"Learn for life" -A European Exchange of Information and Good Practice on Motivation and Learning Strategies for young socially disadvantaged adults in urban social focal points

The learning partnership aims to facilitate a transnational exchange of experience, good practice and innovative methods of practical work on successful strategies for the social integration of young adults (approx. 18 to 26 year olds) in urban areas.

Each of the partners involved will draw upon their vast amount of experience and knowledge of working with this particular target group, which will be analysed, compared, adapted and implemented in accordance to the national/regional conditions of each partner. In other words, the partners' approach is practice orientated aiming to introduce differing approaches to partner regions and does not raise theoretical claims. (For the latter reference can be made at extensive scientific literature on this subject).

The project focuses on non-formal learning activities outside of educational institutions and on informal learning in the social environment.

The target group was selected because at this stage, after having left compulsory education structures, the relationship of the individual to further lifelong learning on their own, is shaped substantially.

In the knowledge society, an unwillingness to continue learning leads to disengagement from the development process and resulting social exclusion. This risk is especially high for young socially disadvantaged adults living in particular areas which do not allow for equal access to learning opportunities due to lack of motivation by bad learning experiences at school, life in a negatively shaped social environment, lacking access to the labour market and/or a composition of issues affecting conditions limiting them in their personal, civil, social and professional development chances.

Focal points of the exchange are:

- Motivation strategies for informal learning, interest related learning, close to practice learning, transfer orientation, integration of learning contents into complex correlations;

- Development of motivation by documentation/ visibility of informally acquired competencies; aim-oriented development of individual skills by modularization;

- Creation of better access to learning, support structures, incentive systems, networking in regional learning infrastructures;

- Qualified learning consultancy for young adults at "distance to learning", support of informal learning by teaching organisations, use of informal learning modes for motivation, combination of informal with formal learning modes ;

- Social learning for sustainable integration, with the aim to promote personal development, active citizenship, social integration and preservation / development of employability of young adults.

Due to the variety of causes of disadvantages and of available methods of resolution, special groups of disadvantaged people are considered (e.g., young adults with migration background, young single mothers, school droppers, long term unemployed and others).

The learning partnership concentrates its work on learning activities in existing projects in urban areas.

The exchange of good practice takes place "in the field" and with direct participation from both "teachers" and "learners" of the visited regions. Joint project work and daily work of the partners with the target group are in direct correlation and promote each other. For the sake of a step-by-step development of the cooperation the specified duration of the project is three years.