YOUTH WORK CREATE-Creativity, Resilience, Entrepreneurship & Action Through Empowerment

The Training Course will explore the role of youth work in supporting the career development and empowerment of young people living in rural and smaller communities in a rapidly changing world.

For many rural young people, career choices are shaped not only by fewer local opportunities, but also by deeply rooted perceptions about what is possible: “there is nothing for me here,” “to succeed I have to leave,” “entrepreneurship is for people with money or connections,” or “a good career means finding a secure job.” At the same time, digitalisation, AI, remote work and new forms of entrepreneurship are changing what it means to build a career and where opportunities can be created.

YOUTH WORK CREATE will focus on the role youth work can play in challenging these limiting narratives and building a different mindset.

The course approaches entrepreneurial spirit not simply as starting a business, but as a way of thinking and acting — being curious, taking initiative, recognising opportunities, solving problems, experimenting, learning from failure and having the confidence to turn ideas into action. It will also explore social entrepreneurship, encouraging young people to see challenges in their communities not only as reasons to leave, but also as opportunities to create solutions, services and positive local change.

Participants will explore and test non-formal education techniques, methods and approaches for working with young people's mindsets: identifying and challenging stereotypes and limiting beliefs, discovering strengths and local resources, developing creativity and initiative, building resilience, exploring different career and entrepreneurial pathways, and moving from ideas towards action.

Aim and objective: 

The overall aim of YOUTH WORK CREATE is to strengthen the capacity of youth workers and youth leaders to empower young people from rural and smaller communities to become active creators of their own futures, by developing entrepreneurial mindsets, career awareness, resilience, initiative and the ability to recognise and create opportunities.

Through experiential and non-formal learning, participants will develop practical competences for working with young people's attitudes and limiting beliefs, fostering entrepreneurial and social entrepreneurial thinking, and supporting young people in translating their interests, talents and ideas into concrete actions.

Profile of participants: 

• have at least 2 years of practical experience in youth work;
• are actively working directly with young people, particularly those from rural areas, small towns or communities with fewer opportunities;
• are interested in entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, career development and youth empowerment;
• are interested in mindset work and methods for challenging stereotypes, limiting beliefs and perceptions around careers, success and opportunities;
• have a clear connection with and support from their sending organisation;
• are willing to bring their own experience and methods into the international learning process;
• are motivated to test new non-formal education approaches with young people after the mobility;
• are ready to commit to the whole project cycle — preparation, the Training Course and especially the local follow-up phase.