Erasmus+ KA1
Writing Challenge

https://youtu.be/xXz1GFWJZlA; Day 1. Intro to Erasmus+ Youth KA1: all you need to know; 12:45; Principles and priorities of Erasmus+ (2021-2027). Project formats.Tips on how to read the Guide.

Key points from Day 1:
1. Download the Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2021 here: http://bit.ly/newerasmusguide. Read about the Erasmus+ main principles in the Guide's general section and the Youth KA1 on pages 120 - 148.
2. Read about mobilities for young people and mobilities for youth workers and think about your future project target audience - which one is it?

Home task: Keeping in mind the target audience, brainstorm on the possible mobilities.

This video is part of the Erasmus+ KA1 Projects Writing Challenge.
For extra materials check our KA1 Library. https://youtu.be/GSAm5eyxt_I; Day 2. Finding the problem; 15:19; How to find the problem and check its relevance to Erasmus+. Reasoning your choice in the application form. Statistics and European Strategy.

Key ideas from Day 2:
Step 1. Define the topic based on the interests of young people or activities of your organization. You can also get inspired by the Application form (http://bit.ly/erasmusforms) and involve group brainstorming.
Step 2. What problems do you see in the field? Develop hypotheses + find confirmation (global context + specific context of target audience). Get inspired by Eurostat (https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat) and EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027.
Step 3. Double check whether international mobility can resolve the problem. Consult the Guide for specific objectives: you can find them on pages 136 and 149.
Step 4. Shape the mission: wide and inspiring. Numbers come later with shaping the goal and objectives.

Hometask: define the topic and problems you’re going to solve with your mobility.

This video is part of the Erasmus+ KA1 Projects Writing Challenge.
For extra materials check our KA1 Library. https://youtu.be/_4SYpZUHVEU; Day 3. Needs' Analysis; 11:19; Define the target audience of your project. What are their needs, fears and desires? Ways to conduct needs' analysis.

Key points from Day 1:
1. Your project's future participants have needs, fears, desires - you need to find out what are they.
2. There are different ways to conduct the research, choose from the list in the video, or your own.
3. Please do not skip this step, this is the base of your project, without it will be complicated to move further.

Home task: Define the target audience = your future participants. Important to define in details, be specific. For this, choose one method and do the research with at least 10 people from the target audience.

This video is part of the Erasmus+ KA1 Projects Writing Challenge.
For extra materials check our KA1 Library. https://youtu.be/4VPXVQvG__w; Day 4. Project concept development; 19:49; Project development tool - Circle of creativity. Making connections with Erasmus+ and European Strategy.

Key ideas from Day 4:
1. Circle of creativity is a tool to help you summarize all previous research and brainstorming, as well as see the next steps to follow.
2. It’s important to ground your main mobility on the defined needs and issues, as well as make sure the objectives and expected results are aligned.
3. Build up project objectives on your inspiring mission and connect them to Erasmus+ (see previous posts for instructions) to make the project coherent.

Hometask: define the objectives of your international mobility and connect them to Erasmus+ objectives from the Guide. Leave your objectives in the comments.

This video is part of the Erasmus+ KA1 Projects Writing Challenge.
For extra materials check our KA1 Library. https://youtu.be/o2eF5sIHrUY; Day 5. Participants’ profile; 27:36; What's the profile of your participants & what you should consider. Participation ladder of Roger Hart.

Key ideas from Day 5:
1. Know your future participants! The needs of youth workers from a big organization which works with a climate change in Sweden will differ from the needs of informal group of young people that are inspired to work with migrant issues and exist for 2 months only. One fits all is not a good strategy
2. Erasmus+ encourages and supports inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities. Check the list here: http://bit.ly/feweropportunities and think who you would like to include and how you’re going to support them.
3. Participation of young people is important! Go for the last rungs of Roger Hart’s ladder. Never use 1,2,3 in your projects!

