S Y N T H E S I S

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The FutEur project (2012-2013) aims to support education by analysing best practice for the development of digital competence for migrants/low skilled workers and early school leavers. It will identify resources, methodologies and philosophies which informed previous lifelong learning programmes and transfer the results of those projects to be mainstreamed within member states. The identified best practices will be exploited througout Europe by presenting two FutEur publications complete with tools and resources on DVD and a handbook. The objective is to support the integration of migrant workers through the use of IT. This will enable and support citizens to acquire key digital competencies. In doing so, FutEur promotes social inclusion, equality and cultural diversity.

The "Ignite Europe" project (2011-2013) aims to enable the target group (VET teachers, trainers, tutors and VET institution managers) to deliver a programme of support to encourage and develop social entrepreneurship with students facing difficulties in the labour market.  The developed training programme is based on the successful IGNITE training developed by the South Sefton Development Trust, UK. The project is expected to also raise awareness of the field of social entrepreneurship in the partner countries and across Europe.

This initiative concerns the transfer of the successful "peer education methodology" to different Cypriot target groups and mainstreaming it into policies and practices.  As a first step, the initiative will benefit young people with hearing impairment. In this context, the programme "Empowerment through peers" is being launched in September 2010 in Nicosia, in cooperation with a youth and cultural organisation. The programme is ready to be adopted and transfered to other groups at risk of social exclusion in all towns.

The project “Light Me Up!” aims to enable travelers to communicate in the local language. The languages covered by the programme are Bulgarian, Czech, Dutch, Greek, and Lithuanian.  The project is using the objectives of the Life Long Learning Programme in order to promote the benefits of language learning among pupils, students and adults and accommodate those less widely used and taught European languages in the context of traveling abroad.  The project is being promoted in tourism fairs in the participating countries. As a result of the project, SYNTHESIS is launching in October 2010 the "Czech for Travel!" learning  programme.

The "European Heritage for Employment' project (2006-2008) brings together a partnership of six organisations from 4 European countries: Cyprus, Malta, Italy and France. Its main objective is to promote Projects that combine rehabilitation/enhancement of the built and natural heritage with professional integration. This Project tool aims to improve the employability of the candidates, in particular in the sectors of construction and environment in Europe and in the Mediterranean. The project is led by Acta Vista in collaboration with Initiatives Europe, France.

The main purpose of the research project “The role of parents in protecting minors from tv violence” (2006-2008) is to investigate the behaviours and practices that parents exercise in controlling tv viewing practices of their children.  Other aims included the investigation of parental perceptions on the types of violent behaviour, the violence within tv programmes, the effects of tv violence on children, the needs and means for protection, and  the duration of tv viewing by children. The project is funded by the Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation.

'Promoting Entrepreneurial Culture in Adult Education' contributes to create a more pro-active and entrepreneurial culture in the society by developing a course for adult trainers, teachers and educators to support them in including entrepreneurial component in adult curricula. This 2-years project aims to deliver awareness and new strategies when it comes to fostering an entrepreneurship spirit to adult learners. The project is led by SPI, Portugal.

The ‘Euphony’ project (2005-2007) aims to develop teaching modules based on a series of techniques derived from the study and experience of the effects of sound and music on the environment and on the human being. The project is coordinated by the Mosaic Art and Sound Ltd, UK.

The "Value of Work" project (2005-2007) focuses on a very important learning environment - the workplace. The project aims to develop various methods and tools for making the knowledge and skills, acquired at work, visible. The project is coordinated by the Education and Training Center, Iceland.

The "Me, Myself, and I" project (2005-2007) aims to provide a peer mentoring service to support excluded or marginalised people in their attempts to gain access to training, education or employment. MMI is coordinated by the Gorseinon College, UK.

The "Social skills and Healthier self Esteem" project (2003-2005) aims to empower women over 40 with low education and skills to build a healthier self esteem and social skills through their participation in social learning circles. The project is coordinated by the SYNTHESIS Center for Research and Education Ltd, Cyprus.