ALMA initiative gains momentum: members of the ALMA network and the beneficiaries of ALMA Central Call met in Milan to share experiences of working with disadvantaged young people
In Milan, Italy, on the 5th and 6th of December 2023 the European Competence Centre for Social Innovation hosted the fourth ALMA network event combined with the Kick-off event of ALMA (Aim-Learn-Master-Achieve) beneficiaries of Central Call. In collaboration with the European Commission, the event brought together a wide range of experts, Managing Authorities, and practitioners from 15 European Union Member States, as well as an additional audience online, passionate about the issues disadvantaged young people are facing in today's society.
The agenda comprised insightful sessions, practitioners' panel discussion and round tables discussions between the members of ALMA network and the ALMA beneficiaries.
The event was moderated by Bettina Reuter, a pioneer in the development of the ALMA initiative and a thematic expert in the ALMA network. Under Reuter's leadership, the discussions were insightful and forward-thinking, focusing on practical strategies and exchange of experiences.
The first day started with two practice-oriented internal sessions of the ALMA network. The first session delved deep into the application of Simplified Costs options within the framework of the ALMA Delegated Act. Michael Grosse, the representative of the European Commission, presented the specificities of the Delegated Act and discussed its practical implementation with the network members. Representatives from the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain (Catalonia) shared their valuable insights and experiences on the financial framework for calls for proposals. The second internal session focused on the key elements ALMA considered when drafting calls, sharing of experiences, lessons learned and practical issues of organising the next activities of the network.
The subsequent panel discussion involved ALMA network practitioners from the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovenia and Sweden, who have implemented projects under the TLN mobility programmes targeting the most vulnerable young people, and all 29 beneficiaries of the ALMA Central Call. The panellists shared their experiences of transnational cooperation, challenges with the target group, placement, finance, and other activities. Moreover, this joint activity has become an inspiring space for the beneficiaries to exchange good practices at the round table discussions on the implementation the ALMA initiative.
The second day of the event was dedicated to the ALMA projects’ beneficiaries and to the practical topics on the implementation of ALMA projects. After the European Social Fund Agency (ESFA) presentations, the topics were further discussed by the sharing of practical examples and question-and-answer sessions. Divided into groups, attendees continued with the interactive round table discussion, where they addressed the challenges faced during the previous projects and proposed actionable ideas for the implementation of ALMA projects.
The last session was concluded with impactful closing remarks by Miglė Aleksonytė from ESFA. She stressed that continuous sharing of the experience between the ALMA network and the ALMA beneficiaries is one of the key factors of ALMA projects, especially considering the specific target group that ALMA beneficiaries work with. Moreover, she pointed out that more mutual learning events between ALMA beneficiaries and the members of ALMA network are planned for the future. Also, practical visits to project sites will be organised allowing participants to witness firsthand the work of organisations supporting vulnerable groups.
This event demonstrates the power of collaboration and collective efforts in tackling the challenges of working with vulnerable groups of young people. Sharing experiences and insights will undoubtedly become the guiding principles of the ALMA initiative in order to improve the help provided for vulnerable youth groups.
