About the project
With the implementation of our project, we sought to respond to three critical needs that we identified in the youth sector at the European level: strengthening the digital literacy of youth workers, integrating environmental sustainability into youth work practices, and effectively promoting inclusion so that no group of young people is left behind. From the outset, we set ourselves the goal of ensuring that our intervention would not be fragmented or theoretical, but would produce tangible results and establish a model that could be used by youth organizations across Europe.
Project objectives
Digital literacy and competences
Our first key objective was to strengthen digital literacy. We live in an age where technology is evolving faster than ever and where young people are fully immersed in the use of digital tools. However, youth workers themselves, who are responsible for guiding and inspiring young people, often lack the necessary familiarity or skills to effectively utilize digital opportunities. We wanted to ensure that youth workers acquire not only basic knowledge of computers and web applications, but also more advanced skills, such as creating and utilizing digital tools for educational purposes, developing communication strategies on social networks, and using innovative methods to engage young people in interactive and participatory activities.
Quality and innovation of youth work
Through our project, we sought to empower youth workers to become agents of change within their communities by equipping them with practical knowledge and skills to design and implement actions that reduce their ecological footprint, integrate environmentally friendly practices into their organizations, and cultivate a culture of environmental responsibility among the young people they work with. In this way, the project was not limited to imparting theoretical knowledge, but acted as a catalyst for cultivating a new generation of environmentally conscious citizens. Equally important was the goal of promoting inclusion in youth work. In 21st-century Europe, where societies are characterized by diversity, it is essential that youth work embraces everyone without exception or exclusion. We wanted to highlight ways in which youth workers can reach out to and support groups that are traditionally underrepresented or marginalized, whether they are young people with fewer opportunities, young people from different cultural or social backgrounds, or people with disabilities. Our goal was to enrich the toolkit of youth workers with methods and strategies that promote diversity, equality, and inclusion, so that every young person has the opportunity to participate equally and reap the benefits of youth programs. At the same time, we sought to strengthen the capacity and cooperation of youth organizations themselves. Providing training, resources, and opportunities for the exchange of good practices between organizations was a specific goal, but one that is critical to the sustainability and continuous improvement of the sector. We wanted to create a network of cooperation where youth workers could share experiences, draw inspiration from each other's practices, and jointly develop innovative approaches. This process enhances the quality of youth work as a whole and fosters a spirit of European solidarity and cooperation.
Digital youth work
We therefore wanted to provide the appropriate digital information, guidance, and support so that more youth workers could take advantage of these opportunities and pass them on to the young people they represent. Strengthening this participation means more mobility experiences, more intercultural learning, and more opportunities for personal and professional development. All of the above objectives were achieved through a strategy that combined workshops, training sessions, the creation of an online resource platform, and dissemination and implementation actions at the local level after the completion of the mobility activities. In this way, participants were not limited to acquiring knowledge, but had the opportunity to put it into practice.
How we did it?
Workshops
The first cycle of activities included digital literacy workshops, in which participants had the opportunity to acquire and strengthen skills ranging from a basic understanding of digital technology to the use of more advanced tools. These workshops focused on topics such as the use of social networks to enhance youth participation and community communication, creating digital content for education and awareness-raising, and the safe use of digital platforms with respect for privacy and data protection. The participatory nature of the workshops enabled youth workers to share experiences, raise practical issues, and develop solutions that can be directly applied in their workplace. We then placed particular emphasis on environmental sustainability through a series of targeted training sessions. These sessions were designed to help youth workers integrate green practices into the daily operations of their organizations. Issues such as ecological event management, the use of sustainable resources, reducing environmental footprints, and raising environmental awareness among young people were analyzed. The section on designing sustainable projects was particularly valuable, as it gave participants the opportunity to think creatively about how they could organize activities that combine social contribution with environmental benefits.
