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Listen - Accept - React. Building Outdoor Competences for Youth Work

2026-1-PL01-KA153-YOU-0003938612026Mobility of youth workersongoing
Countries: PL|TR|RO|IT|PT|EL · Grant: €36,539
Physical and mental health, well-beingQuality and innovation of youth workNew learning and teaching methods and approaches

Objectives

We want to implement this project because, in our daily youth work practice, we observe a clear gap between the growing mental health needs of young people and the preparedness of youth workers to respond adequately. Young people are increasingly experiencing overload, stress, low self-esteem and difficulties with self-reflection. At the same time, many youth workers report a lack of concrete, safe and practical methods that would allow them to create space for deeper dialogue, relationship-building and wellbeing support – without stepping into a clinical or therapeutic role. The project directly responds to these challenges from the perspective of practical youth work. Its aim is not to provide theoretical knowledge about mental health, but to equip 30 youth workers with concrete outdoor and reflective tools that can be immediately implemented in their daily practice. Methods such as Shinrin-Yoku, Walking Therapy, Journaling, metaphor-based exercises, and the Life Wheel create opportunities to slow down the pace of activities, build safe relational spaces, and support young people in recognizing emotions and strengthening their sense of agency. The main objective of the project is to improve the quality of youth work by strengthening youth workers’ competences in facilitating reflective processes and outdoor-based activities that support mental wellbeing. This objective will be achieved through: – developing practical skills in applying at least six outdoor and reflective methods, – increasing participants’ confidence in recognizing signs of reduced wellbeing and conducting supportive conversations, – implementing new methods in six partner organizations within six months after the mobility, – creating a standardized working model based on the structure: analysis – activity – guided reflection – response. From the perspective of everyday youth work practice, this means shifting from fast-paced, task-oriented activities toward processes based on relationship, mindfulness and reflection. The project aims to strengthen the role of youth workers as facilitators who accompany young people in their development, rather than only organizers of activities. In the long term, the project seeks to increase access to quality youth work methods across Europe through the creation of the “Listen – Accept – React” handbook, international and national webinars, and local dissemination events. This will enable other educators to integrate reflective and outdoor-based approaches into their practice in a responsible and professional way. The project is therefore grounded in real needs identified in practice and has an operational character: it provides concrete tools, strengthens professional competences, and contributes to a sustainable improvement in the quality of youth work.

Project partners (6)