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Once Upon a Time

2024-3-NL02-KA153-YOU-0002821652024Mobility of youth workersfinalized
Countries: NL|IT|MK|BG|ES|DE|IE · Grant: €37,546
Key competences development

Objectives

The main objective of OUT project was to strengthen the personal and professional competences of youth workers by introducing and applying the Hero’s Journey methodology as a tool for supporting young people, particularly those with fewer opportunities. The project was designed to help youth workers better understand personal development processes and position themselves as mentors or guides who can support young people at different stages of their individual journeys. A key objective was to ensure that participants did not only learn about the Hero’s Journey theoretically, but experienced it personally. By going through the methodology themselves, youth workers were able to reflect on their own challenges, transitions, and learning processes, increasing their empathy, self-awareness, and capacity to support others. Another objective was to improve youth workers’ competences in areas that are central to inclusive youth work, such as social inclusion, mental health awareness, conflict management, intercultural communication, and group dynamics. In parallel, the project aimed to increase participants’ understanding of Erasmus+ opportunities, empowering them to create and facilitate more international learning experiences for young people who face psychological, social, or structural barriers to participation. Tangible results of the project included: The development of a Hero’s Journey Booklet for youth workers and future participants, containing practical exercises, reflections, and guidance tailored to working with young people with fewer opportunities. The link to the booklet is the following (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uvdIvCXfmhPNhptsWvORlW3NUOuAfHDk/view?usp=sharing) The delivery of a full residential training programme based on the Hero’s Journey methodology. Strengthened partnerships and concrete follow-up initiatives building on the OUT methodology (described in later sections of the report). Intangible results included: Increased self-confidence, self-awareness, and reflective capacity among participants. Improved ability of youth workers to support young people through change, uncertainty, and personal challenges. Stronger motivation and readiness to apply inclusive, narrative-based approaches in daily youth work. A shared educational language and methodological framework among partner organisations. Overall, OUT aimed to equip youth workers with the mindset, tools, and confidence to guide young people through their own transformative journeys, while continuing their own personal and professional development.

Project partners (7)