Partners
Athens Lifelong Learning Institute (Greece)
Athens Lifelong Learning Institute is a research and education institute, based in Greece. It has the mission to foster and enhance innovation processes mainly in the areas of education and lifelong learning, human capital development, knowledge society and social inclusion. The Institute exhibits an active interest in a number of social issues such as social exclusion, discrimination and suppression of human rights and has attempted through the implementation of innovative learning methodologies to moderate their impact.
Institut Saumurois de la Communication (France)
The Institut Saumurois de la Communication (ISC) has operated as an adult education and training center since 1994. The Institute provides a range of education and training services, as well as supporting services to different target groups. The Institute provides high quality training services, tailored to the needs of the different target populations and to the thematic fields. It develops a variety of innovative training methodologies and approaches, such as formal and informal learning methodologies, one-to-one tutorials, groups counseling, blended and distant learning, combination of practical and theoretical modules, the use of training platforms and tools, etc.
European Prison Education Association (Norway)
The European Prison Education Association (EPEA) is an organisation made up of prison educators, administrators, governors, researchers and other professionals, whose interests lie in promoting and developing education and related activities in prisons throughout Europe in accordance with the recommendations of the Council of Europe.
University of Gloucestershire (United Kingdom)
The University of Gloucestershire (UOG) is a diverse, vibrant community of 9,000 undergraduate students, 1,000 postgraduate students, 40,000 alumni and 1,000 staff from all across the world. With campuses in Cheltenham and Gloucester, the University offers its students a specialised and dynamic place to learn, grow and make lasting connections. The University’s Strategic Plan 2017-2022, Financial Review 2013, and Student Charter 2013, set out UOG’s commitment to enhance the student experience and provide a more detailed understanding of the University of Gloucestershire’s business. UOG focuses on excellence in research, teaching and business engagement. The University of Gloucestershire is committed to social justice and inclusion. Being committed to serving the wider community is one of its key principles.
CESIE
(Italy)
CESIE is a non-profit, apolitical, and non-governmental organisation based in Palermo (Italy) and established in 2001. CESIE is committed to promote the cultural, social, educational and economic development at local, national, European and international levels. CESIE contributes to growth and development through the active participation of people, civil society and institutions, always valuing diversity. Inspired by the work of Danilo Dolci, we focus our work on the research of social needs and challenges and the use of innovative learning approaches. In this way, CESIE actively connects research with action through the use of formal and non-formal learning methodologies.
Skills4Life Project Team Members
CESIE (Italy)
Alice Valensa
Alice Valenza holds an MA in Anthropology and Development from the London School of Economics and a BA in Humanities from the University of Bologna. She is Project Manager at CESIE in the Youth and Rights and Justice Units, where her work includes qualitative and quantitative research, non-formal education and project design. At CESIE, she is mostly involved in projects related to child protection and youth participation. She has worked as program officer and project manager in third sector organizations in Italy an abroad, dealing with humanitarian aid, migrants’ inclusion, community development, urban regeneration and active citizenship.
Guiseppe La Farina
Since 2014 Mr Giuseppe La Farina has been working in the field of youth, non-formal education, mobility and inclusion, at European and international level. He is an experienced project designer and manager especially in EU projects promoting short and long-term mobility of young people and youth workers. Mr La Farina has competences in the preparation, monitoring and evaluation of mobility activities within projects at local and transnational levels. Moreover, he has know-how in promoting several educational tools by using different topics: sport, art therapy, gardening etc. Currently, he manages Youth Unit’s development strategy, coordinates Unit Staff, implements project quality control, dissemination and communication strategies; financial/content reporting for EU and national funding agencies, and networking for specific EU funding programmes.
University of Gloucestershire (United Kingdom)
Professor Adeela ahmed Shafi
Adeela leads the University of Gloucestershire Skills4Life team and has a background in Psychology and Education. Her research draws on psychological theories to explore ways to re-engage young offenders with education and learning in custodial settings. Adeela has occupied leadership roles in a number of Eramus+ projects involving the education of young people in secure settings.
Dr Laura Castillo-Eito
Laura has been involved with the UoG Skills4Life team since the start of the project. Her background is in Applied Social Psychology and her PhD is on the prevention of aggressive behaviour in adolescents, received from the University of Sheffield. Laura is an expert in research methodologies and much of her work is with young people in secure settings in particular.
European Prison Education Association (Norway)
Institut Saumurois de la Communication (France)
Françoise SALESSE
Françoise founded ISC in 1994. Since then, she has worked as a trainer and coach for people in difficulty, facing problems of integration and illiteracy. With a degree in occupational psychology, she works as a consultant for a number of companies. Françoise has been involved in a number of European projects, either as coordinator or partner.
Jérôme TAFANI
Jérôme has been working as a project manager for ISC for 3 years. With a degree in communications, he is an office automation trainer for people with low qualifications. He has already taken part in a number of Erasmus projects.
Athens Lifelong Learning Institute (Greece)
Xenofon Chalatsis
Xenofon Chalatsis is a project manager in the Athens Lifelong Learning Institute. Since 2006 he has been working as a researcher, adult trainer and project manager in adult education institutes and vocational training centres. Since 2016 he has been working as project manager, adult trainer, coach and proposal writer for the project implemented by the Athens Lifelong Learning Institute. Xenofon Chalatsis is an expert in the development of educational curricula and supplementary learning and training material in the field of adult education and in the implementation of adult education initiatives. He also has developed expertise in the support of the learning process of the participants, especially regarding people from vulnerable and disadvantaged social groups (such as Roma populations, unaccompanied minors, youth in conflict with law and disadvantaged parents). He has also been involved in many innovative European projects and Community Initiatives. Xenofon Chalatsis is a psychologist and has been awarded a M.Sc. in Social Psychology from the University of Warwick, UK.
Ourania Xylouri
Founder and director of the Athens Lifelong Learning Institute. Since 2002, she has been a project manager, developer and researcher of large and small European projects (EQUAL, Justice, Erasmus, REC etc.). She holds an MSc from the London School for Economic and Political Science (LSE) and a BA in Sociology. She has managed and coordinated successfully more than 50 EU-funded projects where the organization acts either as leader or co-beneficiary. Her expertise includes digitalised and inclusive education and capacity building, media literacy, social inclusion and impact measurements.