NEWS

ASDA ry hosted Job Shadow Program in Helsinki

Between 7–14 August 2025, ASDA ry had the pleasure of hosting two staff members from Somali Community Service e.V. (Germany) as part of the Erasmus+ project SELF-PATH – improving skills for economic independence of women.

Throughout the week, the visiting staff shadowed our team in:

– Project and administrative management practices

– Applying inclusion tools for women in local and international initiatives

– Supporting community projects that empower adult women

– Running social media campaigns and digital outreach

– Planning inclusive events and activities

This exchange was not only a learning opportunity for the visiting participants but also enriched ASDA’s own practices through mutual knowledge sharing and cooperation.

The Job Shadow is the first step of the SELF-PATH project. In November, the project will continue with a Training Course in Italy to further strengthen staff competences in social entrepreneurship, governance, and women’s empowerment.

We are proud to contribute to this international collaboration and thank Somali Community Service e.V. for their active participation.

Special thanks to our partner Mine Vaganti NGO for their strong contribution to the success of this project — your commitment and expertise made a real difference.

Together, we are building stronger pathways for women’s inclusion and empowerment across Europe

NAIS Project – Training of Trainers in Lohja, Finland Concluded Successfully

From 4–8 August 2025, we gathered at Elontuli Course Center in Lohja for the Training of Trainers under the Nature Connection for Supporting Integration (NAIS) project.

This milestone activity brought together passionate trainers, youth workers, and experts to test and refine the Nature-Based Integration Toolkit — ensuring it is practical, culturally adaptable, and impactful for supporting integration through nature.

Over five days, participants experienced and facilitated powerful nature-based methods, including:

– Nature Within Us – authentic connection with nature

– Breathe the Calming Earth & Breathe the Strength of the Trees – grounding and resilience-building practices

– Nature Walk Storytelling Stations – fostering empathy and belonging

– Nature Mandalas & Nature Strips – creative self-expression with natural materials

The sessions combined learning, creativity, reflection, and movement, offering innovative tools for empowering youth — especially those with migrant backgrounds.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all trainers, facilitators, and experts for their expertise and dedication, and to the Elontuli Course Center team for their warm hospitality and delicious, healthy meals. Special appreciation to ASDA ry as the hosting NGO — especially Vesa Asikainen for his outstanding dedication to achieving the highest outcomes for both the training and the project as a whole. Special thanks also to facilitator Wided Ghadhoun for her professionalism and dedication, which greatly contributed to the success of this activity – and to all NAIS partners for their commitment to making integration more connected to nature.

Together, we continue building pathways for inclusion, resilience, and community through the healing power of nature.

#NAISProject#ErasmusPlus#NatureForIntegration#YouthWork#Inclusion#NatureConnection#Finland

Successful Conclusion of the Transnational Partners Meeting in Helsinki, Finland – “Would You Mind-Set” Project

From May 7-9, 2025, we concluded a highly productive and successful Transnational Partners Meeting for the “Would You Mind-Set” project in Helsinki, Finland. This strategic partnership, supported by the European Commission, brought together partners from various countries to discuss how we can further our mission to boost academic achievement among disadvantaged students by leveraging the power of Mindset theory.

During the meeting, our delegates had the unique opportunity to visit Havukosken koulu in Vantaa. The school’s Principal, Arto Martikainen, graciously gave us a comprehensive presentation about the Finnish education system and led us on a tour of the school, giving us valuable insights into the teaching practices that support student success.

Our Mission:

To empower science teachers in low socio-economic areas with the tools and knowledge they need to cultivate a growth mindset in their students, enabling them to thrive academically, particularly in science education.

Our Specific Objectives:

-Improving the mindset of science teachers working in schools in low socio-economic areas.

-Transforming students in these regions into individuals with a developing mindset, particularly in science subjects.

-Developing a curriculum that integrates growth mindset principles into science courses.

-Ensuring dissemination of mindset-enhancing methods through open access to digital resources.

This project holds great promise in helping us create positive, long-lasting change in education, and we look forward to the continued collaboration and success of all partners involved.

