Digital Youth Work SNAC - Project Lab 2025

The Training/Project Lab is part of the SNAC Digital Youth Work 2025 framework and promotes the SNAC DYW Outcomes and Strategy.

At the same time intends to promote the development of competences and digital youth work prototypes of youth workers on this frame.

This activity aims to increase youth practitioners' competences in using Digital Youth Work framework in their practice, specifically to support the inclusion of young people facing current and new obstacles.

The Project Lab will give a practical opportunity to design, prototype and present DYW Services or products within this Digital Transition Challenge.

The activity consists in a combination of interactive sessions, presentations, and group network sessions. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with expert trainers and peers, and to share their own experiences and insights.

General Objectives

• To reflect about the “state of play” of the digital dimension of youth work in European countries.
• To identify the competences that youth workers lack or need to improve, or those that they already acquired and use at a good level.
• To develop knowledge, skills and competences related with to technology / IT tools, digital and social media youth work, and identify the competences needed by youth workers to be effective in these areas.
• To support youth workers in develop, implement, reflect and redesign engaging activities supported by/with/about digital media and technology.
• To equip youth workers to be better prepared to support young people participation in Erasmus + and European Solidarity Corps, and at local, regional and European levels with the support of digital tools.
• To provide space for peer-learning and exchange of best practices.

Specific Objectives

This Project Lab aims to address DYW by providing a unique space for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and project development, with focus on:

• Understanding of DYW and its impact on Inclusion: Explore the theoretical foundations and practical applications of DYW on Inclusion.
• Sharing knowledge about inclusive DYW-powered tools: Learning about and exploring existing DYW tools and frameworks with a focus on their potential for promoting inclusion.
• Understanding of good and inclusive practices (including the conditions that enabled the development of those practices)
• Providing practical experience in designing and planning projects within Erasmus+/ESC that utilize emerging technologies to address the specific needs of young people facing exclusion in their communities.
• Networking and partnership-building: Foster collaboration between youth organizations from different European countries to develop and implement joint projects
• Deliver DYW Prototypes and DYW Services as results of the DYW Project Lab.

Methodology & Technical requirements:

The Project Lab will be delivered presential in Portugal and the course is conceived in ways that require active participation and exchange between participants. It is based on participants’ experiences and builds on concrete actions for the future. The methodology of the training programme is based on the main principles of Non formal learning and experiential learning cycle by connecting creative and digital challenges.

The sessions will be divided between plenary sessions, facilitated work in smaller groups and individually reflection.  Participants are expected to take part in the whole training course and contribute with their opinions and experience. 

Some IT to be used during the Training:

- Google Docs (collaborative works, online library of resources);

- Canva;

- Sli.do;

- Mentimeter;

- Kahoot (online quiz);

- Padlet (online collaboration including interactive geographical maps, blogging, presentations)