Webinar Series: Pathways to High-Quality International Youth Projects (OK2SLAY)

Aims of the tool

This webinar series aims to strengthen the professional competencies of youth workers, youth leaders, and project coordinators active in non-formal education by providing practical, experience-based guidance on key areas of international youth work — from youth leadership and exchanges to participation strategies, mental health awareness, and the responsible use of automation tools. By bringing together experienced practitioners from across Europe, the series facilitates peer learning and knowledge exchange, and makes quality training content openly accessible to anyone working with or for young people.
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Description of the tool

This webinar series was developed as part of the Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership project "From Okay to Slay – Pathways to High-Quality International Youth Projects", coordinated by aha – Tipps & Infos für junge Leute (Liechtenstein) in cooperation with Platform Network partner organisations. The series consists of five online sessions held in March–April 2026, each 2 hours in length, delivered in English by experienced practitioners in the youth work field. The series attracted 272 registrations across all five sessions.

Sessions:

1. Qualification of Youth Leaders (Maria Acs, 18 March 2026)
Exploring the key competencies, roles, and responsibilities of youth leaders, with practical methods for reflection, evaluation, and quality assurance in youth work. Maria Acs brings 25 years of experience in international youth work as a trainer, facilitator, and project coordinator, with a strong focus on personal development.

2. Do's & Don'ts for Youth Exchanges (Helen Butler, 19 March 2026)
Real-life experience from youth exchanges — the successes, the pitfalls, and everything in between — covering planning, implementation, and group dynamics. Helen Butler brings 20 years of tried and tested tips to help make youth exchange experiences the best they can be.

3. Participation 360° (Ralf Ollinger, 20 March 2026)
Participation strategies for engaging young people in youth projects, communities, and organisations at local, regional, and international levels, drawing on 25 years of experience and practical examples from coordinating a team of around 250 volunteering youth leaders.

4. Mental Health in Youth Projects (Tamara Aydinyan, 23 March 2026)
Addressing the mental health challenges that arise in youth projects — for both young people and those working with them — covering self-care strategies to prevent burnout, mentoring, and available support structures. Tamara Aydinyan is a clinical psychologist with 15 years of experience in mental health education.

5. Power of Automation in Youth Work (Jakub Spišak, 2 April 2026)
How automation tools can take the load off administrative and repetitive tasks in youth work — saving time without losing the human touch. A practical overview of which tools are relevant for youth work and how to use them responsibly.

Learning Outcomes:

Clarify roles, responsibilities, and key competencies in youth leadership;
Avoid common mistakes and apply proven good practices in youth exchanges;
Develop practical strategies for engaging young people at different levels;
Build awareness and resilience around mental health in youth work settings;
Identify and apply automation tools for greater administrative efficiency.

All recordings are freely and publicly available:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLmxwZh-aNgUp9lTXH5necWbWLVcRqHBU