Reference period 1: 1st August 2021 – 31st July 2023

Training Course No 1

• Title: “Empowering Youth Workers: From ideas to Impact”
• Dates: 29-30 August 2022
• Location: Lund, Sweden
• Partners: KulturLife (Germany), Mobilizing Expertise (Sweden), InterAktion (Austria), Faal Derneği (Turkey)

General Info: In August 2022, KulturLife conducted its first training course in Sweden in partnership with Mobilizing Expertise, which hosted the activity, and 2 more organizations: InterAktion from Austria and Faal Derneği fromTurkey. Each organization contributed a representative youth worker, resulting in a total of six dedicated participants.

Aim: The activity aimed at upskilling the participating youth workers, provide a platform for the collective development of new project ideas and the expansion of the partners’ networks within the youth sector.

Activities: In the context of a think-tank, the participants shared experiences, practices and ideas about early youth engagement in youth exchanges, non-formal education tools designed to elevate the quality of learning opportunities in the youth sector.

They also exchanged information about different social problems that affect young people and necessitate our attention as youth organizations (e.g. environmental crisis and SDG’s, the need for digital citizenship education, empowerment of migrant women) and drafted relevant project ideas.

Finally, during the activity, our hosting partner, Mobilizing Expertise, delivered a workshop for the digital upskilling of our youth workers, which focused on Filmmaking as a youth work tool.

Outputs/Results: The most important results of the activity included:

i)the concrete plan of a Youth Exchange, which was developed through a co-creative process during the training course, and was later implemented by InterAktion in Austria
ii) a series of concept notes of projects tackling the social problems addressed during the think-tank discussions. These concept notes are intended to form the basis for many of the upcoming mobility projects in the context of our accreditation, as well as for future large-scale common initiatives with the involved partners.

Impact: The lasting impact was palpable, as participants reported enhanced organisational-, management-, leadership- and other work-related competencies, a broadened partner network, and increased commitment to working on projects promoting the SDG’s, fostering digital citizenship principles and competences in young people, countering racism & discrimination and, in general, advance the common good.

Training Course No 2

• Title: “Sustainability & Youth Work”
• Dates: 7-13 July 2023
• Location: Zgornja Korena, Slovenia
• Partners: KulturLife (Germany), Drustvo za ohranjanje naravne in kulturne dediscine Nacekova hisa (Slovenia), Aktive Kosmos (Spain), Be Visible Be You (Greece), InterAktion (Austria)

General Info: In July 2023, KulturLife conducted its second transformative activity in Slovenia, a engaging one-week learning event with the title "Sustainability and Youth Work", which brought together 13 youth work professionals and volunteers from Spain, Greece, Austria, Slovenia, and Germany. The activity was hosted on an organic, didactic farm, that represents the centre of all activities of the Slovenian organization, offering a wide range of workshops on sustainable practices. The basis for the design of this activity was the concept note on the subject “Building competences for youth worker in SDG’s” developed during the Training Course in Sweden.

Aim: The overarching objective of the activity was to foster an environment of experiential learning and knowledge sharing on sustainable living and ecological-learning practices, within which the participating youth workers could personally and professionally grow.

Activities: During the activity, workshops on sustainable building methods and eco-conscious teaching practices were implemented. The participants actively engaged in the restoration of a traditional mud hut, emphasizing practical work and sustainable resource utilization, including clay, sand, and straw.

They also exchanged views and experiences on non-formal learning methods in youth work addressing sustainability, participation and the creation of inclusive spaces for young people.

Moreover, KulturLife delivered a workshop on online research techniques, which supported participants in understanding and developing a critical approach towards the information they find online.

Throughout the program, non-formal education principles guided interactive, creative, and participatory workshops, with a strong emphasis on experiential learning, brainstorming, discussions, presentations, and critical thinking techniques.

Outputs/Results: The most important results of the activity included:

i) a Padlet collection of useful information and online tools to empower other youth workers in their exploration of sustainability and their relevant work with youth
ii) the restored mud house, which will be utilized for future workshops open to youth and youth workers, to learn more about sustainable living, learning and teaching
iii) the forging of a promising new partnership between KulturLife and the Slovenian organization.

For the Collection of “Sustainability and Youth Work” resources click here.

Impact: The experiential "hands-on" and "learning by doing" approach of this activity facilitated individual skill development and knowledge acquisition among the participating youth workers. As they stated in their reports, their intercultural competences and attitudes towards a diverse society, cultural awareness and combating intolerance, discrimination, racism and xenophobia improved significantly. The impact of attending this mobility extended to and beyond personal growth, including enhanced social skills, practical life skills, and a foundation for self-sustainability and community-oriented, environmentally friendly living.