Digital Youth Work: New pathway to foster youth social inclusion

In an age characterized by rapid technological developments, the essence of learning and education is changing dynamically, making traditional educational models increasingly obsolete. It is imperative that we equip those working in the youth sector with the skills, knowledge and insight needed to navigate this new landscape and harness it to create inclusive and sustainable learning environments.
The idea behind this project is born out of the urgent need to bridge the widening gap between conventional educational frameworks and the evolving demands of the digital age. Non-formal education plays a central role in shaping societies that are sustainable, inclusive and adaptable to technological developments. However, there is a clear lack of initiatives, focused on people working in the youth sector, that combine the principles of non-formal education with digital transformation, sustainability and inclusion.
The present project aims to address this deficit by offering a comprehensive educational program that combines the fundamental principles of non-formal education with innovative digital tools and sustainable practices. The activity is meticulously designed to cover the broad spectrum of non-formal education, digital empowerment, sustainability methodologies, principles of inclusion and practical applications, promoting a holistic learning experience. This training course will enable 27 youth workers from 8 organizations to improve their knowledge, skills, competencies and experiences in the field of digital technology. During the 7 daily activities in the field of non-formal learning, the youth workers will be part of a training through which they will gain new European and world practices in the field of digital technology and the organization of online youth work. This project will enable the promotion of educational methodologies through which in the future organizations will have the opportunity to professionally and effectively organize online activities using digital tools for non-formal education and training in order to foster social inclusion of young people.

The objectives of this project are multifaceted and strategically aligned with the needs we want to meet. Specifically, the project aspires to:
-To provide 27 youth workers with a deeper understanding of the concept of digital youth work;
-To equip 27 youth workers with skills, methods, and tools for applying digital tools in non-formal education (both offline and online) in order to foster social inclusion of marginalised youth;
-To map, analyze and share on good practices in online youth work and tools that can be transferred and adopted across Europe.
-To develop a collaborative learning space focused on digital inclusion and digital youth work between different EU-based youth organizations through the sharing of best practices and national approaches;
-To increase the capacity of partner youth organizations to improve or adopt digital inclusion practices for reaching out to young people with fewer opportunities from their communities.
The following are the activities we plan to implement as part of the project:
1)Planning phase - The project team will work on planning and preparation, including the selection of partners, the development of the project's timeline, and the creation of the necessary tools and materials.
2)Preparatory meetings with partners - Four online preparatory meetings will be held with representatives of each partner, the trainer, and the facilitator to discuss the project's objectives and expectations.
3)Training course - The main activity of the project is a five-day training course that will be held in the Dr. Tr. Severin, Romania, and it will involve 27 youth workers from different EU countries. During the course, participants will be introduced to different ICT tools and their applications in youth work. They will also learn about the Erasmus+ programme and how to use it for future projects.
Workshops and sessions - The training course will include various workshops and sessions covering topics such as digital storytelling, video-making, social media, and online safety. There will also be sessions on intercultural learning, teamwork, and project management.
4)Dissemination activities - The project's results will be disseminated through various activities, including a multiplier event, social media posts, and a project guide. A multiplier event will be organized after the training course to present the project's outcomes to a broader audience.

Group size: 3 participants/partner organization
Venue of the TC: Drobeta Turnu Severin, Romania
Planed dates of the mobility: October 4th-11th, 2024

Interested NGO`s willing to take part in this project should send us by e-mail (office@modoflife.ro) their PIF document.