Interview by Loredana Dicsi, EDF Membership, Internal Communication and Youth Coordinator.
This June, Loredana Dicsi, Membership, Internal Communication, and Youth Coordinator, attended the Inclusion & Diversity Forum. Although this was the forum’s third edition, it was EDF’s first participation, thanks to an invitation from SALTO Inclusion and Diversity. But what exactly is SALTO, and how does it relate to inclusion and youth?
We asked Henrique Gonçalves from SALTO Inclusion and Diversity, and the coordinator of the Inclusion and Diversity Forum, to explain all the details.
Question: What does SALTO stand for, and what do they do?
SALTO stands for Support, Advanced Learning and Training Opportunities. It consists of a network of 11 Resource Centres working on priority areas within the Erasmus+ Youth and the European Solidarity Corps programmes. For many years, SALTO was exclusively focused on supporting the European Youth Field. However, new SALTOs have been created recently to support the formal sector (higher education, adult education, school education and vocational education and training).
In practice, we provide non-formal learning resources for youth workers and youth leaders and organises training and organise contact-making activities to support organisations and National Agencies (NAs) within the frame of the European Commission’s Erasmus+ Youth programme, the European Solidarity Corps, and beyond.
All our resources are available on the SALTO website, where we also provide several tools, including:
- European Training Calendar, where you can find trainings and seminars organised by SALTO, European Solidarity Corps Resource Centre, Erasmus+ NAs and NGOs
- Toolbox for Training, which contains hundreds of tools and activity ideas for youth work
- Otlas Partner Finding puts you in touch with thousands of youth projects, so you can build strong partnerships and apply for Erasmus+ projects
- Trainers Online for Youth (TOY) is our directory of over 500 trainers, who can deliver your international training activities. In case you are a trainer in the field of youth, you can also add your profile to TOY.
Question: You are representing SALTO Inclusion and Diversity, are there other SALTOs and which ones?
There are in total eleven resource centres, each focused on a specific theme or region. They are all hosted by different Erasmus+ National Agencies.
The thematic SALTOs are focused on the main priorities in Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps (inclusion & diversity; participation & information, digital transformation; and green transition and sustainable development), while the regional SALTOs support organisations and youth workers in non-programme countries (Eastern Europe and Caucasus; EuroMed countries and Southeast Europe).
Finally, SALTO Training and Cooperation supports competence development and training in the youth field, European Solidarity Corps Resource Centre supports the implementation of the ESC programme and SALTO Education and Training, supports applicants and National Agencies working in the formal sector.
If you weren’t familiar with the work of SALTOs, it’s possible that you might be even more confused at this point 🙂
Question: What does Salto Inclusion and Diversity do?
The mission of SALTO Inclusion & Diversity is to support the inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities in international youth projects and to give youth and youth workers skills to deal with diversity of all kinds. That means to develop tools and resources and provide different kinds of opportunities for training, exchange and reflection on inclusion practice. Next to that, we work closely with the European Commission and Erasmus+ National Agencies, and other organisations and institutions at the European level to help make the EU Youth Programmes more accessible to all.
Question: How do you rise awareness around disability? Are you involving also organisations of Persons with Disabilities?
For the past 20 years, we have published a few booklets and tools and organised several activities on the topic of people with disabilities. One of our most relevant projects is the Strategic Partnership for Inclusion(SPI), a long-term cooperation that aims to increase the participation of young people with fewer opportunities and facilitate access of new organisations in the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programmes. One of the main strands of SPI is called ‘Young people experiencing barriers because of disabilities and/or health issues’. Together with a few Erasmus+ National Agencies and organisations representing young people with disabilities, we have been organising training and partnership-building activities, collecting data and launching publications on this topic. One of our most recent publications is “Engage in Inclusion”, which aims to help people with little or no experience in planning disability-inclusive youth projects but are willing to give it a try.
Furthermore, we involved a diverse group of people with experience in inclusion (including people with disabilities), during the preparation and implementation of one of our biggest events, the Inclusion & Diversity Forum. This group provided us with feedback and advice on the accessibility and inclusivity of the event, venue, programme, tools, communication materials and so on. This was a very fruitful process, and personally, I learned a lot from it. And, of course, the contribution of the advisory group contributed massively to the success of the event, and it will become a recurring practice for SALTO I&D when planning and designing future activities and resources.
Question: Can you please name there of the numerous resources SALTO developed that are useful to develop inclusive youth projects and explain them a bit?
Even though it’s difficult to choose only three out of the many resources we created over more than 20 years, my top three would be:
- Inclusion A to Z: This is the best of the SALTO Inclusion & Diversity youth work manuals in one publication. It’s a compass to help organisations navigate through the issues of inclusion and the steps to managing an international-level activity from beginning to end.
- Inclusion Meter – One of our newest tools, the Inclusion Meter identifies all sorts of barriers and thresholds for activities with overnight stays and inspires organisers to overcome them. The main premise is to provide guidance for organising an event where everyone is made to feel welcome.
- ID Talks – Inclusion & Diversity Talks is a series of 5 stand-alone online activities (workshops), of up to 90 minutes each, with inspiring guest speakers, thought-provoking insights, discussion in small groups and Q&A sessions. Since 2020 we hosted 40 inclusion & diversity talks and are planning 5 more for this autumn.
Question: How can young people stay informed of your actions?
We are active on different channels, including our website, newsletter and social media accounts such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
Question: To close this interview which advise do you have for young people with disabilities and or their representatives?
I find that a difficult question. Since I entered the youth work field, I’ve strived to keep an open heart and mind, knowing there’s always more to learn. Additionally, coming from a place of privilege, I sometimes question to which extent I should offer advice.
However, here’s what comes to my mind. Embrace and celebrate your unique identity – your skills, talents, strengths, and life experiences. Everyone has something valuable to contribute.
Furthermore, knowing your rights and advocating for yourself is crucial. Educate others about disability awareness, inclusion, and accessibility. I understand the frustration of constantly talking about or reminding people about obstacles and experiences. Sometimes I hear colleagues and participants expressing that they would wish to participate in more activities that focus on other topics and issues. However, it’s important to use your voice to challenge myths and stereotypes by sharing your own perspectives. At the same time, don’t hesitate to communicate how others can best support you. Seek out support networks and organisations like the European Disability Forum, SALTO I&D, or other institutions and organisations that can either understand your needs or connect you with someone who can.
Remember, we’re all in this together. Even if we make mistakes or can’t fully understand your experience, we can be allies. Together, we can advocate for accessibility, inclusivity, and fair treatment for people with disabilities across all societal structures.
I’m deeply concerned about the current political landscape with the rising of the far right and other anti-diversity movements across Europe, which present additional challenges for the coming years. But, at the same time, this only underlines the importance of advocating for a more just society, where everyone can reach their full potential.
And because trying to make the world a better place takes a lot of energy, it’s important to make self-care a priority, to take care of our physical, emotional, and mental well-being, and to focus on what brings us joy and fulfillment.