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Youth Workers as Mental Health Supporters

2025-3-TR01-KA153-YOU-0003770462025Mobility of youth workersongoing
Countries: TR|PT|PL|SK · Grant: €31,622
Physical and mental health, well-beingMedia literacy and tackling disinformationQuality and innovation of youth work

Objectives

The primary aim of this project is to enhance the psychological well-being, social engagement, and professional competence of young people and youth workers, with a strong emphasis on mental health, cultural understanding, and digital empowerment. From a youth work perspective, the project aspires to create an inclusive, participatory, and transformative environment where participants can acquire practical skills, exchange knowledge, and strengthen their ability to act as socially responsible and empowered members of their communities. By addressing the urgent need for mental health literacy, cultural sensitivity, and digital skills, the project contributes to building resilient youth workers who can effectively support the new and complex challenges faced by young people today. To ensure measurable results, the project sets clear and ambitious targets. At least 16 youth workers will complete the full training and score 20% higher in post-test assessments on mental-health literacy compared to baseline. At least 4 participants with fewer opportunities will actively facilitate one session each, ensuring meaningful participation and empowerment of disadvantaged groups. A minimum of 10 digital outputs—including videos, infographics, and articles—will be produced and disseminated online, reaching at least 1,500 viewers across partner countries. Moreover, at least 80% of participants will report improved confidence in addressing mental health misinformation and promoting resilience within their local contexts, as measured through surveys and reflective evaluations. These concrete indicators will allow us to track progress while simultaneously highlighting the transformative power of youth work practices. The project experience will also foster intercultural dialogue, empathy, and inclusion by bringing together participants from diverse cultural, social, and economic backgrounds. Activities such as cultural evenings, collaborative workshops, NGO fairs, and interactive discussions will strengthen mutual understanding and help overcome stereotypes. Youth workers will gain first-hand experience in creating accessible and inclusive activities, learning how to address barriers to participation and integrate young people from marginalized communities into mainstream opportunities. This inclusive approach is central to the spirit of Erasmus+, ensuring that every participant is given an equal chance to contribute and grow. A further cornerstone of the project is the integration of digital tools to extend the impact and sustainability of the results. Participants will be trained to produce and disseminate knowledge through online platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. By engaging directly in content creation and campaign management, participants will not only increase their own digital literacy but will also generate a multiplier effect by reaching broader audiences beyond the immediate project group. This ensures that the project’s results will continue to resonate within local communities and across borders, strengthening the long-term capacity of youth workers and organizations. The international scope of the project, involving partners from Slovakia, Poland, Portugal, and Turkey, will facilitate the exchange of diverse perspectives, best practices, and innovative methodologies in youth work. Networking opportunities, mentoring, and collaboration between organizations will support long-term partnerships and contribute to the development of new, high-quality projects at local and European levels. In this way, the project does not end with the mobility activity but creates a sustainable platform for cooperation and shared learning. Equally important, the project nurtures leadership, initiative-taking, and active citizenship. By involving participants directly in facilitation, content production, and dissemination, the project empowers them to step into leadership roles and take responsibility for shaping their own learning journeys. These experiences help participants develop key competences such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, enabling them to return to their communities as stronger, more capable youth workers who can initiate and lead new activities. Ultimately, the project expects to achieve a lasting impact on multiple levels. For participants, it means acquiring concrete competences in mental health support, cultural inclusion, and digital dissemination. For youth with fewer opportunities, it offers empowerment, visibility, and the chance to take active roles in meaningful activities. For partner organizations, it builds stronger capacities, deeper cooperation, and innovative practices in youth work. For society at large, it contributes to better-informed communities, improved resilience among young people, and the creation of sustainable digital resources that will remain accessible long after the project ends.

Project partners (4)