Eurodesk picnic

Inclusive Youth Information Award category

Organisation

Info zone

Country

Croatia

WEBSITE

https://infozona.hr/

Project link

https://linktr.ee/eurodesk_piknik

General Overview

As part of the Time to Move campaign on October 16 and 17, 2024, we organised Eurodesk picnics in two city parks in Split. Our goal was to inform the young people who come to our city (Split) from the surrounding rural areas for education and who, in their previous education, did not have the opportunity to hear about the possibilities of free learning and travel in Europe.

On both days, we prepared a real park picnic atmosphere with juices, doughnuts, deckchairs, light music, and prizes for the winners of the games. In a relaxed and informal environment, participants had the opportunity to learn more about the possibilities of volunteering, internships, learning, studies, and free travel in Europe. Information was provided at the info desk and through informal conversations with young people who had mobility experience. Billboards with motivating messages for taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the EU to young people and a QR code leading to a website with useful links were also placed in the park.

Karla, Borna, Leona, and Antonio were happy to share their experiences from the Erasmus+ youth exchange programme, through which they participated in multi-day programs, and gained new knowledge and friendships. Antonio shared that he travelled for free and stayed in six countries, meeting many young people from all over Europe. Karla, who participated in youth exchanges, shared her experiences, while Leona participated in 12 exchanges and happily shared her rich and motivating experiences. Niki participated in Erasmus+ student mobility for high school students. Jure and Ivan shared their experiences participating in the European Solidarity Corps programme.

Young people approached with great interest and many questions, obtained information, exchanged experiences with their peers, participated in games, and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of the picnic.

Thematic Category Correspondence

(50 points max)

How does this initiative (project, event, material) correspond to the thematic category

We organised both activities in two city parks that are near popular locations frequented by young people from different socioeconomic environments, due to the proximity of various high schools (different vocational schools and gymnasiums). Our goal was to inform young people who come to our city (Split) for education from rural areas in the surrounding region and who therefore have limited access to information about such opportunities. Many of these students, in their previous education, did not have the opportunity to hear about the opportunities offered by the EU or to make contact with a larger number of peers who have experience with mobility. This type of information helped them to feel encouraged and motivated to take a step towards international opportunities that were previously unknown to them or seemed unattainable. In addition to information, they had the opportunity to hear first-hand experiences and advice from their peers.

Impact

(30 points max)

How did your project impact young people / your community?

Our project had a significant impact on young people and the local community. Approximately a hundred young people participated in activities designed to inform them about the opportunities offered by the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps (ESS) programs. They not only received crucial information but also had the chance to engage with peers who shared personal experiences from these programs, which further motivated their involvement.

We anticipate that the information shared will be discussed among their friends within the local community, thereby broadening the scope of young people informed about EU opportunities.

Furthermore, local media played a pivotal role in amplifying these opportunities to the public, enhancing their visibility and accessibility. Several media outlets shared announcements and reports, further broadcasting these chances for young people, such as:

Dalmatinski Portal Article

Info Zona Article

Eurodesk Picnic News on Infozona

Split City Calendar – Eurodesk Picnic

City of Split Calendar – Eurodesk Picnic (English Version)

Gimnazija Kolegij Kraljice Jelene School

Info Zona Article on Volunteering and Studying

YouTube Video

Green Focus

(10 points max)

Did your project have any green focus and/or did you implement any eco-friendly measures when organising it?

During the organisation of the activities, we took into account the ecological aspect and tried to reduce our impact on the environment. We purposefully organised the events in two city parks instead of in schoolyards, in order to encourage young people to spend time surrounded by greenery. With the aim of keeping young people in the park, we also installed deckchairs. In cooperation with a local company for the maintenance of green areas, we have ensured that our activities have a minimal impact on the flora and fauna of the parks. We also tried to reduce waste – we distributed juices in reusable glasses, and during events we systematically separated waste. Promotional billboards are made in such a way that they can be used again for similar events because the messages on them are written with a marker that can be erased.