The consortium of the project:

Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University, Turkey

Hacettepe University, Turkey

Ankara University, Turkey

Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Turkey

Erzincan Provincial Directorate of National Education, Turkey

AAR Social Development Association “ASDA” RY, Finland

Van Youth Education Academy Association ( VYEAA), Turkey

Asociacion De Innovacion Emprendimiento Y TecnologiasDe La Informacion La Comunicacion (INNETICA), Spain

Fondazione Istituto di Formazione Culturale Sant Anna, Italy

Together, we’re making a difference in low socio-economic areas.

To follow us through our website for updates;

On June 5-6, 2024, ASDA ry has successfully hosted in Helsinki, Finland, the Transnational meeting of the “ARISE – Active, Responsible, and entrepreneurial citizens united in diversity” project, supported by Erasmus+ under SCH Actions for Cooperation Partnerships.

This initiative aims to strengthen the capacities of education and training professionals, enabling them to effectively navigate the complex terrain of equity, diversity, and inclusion within the learning environment. ARISE aspires to champion the inclusion and empowerment of disadvantaged and third-country learners, including refugees, asylum seekers, and newly arrived migrants.

During the two-days meeting, partners provided general updates on the project status and addressed all pending issues, feedback, and comments. We discussed strategies for the exploitation, dissemination, and sustainability of project results.

A key highlight was the presentation of the ARISE platform (https://arisehashtag.eu/), which offers educational tools such as a Handbook for educational staff, Training workshops for teachers, an E-learning course for the educational community, and much more.

This meeting reinforced our collective commitment to fostering an inclusive educational environment and equipping educators with the tools they need to support diverse learners.

We look forward to continuing our collaboration and making a significant impact in the field of education.

#ARISE,#ERASMUSPLUS#EDUCATION#FINLAND#eLearningCourses

The Multiplier Event for the #Erasmus+ “Digital and Critical of Women of 21st Century project” supported by European Commission in the frame of Strategic Partnership, organized by ASDA ry, on 4 February 2024, in Helsinki Finland.

Following the finalization of all implementation activities of the project, which will be completed at the end February 2024, a targeted awareness raising event was organized with the participation of migrant women and men, employees with a migrant background, educators and professionals working with adult migrants, organizations providing social and educational support to migrants, NGOs, Municipal Authorities and other stakeholders.

The results of the three outputs were presented, whereas all participants committed to act as ambassadors of the project and of its results among companies, education and migrants’ integration cycles.

The general aim of this project is to turn the disadvantaged women in the societies into digital and critical readers which will equip them with educational, professional and social skills.

Concrete objectives of this project:

– to provide disadvantaged women with digital literacy skills and critical literacy skills

– to train trainers in order to train disadvantaged women in societies for digital and critical literacy

– to propose a new methodology for adult education combining digital and critical literacy

– to disseminate the new methodology for disadvantaged adult education.

Check out with all project details at project website:

www.digiandcriticalwomen.com

#erasmus#ErasmusPlus#adulteducation#labormarket#integration#migrants#HR

On 23-24 January – 2023, ASDA ry has successfully hosted the Kick off meeting of “Developing Routes for Europe’s future through non-formal Learning with Active Members” – D.R.E.A.M.LAND project in Helsinki, Finland, supported by European Commission.

The general objective of the D.R.E.A.M.LAND is to make young people willing to participate actively in civil society and political life at local, national, and European scales. For young people to be willing to participate, they need to learn and experience how to become more knowledgeable, more conscious, and more active. To achieve Europe’s carbon-neutral continent target, European youth first needs to be conscious and active.

The first phase of the D.R.E.A.M.LAND project will be training for more than 800 youth leaders on active citizenship and political literacy to empower youth. For the coming 2 years and beyond, young people will be encouraged to act as decision makers, policy makers, policy implementers and will be discussed of how they can be united towards the goal of a carbon neutral continent by 2050.

Furthermore, it aims that different stakeholders and organizations are cooperating and sharing resources, knowledge, and experience for the greater good of the societies in Europe at large.

During the meeting, the partners discussed the different components of the implementation framework, including, project management, work packages, quality assurance, dissemination, the distribution of tasks, as well as the calendar of activities.

