The first of three trans-national intergenerational study-visits and training experience under the project “black to the future” was successfully completed on the 29th of May 2017. The study visit that started on the 24th May had the following objectives:
- share early experiences (1970’s/1980’s) through to more contemporary youth work practices with African Diaspora youth in the Netherlands, Germany and England.
- explore the history of African Diaspora migration to Amsterdam, Köln and London to better understand patterns and waves of migration;
- record and map (using audio digital media and online mapping tools) the history and stories of youth work (including iconic sites of youth work practice) with African Diaspora young people in the three cities and to chronicle the types of practices that has developed;
Among many others the intergenerational study-visit had the following outcomes:
- We have collated and documented good youth work practice developed by African Diaspora communities across the three European cities of London, Köln and Amsterdam
- We identified specific approaches in informal educational practices and learning
- We have developed two way transfer of knowledge, skills and experience between older and younger generations of youth workers
- We have Utilised online and audio digital technology and enabled the collection and global sharing of good youth work practice with black young people.
About the project:
The ‘Black to the Future-A Sankofa approach to the Exchange Youth Work Practice‘, focuses on intergenerational youth work practice within the African Diaspora community in Amsterdam, Köln and London. ‚Sankofa‘ in the Twi language of Ghana, translates as ‘go back and get it’. Through a series of study visits and training opportunities, it will collect and document good youth work practice developed by African Diaspora communities, identifying specific approaches, informal educational practices and learning. A deliberate two-way transfer of knowledge, skills and experience between older and younger generations of youth workers will utilise online and audio digital technology enabling the global sharing of good youth work practice. This project allows for ethnographic type research into how first, second and in some instances (such as in London), third generation youth workers, understand the experience of African Diaspora migration, resettlement and integration and the contribution that their youth work interventions and programmes have made to such processes.
The underpinning aim of the overall project is to:
- Enable you to develop and share effective methods in reaching out to marginalised young people, refugees, asylum seekers and migrants
- Develop your competencies and skills so that they can inform and aid the work you do
Timetable of the project
1st February 2017 – 31st August 2018
Online Meetings using Skype and email correspondence throughout the lifetime of the project
Mid-March 2017
Partnership Project Planning meeting in London
Late Feb – May 2017
Online meetings / emails / phone calls to finalise programme- Recruitment of participants: Circulation of publicity through networks/ Application Forms/ Individual interviews- At least 2 intergenerational sessions for to 10 participants per city to include group work / discussions / blogging
May 2017 (5 days)
Visit Köln, Germany for first study / work shadowing / dialogue for 4 youth workers from each visiting country plus Manager (10 youth workers and manager from host country), plus Ubele technical / IT resource person and overall project lead (Ubele person). Workshop sessions to include work shadowing and dialogue, blogging and technical training for Audio Digital Mapping- Project evaluation process
June- September 2017
Online meetings / emails / phone calls to finalise 2nd transnational programme and monitor impact- At least 2 intergenerational sessions for 10 participants in London, Amsterdam and Bonn to include group work / discussions / blogging and to prepare participants for trip to London, England (September 2017)
September 2017
Online meetings / emails / phone calls to finalise 3rd transnational programme and monitor impact- 2nd study tour / work shadowing and dialogue session for participants – London, England
August – October 2017-
Online meetings / emails / phone calls to finalise 2nd transnational programme and monitor impact- At least 2 intergenerational sessions for 10 participants in London, Amsterdam and Bonn to include group work / discussions /blogging and to prepare participants for Amsterdam
October 2017
7- 3rd study tour / work shadowing and dialogue sessions for participants / Review draft resources – Amsterdam, Netherlands
October 2017 – February 2018- At least 2 intergenerational sessions for 10 participants in London, Amsterdam and Bonn to include group work / discussions /blogging
October 2017 – February 2018
Drafts of Toolkit (including case studies); Audio Map and Short Evaluation Report.
March 2018
Completion of Toolkit; Audio Map and Short Report
April 2018
Project Evaluation: Final Project Meeting to sign off toolkits/ audio map and project evaluation report– Bonn, Germany. (Evaluation activities will run throughout the life-cycle of the project) Dissemination plan finalised ready for implementation
1st May – 31st July 2018
Dissemination of Toolkit; Audio Map and Short Report
Dissemination of project findings – national and international (a series of activities to deliver dissemination plan)
31st August 2018
End of Project
LEAD PARTNER: The Ubele Initiative (TUI) is a community catalyst social enterprise. It has a mission to contribute to the sustainability of the African Diaspora community through social leadership development, community enterprise and social action. The Ubele Initiative creates partnerships with local, regional, national and international organisations to create innovative solutions for some of our most pressing social, economic and political concerns.
PROJECT PARTNERS: Stichting Interlock (www.stichtinginterlock.nl) is a relatively new Dutch NGO in South East Amsterdam. They organise activities for young peple which focus on developing their social and communicative skills, neighbourhood participation, entrepreneurship, empowerment of young females, and youth worker European mobility. Specific programmes and activities respond to the expressed needs of the young people.
The Project is co-financed by the ERASMUS Plus program of the European Commission.