Y.M.D.R.A.B.LINKS - Logopedists Interact for New Knowledge and Skills
YMDRAB in partnership with the Romanian, Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian associations of speech and language therapists implemented a project named „LINKS - Logopedists Interact for New Knowledge and Skills“. The main project aim was to provide quality training to those working with children and youngsters with communication problems in rural areas in order to increase their professional capacity and to improve the quality of services they provide.
Main project activity was an international training course for youth workers which took place from 23.08.2019 to 01.09.2019 in Kranevo, Bulgaria. The training brought together 42 speech and language therapists from Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia who work with rural children and youngsters.
The training was conducted by an international team of experts consisting of one trainer from each participating country. The activities were entirely based on methods of non-formal education, including: interactive presentations, mixed working groups, workshops, group discussions, field visit and others. The participants learnt about the essence and applicability of the latest methods and systems for work with children and youngsters with various communication impairments – early intervention, stuttering, articulation and phonological impairments, interactive tools in speech and language therapy, power of sound, music and movement for sensory processing, language and learning, and others. The participants exchanged ideas and personal experience and made new professional contacts with colleagues from other countries that to be used for further interaction. An important part of the training was presenting opportunities offered by “Erasmus+” Programme to youth workers and organisations which work with children and youngsters with fewer opportunities and planning of ideas for further cooperation at different levels. Also, activities for intercultural exchange between the participants took place.
The project enhanced the participants’ professional competences, improved the quality of their work and increased the capacity of the partner organisations for international team-work. It activated exchange and collaboration between them for development and integration of new working methods and approaches. The acquired new knowledge, skills and tools were immediately put into practice through the daily work of the participants with children and youngsters with communication problems at local level. Also, the project results are distributing at international level through the membership of the partner organisations in The Committee of EU Speech and Language Therapists and in the European youth movement MIJARC Europe. Through these international professional and youth networks the project results will be disseminated to a large number of professionals.
Learning outcomes are published in a BROCHURE which contains description of methods, tools and resources for work with children and youngsters with various communication problems. The brochure is a useful tool for use by a wide range of stakeholders (speech and language therapists, resource teachers, parents) and responsible institutions (kindergartens, schools, health and social centers).
The project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.
