ESC: ESC 4 European Youth Goals

Check-In – Cooperation and Development is a non-profit organization, founded in 2010, based in Beja and with a nucleus in Lisbon, in Portugal. It works in close cooperation with public and private entities, actively participating in quality of life improvement activities. Our organization mainly focuses on youth and adult mobility, non-formal education and the overall sharing of knowledge, through the support of European cooperation initiatives. We work on a regular basis with other organizations, as well as municipalities, universities and higher education institutions in Europe and all around the world (we built partnerships in Brazil, Tanzania, Nepal, Argentina, Mexico and Perú). Our aim is to promote lifelong learning opportunities, to encourage of social integration, education for sustainable development and social entrepreneurship. Our working methods are furthermore deeply rooted in the European core values, such as the respect for human rights, democracy, gender equality, ecological awareness, intercultural tolerance and solidarity between the people. In addition, we have a special concern for children, teenagers and young adults with less privileged access to information, due to their geographical location, their social and economic status or their personal situation. Check-In has thus been involved in urban areas and setting up local projects in sensitive neighborhoods in Lisbon and Beja and working with this communities actively. In order to achieve our aims, we organize a wide scope of different activities, taking place from local to international scales. These activities include workshops, seminars, team-building activities and training courses. Moreover, we set up long-term volunteering programs, such as Volunteering Activities under the European Solidarity Corps (Ex-EVS), national volunteering, traineeships and internships in Portugal and abroad. To do so, we have developed for over eight years a broad network of organizations and companies, operating in different sectors and fields of activity. At local and national level we develop activities mainly in Beja and in Lisbon. We organize trainings and workshops in different topics, mostly related with personal and professional development (Leadership, Dragon Dreaming, Team Building, etc), activities for informal moments between our members and not members (board games nights, barbeque, cook lab, etc.), thematic activities related with the season (carnival, valentines day, etc..), informational sessions (about Erasmus +, job opportunities, etc.) and once per year a big meeting (during 3 days) with our members with different activities of team building and non-formal education. In Beja, we are developing as a plan for 2019, in cooperation with the Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth (IPDJ), in our space in Casa das Associações de Beja, a Non-Formal Education Center, which will have activities focused on the development of youngsters and intergenerational cooperation. In this center we have computers to be accessed for free, and have people supporting the youngsters in searching for jobs, creating CV’s, looking for international and national opportunities, also since we are a Eurodesk multiplier and our main objective is to give opportunities to youngsters. This center is also focused in empowering youngsters using non-formal education as key factor. They can develop and implement their own activities, perform meetings, organize exhibitions, workshops, etc. Check-in is part of two European networks of NGO’s and informal international groups, such as the group responsible with initiatives related to the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations. More information about Check-In at www.checkin.org.pt