FIND YOUR PRESENT

FIND YOUR PRESENT

Erasmus+ Training Course for Youth Workers

12–21 November 2026

“Find Your Present” is an Erasmus+ mobility project for youth workers focused on emotional well-being, self-reflection and creative approaches to working with young people. The project was created in response to the growing need for youth workers to strengthen their emotional resilience, prevent burnout and develop practical tools for maintaining balance in both their personal and professional lives. During the training, participants will explore a wide range of creative, mindfulness, body-based, artistic and experiential practices that can be adapted to everyday youth work.

Objectives and Topics

The project explores creative and experiential approaches to emotional well-being, self-reflection and professional sustainability in youth work.

The main objectives are to expand emotional well-being tools by exploring mindfulness, meditation, creative practices, performative arts and improvisational theatre; strengthen self-reflection and emotional resilience by developing awareness of emotions, personal boundaries, inner balance and burnout prevention; encourage creativity as a tool for self-expression, emotional self-regulation and personal development; introduce innovative methods that can be adapted and integrated into everyday youth work practice; support sustainable transfer by helping participants bring new methods into their organisations, activities and work with young people; and create opportunities for international cooperation through sharing experiences, methods and good practices with youth workers from different countries.

Participant Profile

Participants must be youth workers, educators, youth organisation representatives, active volunteers or other professionals actively working with young people. They should be interested in emotional well-being, self-reflection and creative approaches to personal and professional development, and be open to exploring alternative and experiential methods, including art, movement, performance, improvisation and mindfulness. Participants should also be ready to share experiences and good practices with youth workers from other European countries.

Expected Results and Impact

By participating in the project, youth workers will gain new practical tools for emotional well-being, including mindfulness, creative practices, performative arts and improvisational theatre. They will strengthen self-reflection, emotional resilience and self-regulation while developing greater awareness of personal boundaries and burnout prevention.

Participants will discover creative and experiential methods that can be used in everyday youth work, including creative writing, playback theatre, nonviolent communication (NVC), movement and body-awareness practices. They will develop greater confidence and creativity when responding to emotional and professional challenges in youth work, learn how to adapt and transfer new methods to different groups of young people and integrate them into their organisations, and contribute to a more innovative and sustainable youth work sector where emotional well-being, creativity and experiential learning become part of everyday practice.

After the training, participants are expected to share their learning with young people and colleagues, creating a multiplier effect beyond the project itself.

Training Course Programme

Day 1 – Arrival
Arrival from 6 p.m.

Day 2
Welcome to the training + Cacao Ceremony
Connecting Past, Present, and Future
NVC through ART practice

Day 3
How do we perceive ART and CREATIVITY?
River of Life
A Younger Self

Day 4
Group Hike
The Basics of Theatre
Improvisation
Playback Improvisation Theatre

Day 5
Meditation + breathwork practices
The Impact of Performance Art on Mindfulness
Self Exploration: “Who am I now”

Day 6
Tools of Staying Present
Tools of Staying Present – Part II
Free Time

Day 7
Core Qualities Square
The Changes in Present – My Qualities
LARP: Before and After Silence

Day 8
Introduction to Self-Empowerment through Creativity
Workshops of the Participants
Workshops of the Participants

Day 9
Dissemination Agreement + Youthpass
Certificate Issuing
Future Me
Ecstatic Dance Session

Day 10 – Departure

Meals and Safe Environment

Throughout the week, all meals will follow a vegetarian/vegan diet, and any allergies will be accommodated. This practice is part of the training sessions and reflects the project's commitment to sustainability.

The training course is a strictly alcohol-free space. The aim is to create an atmosphere of clarity, focus and mutual respect where all participants can feel safe, supported and fully engaged.

There will also be space for participants to share their own methods, good practices or other activities. The organisers encourage participants to celebrate creativity not only by sharing practical methods, but also by creating a safe space, cultivating community spirit, learning to step out of their comfort zone and expressing themselves. Participants are encouraged to bring their own ideas.

The Venue

The training will take place at Keliautojų namai (Travellers Home), a welcoming place located in a beautiful area of Trakai, around 40 km from Vilnius.

Participants will stay in shared rooms with 2–5 people per room, grouped according to gender. Each room will be equipped with basic furniture, including beds, bedding, towels and storage space.

