Kozani Youth Fest 2022

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European Initiative for Youth Empowerment, Mindfulness and Wellbeing "GO Alive"

Organisation:

European Initiative for Youth Empowerment, Mindfulness and Wellbeing "GO Alive"

Country:

Greece

About organisation:

"GO Alive" is a European educational youth organisation, in Kozani, Western Macedonia, Greece, that aims to promote youth empowerment through mindfulness and wellbeing.We focus on:- The educational, professional, cultural and intellectual empowerment and development of young people, especially those with fewer opportunities.- Supporting the mobility of young volunteers, trainers and workers while promoting youth work and youth initiatives.- Promoting mindfulness, well-being and a healthy lifestyle, with an emphasis on prevention and active / healthy aging.- Promoting the values ​​of non-formal learning, which contribute to the socio-educational development of individuals.- The promotion of social entrepreneurship and the development of research and innovation.

Title of the project

Kozani Youth Fest 2022

Start date:

1/8/2022

End date:

30/9/2022

Objectives:

In the context of the “European Year of Youth” & Eurodesk campaign “Time to Move”, the youth organisation “GO Alive” coordinated in September the first informative Youth Festival in Kozani, the “Kozani Youth Fest 2022” on the theme “Are you informed?” Its successful outcome, apart from the 13 cooperating local & national institutions, is also due to the 25 volunteers of our city who contributed to its preparation & implementation.The objectives of the Youth Fest were to: Disseminate opportunities of EU programmes to young people; Bring young people into contact with local and national bodies & organisations; Promote opportunities & perspectives at local level through the region's Green & Digital Transition; Promote Youth Work; Promote active participation by responsible citizens; Integrate the youth perspective into the Union's policy-making levels; Support, encourage, motivate, entertain, network & empower young people.The Festival took place on 23-25/9/22, featuring a young forum, daylong info-kiosks, motivational speeches & interactive workshops on Kozani’s central square prepared by the cooperating local and national institutions, in the standards of the European Youth Event Village. Our target group were young people aged 15-29. The Festival was very successful & met its objectives; it managed to mobilise the region’s youngsters into actively participating in the activities & created a dynamic that is necessary for its reorganisation.

Why the project was: empowering young people, adapting to changing realities, or thinking out of the box:

The "Kozani Youth Fest 2022" could be considered empowering for young people in several ways:- Information dissemination: By providing information about EU programs and opportunities, the festival empowered young people by giving them access to information they may not have otherwise known about.- Networking: By bringing young people into contact with local and national organisations, the festival created opportunities for networking and making connections that could be beneficial in the future.- Active participation: The festival encouraged young people to participate in activities and take an active role, promoting a sense of agency and responsibility.- Empowerment through learning: Interactive workshops and motivational speeches provided young people with the opportunity to learn new skills, gain new perspectives, and be inspired.Overall, the "Kozani Youth Fest 2022" aimed to support, motivate, entertain, and empower young people, and by achieving its objectives, it could be considered a successful empowering event for young people.The project was designed and implemented taking into consideration the needs of the local and regional youth community. The activities that were organised were based on the following four pillars:- Digital and Green Transition- Promoting opportunities for young people- Integrating the perspectives of youth in Union policies- Active and responsible citizens.

How the project was inclusive:

To give a European dimension to the "Kozani Youth Fest 2022" and ensure the visibility and promotion of Eurodesk, the following steps were taken:- Eurodesk representation: "GO Alive" NGO is one of the Eurodesk local multiplies in Greece, but also we invited Eurodesk representatives to the festival from “Youth and Lifelong Learning Foundation - INEDIBIM” who showcased the programs and initiatives raising awareness about Eurodesk and its role in promoting European opportunities for young people.- European information and resources: We provided information about European programs and initiatives, such as the European Youth Event, Erasmus+, and European Solidarity Corps, giving a European dimension to the festival and highlighting the opportunities available - Promotion of European values: We encouraged attendees to learn about European values, such as equality, democracy, and diversity, promoting a sense of European identity and fostering a more connected and integrated Europe- EU flag display: We displayed the EU flag and logos of Eurodesk, Erasmus+ and ESC, giving a European dimension to the festival and promoting the idea of a united and cohesive Europe.- Social media promotion: Promoting the festival on social media platforms and using the official hashtags of the "European Year of Youth" and the "Time to Move" campaign helped to increase the visibility.In general, the project was designed and implemented taking into consideration the EU Youth Strategy.

Green aspect:

One of the pillars of the project was Digital and Green Transition, meaning that the aim was to inform young people and integrate into their daily lives good practices that will enhance the protection and sustainability of the environment, while providing them with tools and useful information to guide them in the digital world.Also, we recognised the need for all actions that took place during the implementation of this project to be environmentally friendly and sustainable. During the project there was less use of paper and printing, use in moderation (eco-font, printing with -50% use of ink) and wide use of QR codes that redirected to digital media. There were also activities that informed participants about Green Transition and motivated them about environmental protection and sustainability. In addition, during the Festival we distributed reusable fabric bags as a way to promote sustainability and at the same time disseminate the project. In general, we used eco-friendly materials, including recyclable and biodegradable materials for the event, such as food containers, that helped reduce waste and minimise the event's environmental impact. We implemented energy-efficient practices, such as turning off equipment when not in use. About waste management, we came in contact with the Municipality of Kozani, who provided us with adequate waste management facilities and recycling bins.

How the project has given a European dimension to your event and ensured the visibility and promotion of Eurodesk?

To give a European dimension to the "Kozani Youth Fest 2022" and ensure the visibility and promotion of Eurodesk, the following steps were taken:- Eurodesk representation: "GO Alive" NGO is one of the Eurodesk local multiplies in Greece, but also we invited Eurodesk representatives to the festival from “Youth and Lifelong Learning Foundation - INEDIBIM” who showcased the programs and initiatives raising awareness about Eurodesk and its role in promoting European opportunities for young people.- European information and resources: We provided information about European programs and initiatives, such as the European Youth Event, Erasmus+, and European Solidarity Corps, giving a European dimension to the festival and highlighting the opportunities available - Promotion of European values: We encouraged attendees to learn about European values, such as equality, democracy, and diversity, promoting a sense of European identity and fostering a more connected and integrated Europe- EU flag display: We displayed the EU flag and logos of Eurodesk, Erasmus+ and ESC, giving a European dimension to the festival and promoting the idea of a united and cohesive Europe.- Social media promotion: Promoting the festival on social media platforms and using the official hashtags of the "European Year of Youth" and the "Time to Move" campaign helped to increase the visibility.In general, the project was designed and implemented taking into consideration the EU Youth Strategy.

Impact:

The main result of the Festival was the engagement and the active participation of the local youth community into activities that will have a possible impact on their future. During the workshops of the Festival, the participants had the chance to get in contact with local and national bodies & organisations and get informed about the opportunities for the region's young people through digital and green transition. Kozani is one of the cities to participate in the EU Mission for 100 climate-neutral & smart cities by 2030 and informing the young generation about the transition and their professional prospects in the new green era was crucial. In this context, there was an exchange of good practices with municipalities on youth issues. In addition, the results of the opening youth forum regarding the needs and perspectives of local youth in the spectrum of Union policies will be promoted as a reference to European Union institutions. The info-kiosks also informed the participants about the opportunities of EU programmes for young people and their significance especially for young people in our region, characterised as decentralised, geographically disadvantaged and with high levels of youth unemployment. In conclusion, the festival provided the finest chance to encourage active and responsible involvement as well as the promotion of the importance of European identity through both formal and informal peer learning. It had great success and it’s meant to be organised again.