Activities

Regular activities are consultations on fundraising for public beneficiary measures, information, education & technical assistance for non-profit organizations. Local and international voluntary projects are being implemented in cooperation with organizations from Europe, Jordan, Latinamerica (Nicaragua & Brazil), Georgia, Russia (region of Kamchatka) and cooperation is started with Ukraine, Armenia.

Latest activities of the organization:

Regular support for reginal NGOs

Consultations, information & trainings available for non-profit organizations – consultants and mentors available in 2 towns in Latvia (Jelgava & Jekabpils):

Voluntary service at local and international level

Since 2002 Zemgale NGO Centre has been running number of individual projects for European Voluntary work programme. Since 2002 there are more than 70 sending projects & 51 hosting projects implemented. We are coordinating voluntary work at local level as well coordinationg projects in Europe, EVS program partner countries as well as Middle East, Latinamerica & Russia.

Most of projects are connected to social issues, youth work & non-formal education.

Participation in decision making process at local and national level

Commissions / workgroups / memorandums:

Local level:

Jelgava city council Society integration commission
Jelgava city council consultative board for youth policies
University of Agriculture, Examination Commission
Partnership of regional NGO resource centres in Zemgale region

National level:

Ministry of Welfare, memorandum of cooperation (information exchange)
Cabinet of Ministers, NGO cooperation memorandum
Ministry of Education and Science, Structured dialogue work group
Latvian Civic alliance, manager of Zemgale NGO Centre is currently chairperson of the advisory board
Zemgale region Agency for sustainable energy
Zemgale Planning Region work group

Projects:

Organization	Zemgale NGO Centre(LV), Soros Educational Center Foundation (RO), FTU asbl (BE), ISIS GmbH (DE), ISQ(PT)
Project name	Promotion of Social entrepreneurship at national & Euroean level
Description	The SEED project has been granted by the European Commission, with the support of Erasmus+ Programme. It lasts for two years, from September 1st 2014 until August 31st 2016. Its aim is to develop joint measures for promotion of social entrepreneurship education. The target groups of SEED are: Adult educators Adult education organizations NGO associations and NGOs Social entrepreneurs Social entrepreneurship start-ups Organizations that promotes development of social entrepreneurship More info about the project: http://seedproject.eu/
Allocated funding

Organization	LV, DE, ES, IT
Project name	BADU
Description	BADU fosters the use of Open Badges for validating youth workers' competences in the areas of youth mobility and non-formal learning. The need for an Open Badges project to recognise and validate youth workers' competences arose from the direct experience of partners and the analysis of policy documents produced by the European Commission. The European Commission wants to support the recognition and validation of youth work. The European Youth Strategy (2009) points out the need ‘to equip youth workers with professional skills and promote their validation through the appropriate European instruments (Europass, EQF, ECVET)’. The 2010 Brussels Resolution on youth work invites the Commission to develop ‘instruments for the documentation of competences of youth workers and youth leaders which would help to recognise and evaluate the quality of youth work in Europe.’ Youth organisations can use Open Badges to validate competences or achievements (for example learning or mastering specific tasks, developing work-related basic and transversal skills, mentoring peers to support their learning, etc). Youth workers and volunteers who work in the youth sector can use Open Badges to validate social competences, which are usually not certified by formal or higher education. Open Badges can be collected by different sources and can be stored into a virtual portfolio. Collect your BADU Open badges and prove your experience in youth work! The BADU Open Badges are based on the principles of gamification- the application of game-design elements and game principles in educational and work contexts to improve user engagement, flow and learning. More info about the project: https://www.badge-badu.eu/en
Allocated funding

Organization	LV, BE, ES, IT, PT, FR
Project name	Myself&Europe
Description	Myself&Europe Project aims to answer to Social Inclusion” horizontal priorities and “further strength key competences in VET” and introducing systematics approaches to development of VET proffesionals” sectorial priorities. This project will develop an innovative Training Pack: • Myself&Europe Curriculum (EQF & ECVET) • Myself&Europe Innovative Toolbox for trainers&teachers • Myself&Europe Innovative Toolbox for youngsters • Myself&Europe Exploitation Guide More info about the project: https://myselfandeurope.eu/en/
Allocated funding

Organization	Zemgale NGO Center (LV), ISQ (PT), FUNDATIA CENTRUL EDUCATIONAL SPEKTRUM (RO), FIPL(IR), CARDET (CY), ECQ (BG)
Project name	T-Challenge
Description	The T-Challenge (Entrepreneurship education using challenge-based learning) project aims at using and creating WebQuests for engaging learners in obtaining a deeper knowledge of the subjects they are studying. With this type of active learning, which provides learners with a variety of sensory experience, students can explore real-world problems and challenges. This methodology has been gaining adherents due to its flexibility in framing various pedagogical strategies and adaptability to the most diverse contents, as well as the way in which it maximizes the use of the digital tools and environments available today. While engaged in the WebQuests, learners develop a variety of connections with the content and can form positive memories of learning. The fun or interesting moments tend to stand out in students’ memories and thus a positive emotional connection is considered to facilitate learning. The direct target groups of the project are trainers and teachers, but trainees have been identified as an indirect target group who will be the actual end-users of the project products (WebQuests). The T-Challenge project has been granted by the European Commission, with the support of Erasmus+ Programme. It lasts for 24 months, between 01 November 2017 and 31 October 2019. More info about the project: https://t-challenge.eu/en
Allocated funding

Zemgales NVO centrs

The aim of the Zemgale NGO Center is to promote the development of civil society in the Zemgale region. Over twenty years, the organization has expanded its lines of business and improved the quality of its services.

Activities