If we want to implement a project that will truly impact and be useful to our target group, is is always importan to first understand the situation and their real learning needs.

Therefore, after our Online Kickoff coordination meeting , every partner organisation started preparing the first phase of local activities to be carried out in each country. The first activity in the agenda was an analysis of the situation of participation of volunteers with fewer opportunities in the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) at 2 levels: society and inclusion, where every partner researched and analysed in depth about legislation, practice, statistics, roles, participation, etc.

Then we moved on the identification of existing good practices at local level where the participation of volunteers with fewer opportunities is used as a tool for promoting their participation in society and peaceful coexistence.

As part of the first phase of local activities, each country also identified and mapped a series of relevant stakeholders at a local level.

Finally, each partner carried out a diagnosis and definition of the specific learning needs of coordinators, mentors and supervisors of volunteers with fewer opportunities in their respective organisations. All the data gathered throughout this local activities I phase, was used to create the material for the International Seminar in Malaga and future activities in the framework of this project.

In some cases, due to COVID-19 restrictions, some of the activities were delayed and/or carried on online (specially the meetings with stakeholders), but all partner countries carried out this entire first phase of local activities successfully!