STEFANI n.o.

STEFANI n.o. is a Slovak non-profit organisation established in 2014 and based in Žarnovica, a small town in Central Slovakia. Our organisation was created by a group of active people who wanted to bring positive changes to their local community and create new opportunities for children, young people and adults. Since then, STEFANI has developed into an organisation combining youth work, non-formal education, community development, volunteering, environmental education and international cooperation. One of our main priorities is to create opportunities for young people living in smaller towns and rural areas, where access to international projects, non-formal education, cultural activities and youth programmes is considerably more limited than in large cities. We believe that young people should not only be recipients of activities but also creators of their communities. For this reason, we encourage them to express their ideas, initiate activities, volunteer, cooperate with others and become active citizens. STEFANI has experience with local, national and international projects, including the Erasmus+ programme, youth exchanges, mobility projects, educational activities, workshops, community initiatives and projects focused on environmental and social topics. Our team combines experience in project management, youth work, psychology, non-formal education, community activities, communication and international cooperation. PRIORITIES We are currently particularly interested in developing international partnerships and Erasmus+ projects in the following areas: Artificial Intelligence and Digital Skills Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of young people's everyday lives, education and future careers. We would like to develop projects helping young people understand how AI works and, most importantly, how to use it creatively, responsibly and critically. We are especially interested in projects which make modern technologies accessible also to young people from smaller towns and rural areas. Possible project topics include: • AI literacy for young people, • practical use of AI in education and everyday life, • AI and future professions, • creativity with artificial intelligence, • ethical use of AI, • misinformation and AI-generated content, • critical thinking in the age of AI, • AI tools for youth workers, • opportunities and risks connected with artificial intelligence. Internet Safety and Digital Wellbeing Young people spend a significant part of their lives online. Social networks, gaming, influencers, online communication and artificial intelligence bring many opportunities, but also new risks. We would therefore like to cooperate on projects dealing with: • online safety, • cyberbullying, • privacy and personal data, • fake news and misinformation, • social media literacy, • responsible use of smartphones, • online manipulation, • digital identity, • healthy online habits, • digital wellbeing, • online relationships and communication, • critical thinking. Our aim is not to tell young people simply to "use technology less", but to teach them how to navigate the digital world safely, consciously and responsibly. Mental Health and Wellbeing Mental health is becoming one of the most important issues affecting young people across Europe. Stress, loneliness, pressure to perform, social media, uncertainty about the future, relationships and lack of meaningful social can significantly influence their wellbeing. We are interested in projects focusing on: • mental health awareness, • emotional wellbeing, • stress management, • self-confidence and self-esteem, • healthy relationships, • loneliness and social isolation, • resilience, • prevention of burnout, • communication of emotions, • peer support, • mindfulness and relaxation, • connection between mental health and digital life. We believe that Erasmus+ can create a safe environment where young people realise that many of their challenges are shared by their peers across Europe. Our projects should combine professional knowledge with practical, interactive and non-formal methods rather than traditional lectures. Art, Creativity and Self-expression We see art as an excellent tool for communication, inclusion and personal development. Young people do not always find it easy to express their thoughts and emotions verbally. Music, photography, video, theatre, dance, design, storytelling and other forms of creative expression can give them another voice. We would like to participate in projects involving: • music, • dance, • theatre, • photography, • filmmaking and video creation, • podcasts, • digital art, • storytelling, • creative writing, • public art, • visual communication, • art as a tool for mental wellbeing, • art as a tool for inclusion and intercultural dialogue. We are particularly interested in projects where young people create a real final product or public activity – for example an exhibition, performance, podcast, video, campaign or community event. Community Life and Active Citizenship STEFANI has strong roots in local community work. We believe that one of the biggest challenges for smaller towns is creating places and opportunities where young people genuinely want to spend their free time. Young people need more than formal education. They need places where they can meet, talk, create, experiment, volunteer and simply belong. For this reason, we are interested in projects focusing on: • youth participation, • active citizenship, • volunteering, • community building, • development of youth spaces, • intergenerational activities, • social inclusion, • local initiatives led by young people, • participation of young people in decision-making, • revitalisation of public spaces, • strengthening relationships between young people and their communities. An important part of our current work is the development of CHILL iN, a youth and community space in Žarnovica. The centre is designed as an informal meeting place for young people where they can spend their free time, meet friends and participate in educational, cultural and creative activities. Our Experience Relevant to Erasmus+ Projects STEFANI has been active in youth work and non-formal education for more than ten years. Our team has experience with international youth exchanges, training activities and Erasmus+ projects involving participants from different European countries. One of our first international youth projects was “Destigma”, organised in Banská Štiavnica and involving participants from Slovakia, Turkey, Romania, Poland and Georgia. The project demonstrated to us how powerful international mobility and non-formal education can be when addressing sensitive social topics. Since then, members of our organisation have participated in and organised various youth activities and Erasmus+ projects. Our experience includes: • preparation and coordination of Erasmus+ projects, • cooperation with international partners, • organisation of youth exchanges and educational activities, • development of non-formal educational methods, • workshops and group activities, • community events, • dissemination and communication, • creation of educational materials, • work with children and young people, • volunteering, • environmental education, • creative and experiential learning. We also implemented the Erasmus+ project “Hámrošove mudrovačky”, focused on creating attractive educational tools and methods for young people. The project included the development of methodologies, educational materials, animated videos, games, creative activities and other outputs designed for practical use. This experience strengthened our capacity not only to organise activities but also to develop tangible and reusable educational outputs. Our Approach to Youth Work We strongly prefer learning by doing. Our activities are therefore based on non-formal education and methods such as: • simulations, • games, • group challenges, • discussions, • workshops, • creative activities, • storytelling, • outdoor activities, • role play, • reflection, • teamwork, • digital tools, • community activities. We want participants to leave our projects not only with new knowledge, but with an experience they will remember. Whenever possible, we also involve young people themselves in planning activities and creating project outputs. Who We Would Like to Cooperate With We are open to both experienced Erasmus+ organisations and organisations preparing their first international projects. We would especially like to connect with: • youth organisations, • NGOs, • youth centres, • schools and educational organisations, • municipalities, • community centres, • organisations working with mental health, • digital education organisations, • organisations specialising in AI and media literacy, • cultural and artistic organisations, • organisations supporting active citizenship, • organisations working with disadvantaged young people. We are interested both in joining projects as a partner organisation and in developing new project ideas together with international partners. We value partnerships where organisations genuinely cooperate on the project concept rather than simply providing participants.