The project is aimed at youth workers and youth leaders working in partner NGOs, because many of them have stated the need specifically for a course on Gender Mainstreaming (GM) approach in youth work. Often, the term Gender Mainstreaming is used in policy-making in connection with the specific actions that are done to ensure gender equality. With this course, however, we plan to focus on Gender Mainstreaming approach specifically in youth work - in other words, a set of principles, strategies and good practices that ensure gender equality and gender-based inclusion in our daily work with young people. We designed the course based on the needs and issues of the youth workers in our NGOs, namely:. Issues Lacking information and practical tools of gender mainstreaming and how to ensure it specifically in youth work Not enough experience of including and organising activities for youth who don’t identify as binary (transgender, gender queer etc.) or have been excluded/bullied because of their gender or sexuality. Casual sexism and perpetuating of gender stereotypes that is still happening in target groups - even innocent jokes and dividing into “girly” or “manly” activities affect young people greatly and should be addressed Not enough knowledge/skills about how to talk about such sensitive topics to the young people. Also, how to be a trustworthy person to whom young people can talk about this Not enough knowledge and terminology to be able to talk to the young people about the currently relevant topics (#metoo, LBTQA+ terminology, feminism, pay gap, asexuality etc.) Dismissing gender related topics as “not that as important” and “already solved”, compared to other human rights violations such as fx racism, overall radicalisation, religious discrimination etc. This for example is more typical for Northern Europe where many believe that all the gender issues have been solved and don't deserve that much attention. Lacking facilities to include people with gender related special needs Needs To deepen the knowledge of all the relevant topics mentioned above. To explore and start using the gender related vocabulary that gives youth workers capacity and confidence to talk and act upon various issues To share, explore, discuss our own experiences and create strategies of how to address the most common gender related issues we have in our youth work To reflect upon why gender mainstreaming in youth work is a very important approach and raise awareness among the other youth workers Gain practical skills of how to plan, organise and implement a truly gender inclusive youth activity based on gender mainstreaming approach Create a comprehensive manual “Gender Mainstreaming in Youth Work 101” that can be used by our organisations and our networks in the future Based on the shared issues and needs we formulated the main goal of the TC: To enhance youth workers’ knowledge and competences of Gender Mainstreaming in order to increase equality and inclusion in their work with youth Therefore, the objectives of the TC are: Deepen participants’ knowledge and understanding of gender equality and gender based social inclusion Enhancing participants’ practical skills of gender mainstreaming in youth work Creating the space for exploration of gender mainstreaming strategies in different cultural realities Ensuring the exchange of good practices in implementing gender mainstreaming/equality Promoting Gender Equality and Gender Mainstreaming as an essential part of European values and human rights