The Consortium is comprised of:

LYKIA IZCILIK VE DOGA SPORLARI KULUBU DERNEGI, Turkey

AAR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION(ASDA) RY, Finland

ASSOCIATION MIGRATION SOLIDARITE & ECHANGE POUR LE DEVELOPPEMENT, France

Circle of Sustainable Europe, Belgium

HELLO YOUTH, Sweden

ZAVOD APGA, AGENCIJA ZA PROMOCIJO GIBALNIH AKTIVNOSTI, Slovenia

MINE VAGANTI NGO, Italy

CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES INNOVA LAB BITOLA, North Macedonia

Final Meeting of the DREAMLAND Project in Sassari, Italy

From December 10th to 13th, 2024, the picturesque city of Sassari, Italy, became the hub of impactful discussions and reflections as we gathered for the final meeting of the DREAMLAND Project. Hosted by Mine Vaganti NGO, this event marked the culmination of a European Union-funded initiative aimed at empowering youth aged 18-30 with a deep understanding of political processes and the skills to shape their futures.

The meeting brought together project partners, youth participants, and key stakeholders from across Europe to:

– Celebrate the achievements of DREAMLAND and the youth it has inspired.

– Exchange best practices and success stories from the project.

– Strategize on sustaining the project’s outcomes to continue fostering youth engagement in politics and decision-making.

Mine Vaganti NGO provided an inspiring and collaborative space for these discussions, showcasing their commitment to empowering young people and creating sustainable societal impact.

As the DREAMLAND Project concludes, we reflect on the journey of growth and transformation it has enabled for youth across Europe. We are immensely grateful to Mine Vaganti NGO for their exceptional hosting and to all participants who made this initiative a success.

Stay tuned for the final report and exciting updates on the long-lasting impact of DREAMLAND!

#DREAMLAND#YouthEmpowerment#EUProjects#PoliticalEngagement#MineVagantiNGO

Final Event of the D.R.E.A.M.LAND Project in Helsinki!

On December 4, 2024, we successfully conducted the final activity event of the Developing Routes for Europe’s future through non-formal Learning with Active Members (D.R.E.A.M.LAND) project in Helsinki, Finland—a milestone moment in our journey toward empowering European youth!

Supported by the European Commission under the EU ERASMUS-YOUTH-2022-YOUTH-TOG framework, D.R.E.A.M.LAND aimed to cultivate active citizenship, political literacy, and environmental consciousness among young people. With the goal of a carbon-neutral Europe by 2050, we believe that an informed and engaged youth is essential for shaping the future.

Over the course of the project, more than 800 youth leaders have been trained on active citizenship and political participation, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to become decision-makers, policymakers, and change agents in their communities.

The next phase? Sustained action! Young people across Europe are encouraged to take the lead in fostering collaboration, sharing resources, and implementing policies that drive positive change—both socially and environmentally.

A huge thank you to all participants, partners, and stakeholders who contributed to making this initiative a success. Let’s continue working together to empower the next generation and create a greener, more democratic Europe!

#ErasmusPlus#ActiveCitizenship#YouthEmpowerment#PoliticalLiteracy#CarbonNeutralEurope#DREAMLAND#FutureOfEurope#SustainableDevelopment

We are pleased to have the final meeting and multiplier event of the ARISE – Active, Responsible, and Entrepreneurial Citizens United in Diversity project, supported by Erasmus+ under the SCH Actions for Cooperation Partnerships. Hosted by Hellenic Open University, the event is taking place in Athens, Greece, from September 17-20, 2024.

The ARISE project aims to strengthen the capacities of education and training professionals, helping them effectively navigate the complex challenges of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the learning environment. It focuses on empowering disadvantaged and third-country learners, including refugees, asylum seekers, and newly arrived migrants, fostering their inclusion and participation in European society.

“For comprehensive details about the ARISE project, visit our platform at https://arisehashtag.eu. The platform provides valuable educational tools, including a Handbook for educational staff, Training workshops for teachers, an E-learning course for the educational community, and much more.