WAVES – Basics for youth workers is a series of 3 interrelated training courses, taking place in Hollókő, Hungary, with a duration of 10 days each. Partners are 10 NGOs form 10 countries: Armenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Greece, Lithuania, Turkey, Georgia, Jordan, Hungary. The aim of the project is to improve employability of young people and to support the generation to participate actively in society in a way that they become creators of their future communities and employment opportunities. In order that youth work and non-formal learning can have a significant impact in this field, not only competences of youngsters, but also competences of youth workers and NGO staff, and the quality of their non-formal learning environment will be improved. We focus on 4 key competences: cultural awareness and expression, initiative and entrepreneurship, social and civic competences and learning to learn. To achieve this, the partnership identified 3 target groups and 3 intervention areas. The project has 3 main activities - 1 training course for youth workers dates 16-25 April 2015, - 1 training course for NGO staff and volunteers dates 20-29 July 2015 - 1 training course for young people unemployed dates 20-29 August 2015 Our objectives are: - to improve professional competences of youth workers active in projects aiming employability by sharing non-formal methods for the long-term development of key competences of youth - to improve the quality of the learning environment of young volunteers and young people by sharing human resource, volunteer and project management methods and practices of youth NGOs so that volunteers’ newly gained skills can be easily identified, transferred and recognised at the labour market - to provide practical tools and skills that support the job-search process and the integration into a new workplace directly to young people who as multiplyiers and peer mentors can involve more youngsters into non-formal learning and support activities - To introduce YouthPass as a tool for self-assessment, designing and facilitating and evaluating learning processes - To encourage networking, best-practice sharing and the creation of international projects among local-level youth organisations within the Erasmus+ Programme. Working methods are based on non-formal, experiential learning, and are highly participatory in the 3 TCs as well as their local level preparation and follow-up: - structured exercises from outdoor, drama, dance, theatre, art, problem solving games, carried out in mixed-nationality groups, couples, trios and individually - self-directed learning of participants according to their own learning goals and the YouthPass process: goalsetting, daily reflection on progress in „dialogue groups”, mid-term and final evaluation - 3-day outdoor training - interactive presentations, case studies, facilitated debates and discussions - information about YouthPass and the Erasmus+ Program - workshops on learning process design, human resources and volunteer management, planning and organising and mentoring techniques, teamwork and communication, body language, interpreting advertisements, self-assessment, writing CVs and motivation letters - simulations: volunteer project, job inteview, work experience As a result, youth workers improve their skills in working with local and international groups in employability-focused projects, become more effective in their work, more capable to design and facilitate learning processes with the methods of non-formal learning, improving the above mentioned 4 competences. NGO staff becomes more effective in creating and supporting volunteer placements and internships for skills development of unemployed youth. Young people take responsibility, and become examples for their peers as they become more successful in getting a job and participate in community initiatives. Partners become able to reach and involve more young people and new target groups, especially the ones at risk, facing social, cultural, geographical and learning challenges. Using the newly acquired methods and skills, youth workers can improve the employability and local participation of young people. The recognition of non-formal learning through YouthPass and the value of international mobility will increase, more and higher quality international projects will be organised.