The main objective of the project was to improve the overall quality of Erasmus+ youth exchanges by strengthening the preparation of group leaders. We wanted to create training materials that are easy to use, engaging, and directly applicable to real-life situations. A key aim was to move away from long and often unused written manuals and instead develop short video tutorials that explain responsibilities, challenges, and good practices in a clear and approachable way. We wanted these videos to support both first-time and less experienced group leaders and help them feel more confident in their role. Another important goal was to ensure that the materials would not remain theoretical but become part of everyday organisational practice. This meant integrating them into our own preparation workflows and those of our partner organisations. We also aimed to support reflection and responsibility through a preparedness test. Overall, the project sought to modernise group leader training and make learning more realistic, efficient, and sustainable.
We applied for this project based on our long-term experience in organising Erasmus+ youth exchanges and supporting group leaders in their role. Over the years, we observed that new group leaders are often given significant responsibility without access to preparation materials that are clear, engaging, and realistic. Most existing resources are long written manuals or scattered documents that require a lot of time and motivation to read, which does not match how people usually learn today. Group leaders often prepare under time pressure and benefit more from concise, visual explanations based on real situations. We also noticed a lack of consistent preparation practices between organisations, leading to uneven quality in youth exchanges. This project addressed the need for modern, accessible training tools that reflect real learning habits and focus on practical understanding rather than theory. By shifting from lengthy PDF materials to short, focused video tutorials, we aimed to fill a clear gap in group leader preparation and improve both confidence and readiness in a realistic and sustainable way.