Language Buddy aims at enhancing the language learning of students (12 to 17 years old) with a refugee/migrant background through non-formal and informal learning through the upscaling of mentoring practices and implementation of a buddy system. Coordinated by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), schools/education authorities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and migrant-led organisations, the buddy system will involve their matching with students of HEIs (pedagogy/education/language/literature departments) who will be supported to act as language mentors in terms of voluntary programmes and/or placements within the framework of their studies.

Objectives:

• Upscale buddy/mentoring systems with a language-learning component for young people with a migrant background (12 to 17 years old).
• Build the skills of Higher Education students of pedagogy/ education/ language/ literature departments on innovative learning methodologies, intercultural pedagogy and language development.
• Enhance access of young people with a migrant background (12 to 17 years old) to non-formal/informal language learning opportunities (supporting the work done by schools).
• Enhance cooperation between Higher Education Institutions, migrant-led organisations, schools, NGOs, local/regional education authorities for the support of young migrants’ language learning.

Expected results:

• Enhanced skills and competencies of at least 365 HEI students of pedagogy/ education/ literature departments who will be trained in the Language Buddy Model and participate in the pilots as mentors; 
• Empowerment, enhanced (language) skills and competences of at least 365 secondary education pupils of a migrant background who will participate in the pilots as mentees; 
• Strengthened partnerships and cooperation between HEIs, migrant-led organisations, schools, NGOs, local/regional education authorities through joint activities and relevant events;
• Enhanced knowledge and awareness of participating HEIs networks of the benefits of the Language Buddy Model; 5. Enhanced awareness of local and national authorities, and of local communities/wider public on the importance of intercultural communication and solidarity;
• Promotion of innovative, learner-centred digital approaches to migrant language learning.
• Language Buddy Model further embedded into HEIs’ pedagogy/ education/ literature departments and other disciplines across EU countries;
• Modernization of European HEIs;
• Lower absenteeism and early school-leaving rate among children and youth with a refugee/migrant background, increased sense of belonging, civic engagement and improvement of academic performance;
• Meaningful, lasting relationships and social ties between HEI students and secondary education pupils; Mainstreaming of the Language Buddy Model at local/national level;
• Local and international networks of organisations that will cooperate for the inclusion of children and youth with a migrant background beyond the project’s life cycle;
• Social inclusion of migrant families;
• Countering xenophobic narratives and breaking stereotypes.
• Language Buddy opens new paths in a key aspect to advance towards more cohesive and inclusive societies, the learning of official languages by migrant children and adolescents who have recently arrived in EU territories.