Hometask: describe the profile of your future participants (age, occupation, background, needs, desires and dreams), decide on what type of fewer opportunities you’re going to include.

This video is part of the Erasmus+ KA1 Projects Writing Challenge.
For extra materials check our KA1 Library. https://youtu.be/nAUqpqf2-VQ; Day 6. Team and partners; 18:05; Who is in your team and what are their strong sides? How to search for partners? Partners' agreements for a successful KA1 project.

Key ideas from Day 6:
1. Think of your team: who is writing a project together with you? Who will take the roles of a project manager, communication person, logistics guru and trainers/facilitators?
2. There are many ways to find your future partners. You can use Otlas, ask for recommendations or check our community. We were mentioning some tips in this post: https://bit.ly/2QePvwX, as well as tomorrow we’re going to publish a special post for partners’ search.

Hometask: find partners for your future project based on their relevance and countries you want to be involved.

This video is part of the Erasmus+ KA1 Projects Writing Challenge.
For extra materials check our KA1 Library. https://youtu.be/O9mjVCcGMIM; Day 7. Practical arrangements.; 20:48; Logistics & practicalities. Timeline of project preparation, implementation and follow-up. Common mistakes.

Here are the Day 7 points:
- When thinking about practical arrangements, remember, that participating organisations and young people involved in the activities should take an active role in all those stages enhancing thus their learning experience - it is ok and highly recommended to share and delegate tasks.
- A project is not just the activity you wish to organise, it is much wider, and usually set up has the following stages: planning, preparation, implementation, follow up.
- Have a plan B, or involve risk management - practical arrangements very often tend to go not according to the plan.

Home task: write logistical arrangements using this list of points to describe: dates, travel, accommodation, insurance, safety and protection of participants, visa, social security, mentoring and support, preparatory meetings with partners.

This video is part of the Erasmus+ KA1 Projects Writing Challenge.
For extra materials check our KA1 Library. https://youtu.be/AQNjEkhDEsw; Day 8. Preparation of participants and learning outcomes; 16:44; Different types of preparation. Preparation of participants with fewer opportunities. Introduction to the Youthpass and key competencies.

Key ideas from Day 8:
- In the preparation of participants' activities, do not forget about their needs, especially if you work with young people with fewer opportunities.
- Preparation includes anything that can help participants get ready for the activity: information, communication, team building, introduction to the topic, logistics. Make the process easy and inclusive for everyone.
- After the activity, keep in touch with participants for results dissemination, evaluation, recognition, travel reimbursement, follow up activities.
- Consider the Youthpass as one of the recognition and learning evaluation tools for your activity.

Home task: Write preparation and follow up activities plan in details. Learn about the Youthpass and consider describing the process of evaluation and recognition in your project.

This video is part of the Erasmus+ KA1 Projects Writing Challenge.
For extra materials check our KA1 Library. https://youtu.be/c4HlCed3l8U; Day 9. Activity program; 21:22; Informal and non-formal learning methods. How to develop a well-balanced program? Tips&Tricks on designing activity programs.

Key ideas from Day 9:
1. You’ll need to introduce an activity program for every mobility, using a pre-designed template: http://bit.ly/YEprogramtemplate which should clearly demonstrate non-formal and informal learning methods, as well as alignment with the topic and participants’ needs.
2. Build your program around 4 components: - group dynamics; - intercultural learning; - project topics and - feedback and reflection.
3. Don’t forget that in youth exchanges the program is carried out by participants, supported by group leaders, and if needed - a facilitator. In a professional development mobility you can include trainers/facilitators who will support the program.

Hometask: draft 3-4 ideas for each of the following categories: - group dynamics; - intercultural learning; - project topics and - feedback and reflection.

This video is part of the Erasmus+ KA1 Projects Writing Challenge.
For extra materials check our KA1 Library. https://youtu.be/ze47EBdaNA8; Day 10. Project outcomes and their dissemination; 13:23; Tangible and intangible results. Examples of good dissemination strategies. Dissemination of the outcomes and project visibility tips.

