Drawing Inclusion through Comics for Youth Work Mobility 1 – Training Course

Drawing Inclusion through Comics for Youth Work

“Drawing Inclusion through Comics for Youth Work” is an international Erasmus+ training course for youth workers, trainers, educators, facilitators and active volunteers working in the fields of non-formal learning and youth work.

The training will take place in Munich, Germany, from 28 August to 5 September 2026, including seven activity days and two travel days. It will bring together 34 participants from eight partner organisations in Germany, Spain, Romania, France, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands and Türkiye.

The activity aims to strengthen the quality, innovation and inclusiveness of youth work by introducing digital comics and visual storytelling as practical tools for non-formal education. Participants will learn how to use Web 2.0 platforms such as Pixton, Canva and StoryboardThat to create engaging educational materials and activities for young people.

The training is particularly relevant for applicants who work directly with young people with fewer opportunities, including refugees, migrants, NEETs, young people from rural areas, vocational students and those facing social, educational, economic, cultural or geographical barriers.

Through practical workshops, group work, peer learning, creative exercises, case studies, reflection sessions and intercultural activities, participants will explore how digital comics can be used to:

-explain complex topics in a simple and visual way;
-overcome language and communication barriers;
-encourage young people to express their ideas and experiences;
-support participation, empathy and intercultural dialogue;
-address inclusion, democracy, human rights and EU citizenship;
-create youth-friendly non-formal learning activities;
-engage young people who may not respond to traditional educational methods.

The programme will combine technical skills with youth-work methodology. Participants will not only learn how to use digital platforms, but also how to design, facilitate and evaluate inclusive workshops based on visual storytelling.The activity will include a World Café with local young people in Munich, international teamwork, exchange of youth-work practices, daily reflection, Youthpass learning activities, an intercultural evening and a German cultural evening.

During the training, participants will begin co-creating a Digital Comics Toolkit. The Toolkit will include practical workshop plans, templates, facilitation guidance, examples of digital comics and adaptable activities for use in youth work and non-formal learning.

Project Timeline

February–August 2026: Preparation: The project started with an online kick-off meeting involving all eight partner organisations. The meeting calarified responsibilities, communication procedures, quality standards, risk management, participant selection and the overall implementation timeline.

Selected participants will join the shared project Padlet, prepare introductory posts and take part in online intercultural and methodological briefings. Each partner organisation will also organise a local preparatory session covering Erasmus+, Youthpass, project objectives, Web 2.0 tools and expectations for the training.

28 August–5 September 2026: Training Course in Munich

The main training course will gather 32 youth workers, with four participants from each partner organisation.Participants will develop practical skills in digital comic creation and explore how visual storytelling can be used in youth work. The programme will focus on inclusion, participation, intercultural learning, democracy, human rights and EU citizenship.Working in international teams, participants will create comic-based activities and begin developing the Digital Comics Toolkit.

September–October 2026: Local Pilot Workshops

After the training, participants will test the acquired methods in their local communities.Each partner organisation will organise two pilot workshops involving approximately 10–15 young people with fewer opportunities. Participants will collect feedback, document the activities, share examples through the project Padlet and prepare local case studies.

November 2026: Study Visit in Eskişehir, Türkiye

The same participants will take part in a follow-up study visit in Eskişehir.Hosted by Odunpazarı Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundation, the visit will include meetings with organisations and institutions working with refugees, migrants and disadvantaged young people. Participants will visit Anadolu University Migration Research Centre and Eskişehir Municipality Youth Centre.They will present the results of their local workshops, exchange experiences and refine the Digital Comics Toolkit using the collected feedback and case studies.

November–December 2026: Dissemination and Follow-up

Each partner organisation will organise a local multiplier event to present the project results and introduce the Toolkit to youth workers, educators, schools, municipalities, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders.The results will also be shared through partner networks, social media, SALTO Youth and the Erasmus+ Project Results Platform. A final online meeting will evaluate the project and identify opportunities for future cooperation.

Participant Profile

Applicants should:

-be at least 20 years old;
-be actively involved in youth work or non-formal learning;
-have experience working with young people;
-be interested in digital and creative educational methods;
-be willing to participate actively in all programme activities;
-be able to organise local pilot and dissemination activities;
-be motivated to transfer the acquired methods to their organisations.

Participants are expected to remain involved throughout the full project cycle, including preparation, the training course, local pilot workshops, the study visit and dissemination activities.