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Let the Light Shine: Illuminating the Path to Inclusive, Engaged Citizenship

2025-1-EL02-KA153-YOU-0002995172025Mobility of youth workersfinalized
Countries: EL|LT|CZ|RO|RS|PT|MK|HU|IT|ES · Grant: €32,667
Inclusion of marginalised young peopleQuality and innovation of youth workCommunity development

Objectives

Through the project “Let the Light Shine: Illuminating the Path to Inclusive, Engaged Citizenship”, we aimed to strengthen the competences of youth workers in promoting social inclusion, diversity, solidarity and the active participation of young people. The project was designed based on needs identified by PHAOS KOINSEP and the partner organisations through their daily work with young people, especially with young people who face social, economic, cultural or geographical barriers and often have fewer opportunities for meaningful participation in community life. The main purpose of the project was to provide youth workers with practical tools, methods and a deeper understanding of how they can create inclusive learning environments where all young people feel respected, heard and able to participate actively. We wanted to move beyond a general discussion about inclusion and focus on concrete youth work practices that participants could adapt and apply in their organisations and local communities. The project had four main objectives. First, we aimed to empower youth workers with practical competences for inclusion and diversity management. This included strengthening their ability to work with multicultural groups, recognise different forms of exclusion, respond to discrimination, and create safer spaces for dialogue, participation and cooperation. An important part of this objective was for participants to reflect on their own attitudes and methods, while also becoming familiar with new non-formal learning tools that can support more inclusive youth activities. Second, the project aimed to promote active citizenship and democratic participation. We wanted youth workers to explore ways in which they can encourage young people, especially those with fewer opportunities, to participate more actively in their communities, express their views, take initiative and understand their role as active citizens at local, national and European level. Third, we sought to strengthen intercultural learning and the acceptance of diversity. By bringing together youth workers from different European countries, the project created a space for exchanging experiences, comparing different realities, highlighting common challenges and learning from different approaches to youth work. In this way, participants were able to understand diversity not only as a topic for discussion, but also as a lived daily experience within the group itself. Fourth, we wanted to strengthen cooperation between the participating organisations. The project aimed to create a sustainable network of youth organisations that can continue exchanging good practices, developing new ideas and supporting future initiatives related to inclusion, participation and European values. In summary, we would say that the project aimed to improve the quality of youth work by providing participants with knowledge, confidence and transferable methods that they can use after the mobility. In this way, we sought to contribute to the creation of more inclusive youth activities, to the stronger participation of young people in community life, and to a broader understanding of Erasmus+ as a tool for inclusion, learning and cooperation in Europe.

Project partners (10)