About us
Centre of Youth Programmes of Estonian Agency for Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps is the Estonian Centre for Quality and International Cooperation in the youth field. As of January 1st 2021, our activities have been transferred to The Education and Youth Board (Harno, short for Haridus- ja Noorteamet), a new institution formed under Estonian Ministry of Education and Research in 2020.
We are responsible for capacity building in the youth field with a special focus on international cooperation. Our activities can be divided into three main areas: supporting the development of young people, enhancing the quality of youth work and shaping youth policy.
Since the beginning, we have been the implementing body (Estonian National Agency) for European Union youth programmes in Estonia. Since 2014, when the EU programme Erasmus+ for Education, Youth and Sport was launched, we have been responsible for the implementation of Erasmus+ Youth Chapter objectives and in 2018, when the international volunteering programme European Solidarity Corps was launched, we also took that under our wing. Over 116 million euros were invested in more than 60 000 Estonian participants and beneficiaries during the 2014-2020 programme period. The new seven-year period comes with an increased capacity, offering new opportunities to existing and new target groups.
In addition, Estonian Agency for Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps combines various national and international strategies and measures to create a strong and systemic impact in the youth field. We offer training for youth workers, youth project coordinators, representatives of voluntary organizations, local government employees and youth policy-makers on Mitteformaalne.ee and have been publishing Estonian youth work magazine MIHUS three times a year since 2009.
Estonian National Agency for Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corp’s activities are divided into three units:
Sisu Moodul
Youth Projects Unit
Focus of Youth Projects Unit is the development of key competences of young people, intercultural learning, increased youth participation and the inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities.
We
- fund youth projects in frames of EU programme Erasmus+: Youth in Action and a national initiative Youth Meetings;
- inform young people about European opportunities;
- carry out youth trainings on local, national and international level;
- consult youth groups interested in project writing;
- support young peoples’ systematic involvement in voluntary activities;
- develop young peoples’ social and teamwork skills through the initiative “Caring classroom”
Youth Work Development Unit
Focus of the Youth Work Development Unit is quality and innovation of youth work and development of youth workers’ training system.
We
- fund youth workers’ mobility projects and strategic partnerships in frames of Erasmus+: Youth in Action programme;
- support youth workers’ and trainers’ professional development through training activities and international networking;
- develop study materials and carry out research relevant to the youth field;
- publish youth work magazine MIHUS;
- develop the quality of youth work practice;
- provide resources for non-formal learning and support youth workers’ professional development through the website mitteformaalne.ee.
Youth Policy Unit
Focus of Youth Policy Unit is the quality and recognition of non-formal learning in the youth field, inclusive and international approach to youth work.
We
- fund meetings between young people and decision makers in the frames of Erasmus+: Youth in Action programme;
- contribute to youth policy consultations and discussions at national and European level (support Structured Dialogue);
- promote the international dimension of youth work;
- support the recognition of youth work and non-formal learning;
- highlight the results and impact of youth work in society;
- promote the values of diverse and inclusive society and the development of inclusive youth work practice.
