ESC: Quality active education projects in Padova, Italy

“ConTatto CEMEA Veneto onlus” is a no-profit social cooperative founded in 2008 but active from 1996,as association and it is member of Federazione Italiana CEMEA (Training Centers in Methods of Active Education). CEMEA is an international movement of non-formal education born in France in 1937 inspired by the philosophy of Education Nouvelle. It supports the role of education in the evolution of society and participates actively in its transformation. The purpose of the organization is to develop actions based on methodologies of active education in Padua and in the national territory, in collaboration with Italian Federation and other partners. These actions are addressed to many targets (children, youngsters, adults, teachers, social workers) and in several fields, like education, training, solidarity, active citizenship, social projects, learning mobility, events, supporting the thought that Education is everywhere and in every moment. CEMEA movement consider youngsters as an active part of society, which is considered responsible to accompany all young people in order to define and realize their life projects. Our organization deals active practices with youngsters to create spaces of training, citizenship, entrepreneurship. In this direction we consider ESC program an opportunity for young people to increase their relationships with others. Mobility is part of the education of everyone, as an impulse to open their own minds in an intercultural perspective, which will bring a change in individual persons and in society. In this direction we consider ESC program a mobility tool that contributes to the development of a local reality and that increases the personal growth of participants. The organization operates principally in these areas: - Community center for mothers and children: The center “Casa INCONTRA” is an educational community, it hosts mothers with their children who are experiencing a moment of difficulty in their lives. The center cooperates with social services of Italian welfare system, promoting people's well-being and making them aware of their own resources. - Educative interventions: Our organization develops and manages own educational and social projects in support of associations, schools, social cooperatives, institutions. Our trainers carry out pedagogical supervisions, their intervention supports activities of teachers in kindergarten, primary and secondary schools. They operate in all situations requiring an educational reflection appropriate to the working context. - Training: Training is maybe the most important subject of our organization and of CEMEA movement, supporting the thought that everyone involved in an educational action needs to experience an active training. We organize training workshops on several themes and addressed to different targets (teachers, adults, youngsters, entertainers, care-givers) in the area of Padua. We also participate with FITCEMEA in the organization of “Ludea” training (Free University of Active Education), which is composed of several stages throughout Italy. -Social and educational projects: Our organization develops and manages local, national and European projects, in the areas of education, training, active citizenship, solidarity and social politics. We are involved in ‘’Agenda 2030’’ project, focus on the sustainable development and Rete e Progetto "Ambra’’, a project in collaboration with a group of organization that works in the city of Padova with the aim to facilitate the life and the integration of single mothers and woman in difficulty. We are also a partner of Erasmus+ KA2 project ‘’Storydec’’, and we are working to purpose innovative educational paths and models, and develop active citizenship and social inclusion. - Activities in schools: Workshops on different topics (music, theatre, art, games, science) are proposed to the pupils in several school classes (kindergarten, primary and secondary schools). Interventions in schools with youngsters are also proposed as a part of program against school dropout in vocational schools in Padua. - Volunteers: In the last ten years we hosted volunteers for the EVS program and the National Civil Service program, supporting a non-formal learning process and helping many youngsters in developping their own projects. - Festival and events: Our organization participates in several conventions, events or festival concerning education and traditional games: “Tocatì” international festival in Verona for example. Contatto CEMEA Veneto is part of an educational movement based on welcoming and active participation of workers. So our organization doesn’t require specific competences but willingness and curiosity to know social, cultural and professional context and interest for how we develop active education in various situation and with different targets (children, young, adult, schools, disability, ground). The working context is varied and our team is multi-professional and multi-cultural.