Programme:Erasmus+

Action: Cooperation Partnerships

Field: Youth Education

Submission No: 2023-2-EL02-KA220-YOU-000181130

Acronym:GREENSIGNS

Start Date:01/06/2024

End Date:30/09/2026

Duration:28 Months

Role:Coordinator

The GreenSIGNS project will create and introduce a GREEN EMPLOYABILITY Programme for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in youth work. The GreenSIGNS project pioneers designing the Green Sign Language in Greek, Italian, Cypriot, Spanish and Romanian Sign Languages.

The GreenSIGNS project acknowledges the necessity to upgrade the quality, innovation and validation of youth work practices related to the green transition and the digital transformation, while ensuring inclusive and accessible learning opportunities for all youth regardless of their abilities. It addresses the emerging needs of deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) youth to acquire green employability skills and comprehend issues related to green transition.

The project’s objectives are to:

  1. Promote inclusion and diversity in youth work through the design of a green employability programme for DHH dovetailed with the EU GREEN SIGN LANGUAGE COMPETENCE FRAMEWORK designed through a co-design strategy with the deaf community in each country (per GREENCOMP framework) which is not currently in place.
  2. Foster environmental awareness to DHH and among youth workers through the GreenSIGNS VR Simulations (serious games) to support the acquisition of green employability skills.
  1. Raise awareness and involvement in environmental issues through equipping young people with environmental consciousness adhered by the EU GREEN DEAL and Youth Strategy to lead to more sustainable practices within their community
  1. Strengthen employability of young people as many often face exclusion and reduced youth initiatives on green employability by empowering the youth sector with validated capacity-building training as per the micro-credentials methodology supported with new tools and resources based on hands-on activities
  1. Enhance employability skills of deaf/hard of hearing youth in green-related jobs based on the profile of green experts and synergies

The above will be achieved through the inclusive and accessible GreenSIGNS TOOL KIT based on the needs of deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) youth to include a collection on new innovative tools, resources and material:

– The first European Green Sign Language Competence Framework for creating a specific sign for 50 green related terms accompanied by QR Code Green Cards with photos, links, videos, explanations etc. to ensure green skills acquisition.

– The first collection of real-life scenarios related to the GreenCOMP Framework, to be used as the basis for the development of GreenSIGNS VR Simulations to promote green skills acquisition across green-oriented professions.

– The Validated Capacity Building Training for youth as per the micro-credentials’ methodology tailored to the requirements of DHH and aligned with GreenCOMP, LifeComp and DigiComp for fostering green, employability and soft skills, accompanied with a set of recorded webinars in sign languages of partner countries.

– The Inclusive GreenSIGNS Platform also available via mobile devices for integrating all products including the Networking Tool to connect labour market actors, VET institutions, HEIs etc. with youth organisations for providing further professional and accreditation opportunities for deaf youth.

The project is coordinated by the P1: N.C.S.R. “Demokritos” in collaboration with:

P2: Associazioni Unite dei Sordi della Regione Umbria (Italy)

P3: Emphasys Centre (Cyprus)

P4: Fundacion GFM Renovables (Spain)

P4: Special High School and Lyceum S.E. for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing of Thessaloniki (Greece)

P5: Asociatia Nationala a Profesorilor pentru Elevi cu Deficiente de Auz Virgil Florea (Romania)

Website: https://greensigns.eu/

E-Learning Platform: https://greensigns.iit.demokritos.gr/

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E-mail: greensigns.project [at] gmail.com