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2019-06-13 Project News

WE AfriHug project brings Africa and Europe closer

Building capacities, impacting lives in Eastern Africa through trainings for Higher Education Institutions and Civil Society Organizations.

Konstantinos-Loukianos Maragkos

The project was organized by the garagErasmus Foundation and the Erasmus Mundus Association, was implemented by the WE AfriHug team and was powered by the Nonprofit organization Youthmakers Hub and supported by the Erasmus Student and Alumni Alliance (ESAA). During the implementation, there were local partners from various organizations. In Ethiopia, the partner organization was the CSO Youth2Youth. In Uganda, the partners were Kyambogo University in Kampala, Kampala International University and Busitema University in Tororo and the CSOs Vijana Kwa Afrika, Afrinype Uganda, Afrika Youth Movement Ugandan Hub and MenEngage.

WE AfriHug 2019 – East Africa took place during the period 15th February until 31st May 2019 in two Eastern African countries, Ethiopia and Uganda. In total ten activities were implemented in the framework of the project: 3 Preparatory Meetings with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), 3 Erasmus+ Training Seminars for HEIs, 3 Erasmus+ and Capacity Building Training Seminars for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and 1 Final Report of the project. The project had in total 740 beneficiaries, including 620 Students & Academic Staff from 3 HEIs (Kyambogo University in Kampala, Kampala International University and Busitema University in Tororo, all in Uganda) and 120 Youth Workers representing 50 CSOs from Ethiopia and Uganda. The results of the project were quite impressive and the numbers higher than predicted and described in the proposal. The short-term Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of the project were met and exceeded. According to the project proposal, the estimated target was 420 beneficiaries. However, at the end of the project we managed to reach 740 beneficiaries. Most importantly, partnerships have been created between African and European Universities and Civil Society Organizations and will be announced in due time.

Evaluation questionnaires were distributed to all participants from each of the two target groups (academic staff & students and youth workers) in order to measure the impact and results of the training seminars.

Academic Staff & Students:  an impressive 98,9 % stated that they thought the training was useful while 96,6 % of the participants stated that the content of the training was interesting. Moreover, 97.7% of the participants stated that the presentations shown during the training were useful and that they learnt something new during the training seminar. According to 97.7% of the participants, the trainers were good while 92% stated that they considered applying for Erasmus+ opportunities. In addition, an impressive 94,3 % of the participants stated that the organization of the training seminar was good. Finally, all the participants stated that they would appreciate more editions of WE AfriHug.

Youth workers: 100% of the participants thought the training seminar was useful with a significant percentage of 95,3 % stating that the content of the training was interesting. Moreover, 95,4% of the participants stated that: the activities carried out during the training seminar were useful to them; they learnt something new during the training seminar; and the trainers were good. Furthermore, 93% of the participants stated that they considered applying for Erasmus+ programme opportunities while 97,7% stated that the organization of the training seminars was good. Finally, all the participants stated that they wanted more editions of WE AfriHug.

From the above summary, it is clear that more than 90% of the participants were satisfied with the project activities and that they are looking forward to taking the knowledge they gained one step further.

WE AfriHug 2019 - East Africa contributed to cluster 1 (Strengthening Higher Education Quality) including all components. Erasmus+ was spread and participation has been widened. By creating partnerships at AU-EU level, international cooperation has increased. During the training of the project, knowledge of the Erasmus+ programme has massively increased among the participants. Reaching rural areas and working on the ground with Civil Society Organizations, access to Erasmus+ has been initiated and facilitated successfully. In the end, all partner organisations including universities contributed to a very successful training on the Erasmus+ programme.

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