New features regarding the ERASMUS+YOUTH and EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY CORPS programmes in the framework of European grants 2021-2027. Virtual training
- Why are these initiatives so important for young people?
These programmes help young people to discover, learn, evolve, and develop personally and professionally. They are very enriching and unique life experiences that help young people to develop or improve their skills while helping others, collaborating in solidarity projects, or participating in various youth initiatives. An example of a service-learning programme framework.
- In these times of the pandemic, mobility is quite limited. Has the number of projects been reduced?
It is true that due to mobility restrictions between countries, many group mobility projects, such as youth exchanges or youth worker training, have been postponed. Perhaps, in the spring of 2021, we can start to implement the actions that should have taken place last summer. However, as the voluntary projects of the European Solidarity Corps only require the mobility of individuals, some projects have been reduced but others have been maintained. Of course, those that guaranteed the quality of the activities and the safety of the participants, as set out by the European Commission for these programmes, even before the onset of Covid19.
- What about the new period of European youth mobility programmes from 2021 onwards?
Quite promising. We are launching a new multi-year framework. We have increased the budgets significantly for all our actions. Indeed, we are offering more opportunities to young people who are likely to participate in all these actions. Therefore, we will have to take advantage of them.