Inclusivity and equality through cultural exchange
An equally important part of the project was the forums and discussions on inclusion and diversity. Here, we created an open and safe space where participants exchanged views on the obstacles often faced by young people from marginalized or underrepresented groups. Through experiential exercises and interactive discussions, we developed strategies to make organizations more open and equitable. These forums were not limited to theoretical analysis, but produced concrete ideas and practices on how youth workers can reach out to young people facing social, economic, or cultural barriers. A central element of the project was the collaborative project development sessions, where participants were divided into mixed international teams. Each group was tasked with designing a small-scale project that incorporated the three key themes of the program: digitization, sustainability, or inclusion. In this way, youth workers learned to collaborate across national borders, exchange experiences, and develop project management skills. These small-scale projects did not remain theoretical, but were later implemented in local communities, reinforcing the dissemination of the program’s results. At the same time, we developed an online resource center, which brings together material and tools to enhance digital literacy, good practice guides for sustainability, and guidelines for promoting inclusion. This hub remains available to all participants and any interested youth workers, ensuring that the knowledge produced will not be lost at the end of the project but will continue to be used and enriched. Finally, after the completion of the mobility, local dissemination events were organized in each partner country.
Long term impact
Participants were responsible for transferring their knowledge and experiences to their communities through presentations, seminars, and activities with young people and local organizations. In this way, the project took on a multiplier effect, as the results exceeded the initial number of participants and reached a much wider audience. In terms of the profile and number of participants, we involved a total of 37 youth workers, equally distributed among all partner countries. They were selected on the basis of their diversity, their experience in youth work, and their willingness to improve their skills and actively contribute to the project’s objectives. The group included youth workers from different backgrounds: professionals working in youth organizations, volunteers active at the local level, trainers in non-formal learning contexts, and community leaders who have the ability to communicate the results.
The project results
The results and impact of our project were substantial and multifaceted, leaving a lasting mark on both the youth workers who participated and the organizations and communities in which they are active. From the outset, we set the bar high, aiming to strengthen skills, cultivate attitudes, and create a culture that will continue to have a multiplier effect far beyond the duration of the project. One of the most tangible results was the significant enhancement of the participants’ digital skills.
Youth workers gained practical skills in the use of tools related to communication, content production, and project management, enabling them to organize more attractive, participatory, and effective programs for young people. Our evaluations showed that over 80% of participants showed a noticeable improvement in their use of digital platforms, while several were able to immediately apply their new knowledge in their organizations by launching digital campaigns, utilizing e-learning tools, or upgrading their social media strategies. In terms of environmental sustainability, participants adopted new practices and incorporated them into their projects. At least half of the small collaborative initiatives developed during the program had a strong “green” character, including awareness-raising actions, sustainable event organization methods, or educational workshops on climate change. Most importantly, the youth workers themselves, beyond practical knowledge, developed a deeper awareness of environmental responsibility, which they passed on to the young people they work with. In this way, the project contributed to the creation of a wave of young people who take environmental issues more seriously and feel a greater sense of responsibility.
In terms of inclusion, our project managed to create a new dynamic in the participating organizations. Youth workers developed strategies and methods for reaching out to young people from groups that are traditionally excluded. This translated into practical changes, such as the development of programs specifically targeting young people with fewer opportunities, the adaptation of language and methods to make them more accessible, and cooperation with local actors to reach different communities.
Through evaluation surveys, we found that organizations began to broaden their reach to more diverse audiences, which was a key indicator of success. Equally important was the successful implementation of collaborative projects designed by the international teams. Each team managed to develop and implement a small program in their local community, covering at least one of the project’s themes. These interventions had a direct impact on approximately 500 young people in all partner countries, either through training seminars, awareness campaigns, or innovative actions that combined digital tools with social contribution. Another key result was the creation of an online resource center, which serves as a permanent legacy of the project. The hub brings together training materials, guides, project templates, and collaboration forums. In this way, we ensured that participants—and anyone else interested—can continue to leverage knowledge, share experiences, and jointly develop new ideas. The impact on the participants themselves was profound.
On a professional level, youth workers improved their skills, which boosted their confidence and increased their effectiveness in their role. On a personal level, they felt empowered, with greater confidence that they could introduce innovative and sustainable practices in their organizations and drive change in their communities. For the participating organizations, the project served as a capacity-building process.
The organizations acquired tools, methodologies, and cooperation networks that enhanced the effectiveness of their actions. Furthermore, by establishing international links, the organizations expanded their network of collaborations, found new partners, and built bridges for future collaborations. At the sectoral level, the project contributed to upgrading youth work standards. The integration of digital literacy and sustainability as key pillars in youth work set a new benchmark that can inspire other organizations. Through dissemination actions and our participation in broader dialogues, the project also managed to gain a political dimension, influencing discussions at both local and European level on how youth work can become more digitally enabled, greener, and more inclusive.
