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Break down or break out!
The Break Down, Break Out project had objectives in demonstrating and documenting how new learning and action strategies for long-term unemployed adults 40+ in difficult situations, can empower them to make a difference in the quality of their lives and in their communities. The context of the project included the recognition that low-qualified Europeans in this age group are hit the hardest from economic pressures, often compounded by difficulty in relating to their wider community and from benefiting fully from other types of support which are provided as universal services. Currently the success rate of interventions for this age range and in the situations identified are not high, which drove the necessity for the project to look for innovative ways to change this, including processes providing simple and practice-based guidance.
There were 8 project partners, sharing a common background of working with long-term unemployed and hard-to-reach adults.
P1 University of Chester, UK, - with expertise in adult learning through flexible learning approaches, access to networks and international project experience.
P2 ALDA (Association of Local Democracy Associations) France - a membership-based organisation with 170 members in more than 30 different countries.
P3 ASSE (Association of Social Economic Study), Craiova, Romania - a non-governmental organization providing and promoting lifelong education
P4 Fantom Association, Bistrita, Romania - a non-governmental organisation, promoting international integration and tolerance through educational and artistic activities.
P5 Risorsa Fondazione Donna, Rome, Italy - a non-profit organisation, focused on supporting women who are excluded from the labour.
P6 European Grants International Academy, Foligno, Italy - a private consulting firm that coordinates multilateral LLP projects and vocational training and non-formal educational activities for adult learners.
P7 Palmenia Centre for Adult Education, University of Helsinki, Finland –. the largest university affiliated adult education centre in Europe, with a purpose to develop increased opportunities for lifelong learning for hard-to-reach adults,
P8 Chamber of Commerce, Sabadell, Spain - representing the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises, creating local entrepreneurial skills and community action, not traditional adult education.
P9 Multi Disciplinary Centre, Modiin, Israel - a centre for Adult Education and citizenship working in cooperation with local business, public institutions, social organizations
Each had one or more of the following roles: practice partners, knowledge partners, network partners or special partners (P8) an strong, entrepreneurial and community oriented private sector partner and (P9), with significant experience of non European entrepreneurial mentality and business development, linking eco-systems to the wider creation of learning communities.
Break Down, Break out found and experimented with new ways for these adults to break out of difficult situations. Instead of waiting for jobs, adults are supported to create capacity to build their own life and economy, through taking action in their community, turning challenges into opportunities, exploring ways that are new, untraditional and different from what people have been trying out so far. In the project, adults see themselves and act as the subjects of change instead of remaining the objects of change. They learned through taking initiatives, exploring their individual untapped potential and taking action in their community.
To do this, the partnership found new ways to help these adults change mind-sets and engendered much needed innovation in adult learning, using the community as the classroom with individual and community action as tools.
The project was based on a simple methodology cycle: O.B.A.M.A. Orientation; Briefing; Ability; Meeting and Action
This process was an iterative one, using a variety of themes and initiatives building on the ideas of participants increasing capacity to act, responding to social needs and innovation, local entrepreneurial activity, creating resources and funding, health and environment issues and active citizenship.
An initial group of 8 to 12 adults was established by each local partner, who gained capacity to:
• explore community needs and issues
• build up small eco-systems of networks
• act as entrepreneurs and create change
• mentor other adults and contribute to the Virtual Guidance services
• create new life directions for themselves based on their new competences
Results and impact have been assessed as
• successful innovation in the fields of new ways for long-term unemployed;
• good first steps with the new and extremely important European EntreComp agenda;
• production of rich material from the second year’s dynamic practice;
• resources and guidance platform (www.breakingout.eu) valuable for adult education innovation and entrepreneurial competence.
The Partners:
UNIVERSITY OF CHESTER, United Kingdom - Coordinator
Asociatia de Studii Socio-Economice, Romania
Asociatia Fantom, Romania
ASSOCIATION DES AGENCES DE LA DEMOCRATIE LOCALE, France
CAMARA OFICIAL DE COMERCIO E INDUSTRIA DE SABADELL, Spain
European Grants International Academy Srls Unipersonale, Italy
Fondazione Risorsa Donna, Italy
HELSINGIN YLIOPISTO, Finland
Modiin Municipality, Israel