Here are the Day 10 points:
- Think about your projects' results - both tangible and intangible. Remember, that tangible outcomes can be measured, monitored and controlled, while intangible don't have physical existence and are perceptive.
- Download "Making Waves" and plan your visibility, dissemination, multiplying and follow up events to shout out load about your amazing outcomes: https://bit.ly/makingwavesguide

This video is part of the Erasmus+ KA1 Projects Writing Challenge.
For extra materials check our KA1 Library. https://youtu.be/06Gk3XkTjeQ; Day 11. Expected impact; 11:41; Impact on the local, national and European levels. Ways to measure impact. What impact does Erasmus+ Programme expect to see?

Key ideas from Day 11:
- When I think about impact, the "Wind of Change" by Scorpions comes to my mind (I am sure you know what the song is about). The impact is a measure of those changes you will bring with your project activities.
- Impact, although a very vague and perceptive term, can and should be measured at the end of your project. The analysis of measurement should be evidence-based. That's why it is important to use different methods of assessment at the end of your activity.
- The impact can be direct and indirect, think about both when describing it in the application.

Home task: Connect your project objectives with the impact you want to achieve. Leave your notes in the comments.

This video is part of the Erasmus+ KA1 Projects Writing Challenge.
For extra materials check our KA1 Library. https://youtu.be/ELK_3TjoJn4; Day 12. Project monitoring and evaluation; 20:05; Basics of risk assessment. Developing a project monitoring plan. Designing criteria for Erasmus+ KA1 project success.

Key ideas from Day 12:
1. When it comes to risk assessment, use this simple model to brainstorm possible risks with your team: type of risk, when and how it's still possible to prevent it, who is responsible to monitor the risk, what happens if risk comes into life.

2. The evaluation of project success should combine tangible and intangible results which are aligned with project objectives. If they’re not coherent, review your objectives, activity program and expected outcomes.
3. Sustainability is a new section of the application form which will be attentively considered by evaluators. Think long-term about your project and its impact. How are you going to make project outcomes sustainable and accessible to your target groups even after the end of the project?

Hometask: draft 3-5 ideas for tangible and intangible results you’re going to create with your project.

This video is part of the Erasmus+ KA1 Projects Writing Challenge.
For extra materials check our KA1 Library. https://youtu.be/3q6cBzWtMkI; Day 13. Final project check-up; 16:58; How to quickly check project coherence and clarity. Common mistakes. Checklist based on project assessment criteria.

Key ideas from Day 13:
1. Coherency and clarity in your project application is the key. Make sure your objectives, Erasmus+ objectives and outcomes are aligned, as well as the activity program is built around pax’ needs and profiles.
2. Whatever is not stated in the application form won’t be fancied by evaluators. The common mistake is not to give enough info about non-formal learning methods and reflection, impact and dissemination activities, participation of young people and partners, as well as preparation of young people with fewer opportunities.
3. When it comes to project assessment, it will be done against the following criteria:
- Relevance, rationale and impact (max. 30 points)
- Quality of project design (max. 40 points)
- Quality of project management (max. 30 points)
You’ll need to score at least 60 points and 50% in every category to be considered for funding

Hometask: give the draft of your project to a person outside of your team to read and give feedback

This video is part of the Erasmus+ KA1 Projects Writing Challenge.
For extra materials check our KA1 Library. https://youtu.be/nnrIFY6YUiI; Day 14. Application form; 21:28; How to fill in Erasmus+ form: sections and questions. Budget and annexes. Checking all formal criteria and documents before submission.
Key ideas from Day 14:
Step 1. You will find the latest Erasmus+ Youth application forms here: http://bit.ly/erasmusforms. Get all the project information you were working on before and add it to the relevant sections of the application.

This video is part of the Erasmus+ KA1 Projects Writing Challenge.
For extra materials check our KA1 Library.