The EduLabs project aimed to modernize non-formal education in youth work by bringing innovative tools directly to the doorstep of youth workers. The primary objectives included increasing the competences of youth workers to innovate their activities, both online and face-to-face. The project sought to create a sustainable online platform with various methods the youth workers can use, available in national languages. The description offers insights into adapting methodologies for diverse settings and individuals with special needs, if relevant. The specific objectives were: - to increase competences of youth workers to innovate their daily activities with young people (on-line and face to face) - to make the innovative tools highly inclusive: easily reachable, understandable, easy to use and available for workers with special needs and applicable - for young people with special needs - to inspire youth workers with new approaches, trends and methods they can use in their daily work - to ensure the sustainability and usability of the results of this project through dissemination and supporting youth workers to multiply the outputs to their peers
We applied for the EduLabs project to address the pressing need for mainstreaming innovations in non-formal education in youth work. The rapidly changing world and the ongoing pandemic have underscored the necessity for youth workers to seamlessly integrate innovative methodologies into their daily activities with young people. Moreover, language barriers and limited accessibility prevent many youth workers from utilizing resources available on European level, mostly in English. Our project aimed to overcome these obstacles and support youth workers in incorporating innovative tools both online and offline, particularly focusing on those with language challenges. The needs addressed encompass enhancing the competences of youth workers in innovating their activities for both online and face-to-face interactions. Recognizing the challenges faced by youth workers with language limitations, the project strived to make innovative tools highly inclusive, ensuring easy accessibility, understanding, and usability for workers and young people with special needs. By providing a website with methods, podcasts, videos, and MOOC, EduLabs aimed to inspire youth workers with new approaches, trends, and methods.