where young people can learn and grow in a pleasant, safe, welcoming, encouraging and stimulating environment; (3) Educational and developmental processes based on non-formal education and the creation of relationships and bonds between people; (4) Conditions that enable young people to actively participate in decision-making processes in areas and fields that affect their lives; (5) Support and accompaniment processes for young people. The organisation intervenes in the framework of non-formal education and provides individualised as well as group activities both indoors and outdoors. It works mainly with disadvantaged young people suffering from various problems.
ASOCIACIÓN DE FAMILIARES Y PERSONAS CON PROBLEMAS DE SALUD MENTAL – AFENES (SPAIN)
AFENES is a non-profit association founded in 1992 with the mission of improving the quality of life of people with mental health problems and their families, as well as defending their rights and fighting against social stigma. In order to achieve this objective, the organisation develops different projects and activities: (1) Information, guidance and advice to people with mental health problems, their families and citizens in general; (2) Accompanying people in their recovery process, according to their needs and focusing on the person; (3) Actions of claim and awareness for the social inclusion of people with mental health problems; (4) Development of skills and psychosocial support that favour the recovery and social inclusion of people with mental health problems so that they can develop their life project in society as any citizen with full rights. AFENES carries out interventions in the community where people with mental health problems participate actively and proactively with the environment, making the group visible and demystifying the problems associated with mental health.