Training Course "Dive into Youth Participation"

Are you a youth leader or youth worker committed to becoming an agent of change in your local community and beyond? Are you interested in learning more about what quality youth participation means and how you can embed it in your organisational life or the new projects that you plan? Do you want to better explore the opportunities of the Erasmus+ Programme? Then “Dive into Youth Participation” is the Training Course for you!

Youth participation in democratic life and young people's active civic engagement are high priorities of the EU Youth Strategy and are incorporated into the majority of contemporary youth policy frameworks in different European countries.

The Erasmus+ Programme is one of the mechanisms to put the EU Youth Strategy into practice and provide many opportunities for young people to develop international projects, which empower them to take an active role in society and help them develop civic and social competences.

In this context, the second edition of the Training Course “Dive into Youth Participation” brings together 25 youth leaders and youth workers from different European countries with an aim to improve their understanding and practices toward quality youth participation. This is also an opportunity to learn more about the possibilities within the Erasmus+ Key Action 154 “Youth Participation Activities” and how to ensure youth participation is properly implemented in all stages of a project or participation initiative.

The activity will take place in Leusden, Netherlands, between 23-27 September 2024 (arrival 23 Sept, departure 27 Sept).

The call is open for youth leaders and youth workers who fit the following criteria:

• Representatives of youth/youth work organisations or informal groups of young people
• Have experience with youth participation or civic engagement
• Are interested in developing projects within the Erasmus+ Key Action 154 “Youth Participation Activities” (no prior experience is required)
• Are interested in developing/improving youth participation practices/projects at any level (local, national, European or international)
• Are capable of communicating effectively in English
• Are at least 18 years old.

The three-day programme of activities will consist of:

• Thematic inputs and exercises on the topic of youth participation and European values to foster democracy
• Thematic sessions exploring the possibilities within the Erasmus+ Key Action 154 “Youth Participation Activities”
• Opportunities to learn about quality youth participation at different levels and in different contexts, and how to create impact through youth participation projects
• Spaces to share best practices among participants
• Spaces to discover new resources and tools for youth participation
• Spaces to build international partnerships and new cooperations.

Before the residential activity in Netherlands, the participants will have a chance to connect and learn about each other during a first online meeting (mandatory for all selected participants). 

Selection procedure (important for both applicants and selecting NAs/SALTO RCs)

• Participants will be primarily assessed on their potential to use the knowledge acquired through the training course, in the long term, in the activity of their organisation or informal group.
• After the selection, participation in the training will be fully guaranteed only after participants provide proof of arranging their travel plans (eg. train/plane ticket). Failure to provide such proof by the end of June 2024 will lead to their exclusion from the selected list, unless otherwise agreed with the organisers.
• Other NAs, not part of NPiY Strategic Partnership are welcome to support participants based on the quality criteria mentioned above.

The Training Course “Dive into Youth Participation” is part of the Strategic Partnership New Power in Youth, between several Erasmus+ National Agencies in the field of youth and SALTO Resource Centres. The event will be hosted by Erasmus+ Jeugd’ (the Netherlands, National Agency).

Get a glimpse of what happened in the first edition of the training https://participationpool.eu/2023/12/20/dive-into-youth-participation-training-course-23-26-october-2023-bonn-germany/!