YMCA Europe invites you to join the Final Dissemination event of the MIYO project, an Erasmus+ funded initiative implemented jointly by WOSM, YMCA and the National University of Maynooth. The ImpactYOUth event marks the end of the project and aims to present the project’s final output: the MIYO Impact measurement toolkit.
Join us on 22 February 2024 in Brussels, Belgium, to learn about the methodology, the pilot studies and network and reflect on the future of youth impact measurement.
About the Project
Youth organisations play a pivotal role in the fabric of society. By nurturing personal development, we enable young individuals to acquire essential life skills such as leadership, teamwork, and effective interpersonal communication. These skills form a cornerstone for an individual’s successful navigation through life, fostering self-confidence and resilience.
Throughout the history of youth work, its positive impact has been captured and presented through different compelling narratives: individual success stories, humanitarian actions, or community development accounts. Each narrative has illustrated the immense value of our work. However, to truly understand the full extent of our impact and enhance our programmes for even more significant effect, we recognised the need for a robust and applicable research methodology.
The MIYO project aims to reinforce links between research, policy, and practice by increasing the empirical evidence of the impact of youth programmes. The cross-sectoral collaboration between the youth sector and academia will ensure the methodology is academically valid and reflects youth organisations’ actual needs and capacity.
The project’s final output, the impact assessment toolkit, is being tested in six member organisations and will be publicly accessible, allowing over 300 youth organisations belonging to YMCA and WOSM networks and beyond to access, test, and study the methodology, research guidelines, and resources.
Youth organisations will have full access to the data collection and analysis tools and be better equipped to evaluate and improve their educational offer. Through a strong dissemination dimension, MIYO partners aim to build synergies between policymakers, youth associations, and the research community, linking participatory and inclusive research to evidence-based decision-making. More information about the project can be found here.
Programme
The event consists of two parts:
- EU Parliament 09:30 – 12:00
The opening segment of our event is dedicated to presenting the MIYO Impact measurement toolkit and its application by six member organisations, along with study results. The presentation will be followed by a round table that will spotlight insights from those who played a key role in designing the toolkit: experts from the National University of Maynooth, representatives from YMCA and WOSM. MEP Michaela Šojdrová will host this round table.
- EU Thon Hotel 14:00 – 16:50
The second part of the day will have a hands-on approach, where participants will learn more about the practicalities of the methodology, data collection and analysis instruments and explore how they can apply it in the context of their organisation. The concluding segment of the event will centre on a concise workshop followed by open market presentations.
Language
The event will be held in English.
Who should apply?
We welcome young leaders from YMCA interested in piloting this methodology in their country context. We will prioritise participants representing different National Organisations to ensure a broader geographical reach.
Cost
The organisers will take care of the following expenses:
● International travel expenses (focusing on affordability and eco-friendliness);
● Stay at a Hotel in Brussels on 21-23 February in shared rooms;
● Food, from breakfast on 22 February up to breakfast on 23 February;
● Costs associated with the program and its administration.
Application Form
Deadline for application: 20 December 2023
Contact information
Should you have any queries, don’t hesitate to contact Olga Lukina via email at Olga[at]ymcaeurope.com