Travelling Information

It is mandatory to receive approval from the incoming responsible person at info.findyourpresent@gmail.com before booking any travel tickets.

Tickets need to include the participant's name, prices, destinations and dates. For flight tickets, participants should upload the invoice and boarding pass to the shared drive. Participants must also provide a clear scan of all paper tickets and write their name on an A4 paper with the tickets on it.

It is mandatory to have valid travel and medical insurance, such as the European Health Insurance Card, during the travel period.

Selected participants will receive a separate letter explaining how to reach the venue after arriving in Vilnius.

Reimbursement applies only to flights, trains and buses. Intercity bus tickets that do not include the participant's name will not be reimbursed. Travel by car, taxis or any other private means of transport is not eligible.

Participants may arrive a maximum of two days before and leave a maximum of two days after the mobility. Arriving during the activities is not allowed.

If a participant does not participate in at least 80% of the activities without a valid reason, there will be no reimbursement.

Invoices from travel agencies will not be accepted. Participants should book tickets directly through the websites of airlines, trains and buses.

Reimbursement will be made in EUR according to the exchange rates from the official European Commission website via bank transfer after all original documents have been uploaded to the designated folder.

Travel Budget and Reimbursement

The Erasmus+ travel budget depends on the distance travelled:

0–99 km: €56 / Green travel €28

100–499 km: €285 / Green travel €211

500–1,999 km: €417 / Green travel €309

2,000–2,999 km: €535 / Green travel €395

3,000–3,999 km: €785 / Green travel €580

4,000–7,999 km: €1,188 / Green travel €1,188

Tickets for other dates and expenses related to food and accommodation outside of the activity period must be covered by the participant.

Reimbursement is conditional upon carrying out a small dissemination activity after returning. Once all necessary documentation has been uploaded to the designated folder, the reimbursement process will commence.

Erasmus+ programme rules allow travel costs to be reimbursed up to a certain amount, which varies from country to country. Participants are encouraged to choose the most direct and cost-effective travel option.

What to Bring

Participants should bring comfortable clothes for workshops and movement, as the programme includes improvisation and group activities.

Because November can be rainy and chilly, warm layers such as sweaters, jackets and a scarf are recommended. Comfortable and warm shoes are needed for outdoor activities. Participants should also bring cosy indoor shoes, socks or slippers, as participants walk indoors without shoes.

A reusable water bottle is recommended to stay hydrated and support eco-friendly practices.

Participants should bring personal hygiene items; towels will be provided by the venue. A notebook and pen are recommended for reflections and notes, as well as any personal medicine that may be needed.

Participants should also bring flip-flops and a swimsuit, as there may be a sauna.

Optionally, participants can bring musical instruments, games or creative materials they would like to share with the group.

Meet the Team:

Aušra Turskytė

Aušra is a creator, certified ex-youth worker, mentor and facilitator who has been continuing her journey in the youth work field for about 12 years. With her newly established organisation, “Creatum,” she is seeking to recognise creativity as one of the most important skills we can develop and bring it into the youth work field.

She graduated from Vilnius Academy of Arts in 2020 and became a certified pedagogue from Vilnius University in 2021. She is dedicated to fostering creativity, self-expression, discipline, planning skills and group work dynamics in unique and original ways.

Emilija Valančiauskaitė

Emilija is an artist, professional photographer, facilitator, communication specialist and creative project manager. She works in the youth field, combining creativity, communication and project coordination.

Alongside her work in youth projects, she works in communication, creating visual and social media content and helping projects reach their audiences. She is also passionate about developing and managing creative projects from the first idea to their final outcome.

Emilija is a true nature lover and believes that spending time outdoors, exploring and connecting with nature can bring a different kind of inspiration and energy to the creative process.

Jevgenijus Šiškovas (Eugene)

Jevgenijus is a professional event host, improviser and facilitator with seven years of experience. He started his journey in 2019 with Vilnius’ Impro241 theatre. Since then, he has hosted events in Lithuania and abroad and co-founded the improvisation theatre troupe (Ne) REPETAVE in 2022.

Eugene has participated in more than 15 Erasmus+ projects and successfully facilitated the Erasmus+ project “Improve Yourself” in 2025. He enjoys working with people, creativity and improvisation, and creating an open and energetic atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable participating.

He is also a passionate nature lover and traveller who enjoys discovering new places, meeting people from different cultures and turning ordinary experiences into memorable ones.