Project Overview
Project Reference: 2023-3-SI02-KA153-YOU-000172639
Status: Completed
Duration: January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024
EU Grant: €33,167.60
Programme: Erasmus+
Action Type: Mobility of Youth Workers
Countries Involved: Slovenia, Italy, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Turkey, Poland, Portugal, North Macedonia
Background
Many young migrants face serious challenges when they arrive in a new country. They often struggle with finding housing, accessing health services, and understanding their legal rights. Their mental health can also suffer due to past trauma and stress. This project was created to support youth workers in helping young migrants better integrate into their new communities. It continues the work of two previous successful projects with the same focus.
Objectives
The main goal of the project was to build the capacity of youth workers who work with young migrants. It aimed to improve understanding of migrant housing and health care issues, as well as mental health needs. Another important goal was to educate youth workers so they could explain migrants’ legal rights more clearly. The project also aimed to promote integration policies and build respect between different cultures in local communities.
Implementation
An 8-day training course was held in April 2024 with 37 youth workers from 13 different countries. The training used non-formal education methods such as workshops, discussions, and interactive exercises. Participants had various levels of experience with mentoring young migrants. The programme focused on practical tools and knowledge they could use directly in their work. The goal was to turn theory into action and make youth work more effective.
Key Activities
After the training, each partner organisation ran local mentoring activities. Later, two virtual workshops were held where participants shared experiences, challenges, and lessons learned. These online meetings allowed youth workers to learn from each other and collect feedback. The workshops helped identify successful methods and useful tools. All findings were summarised into a document with best practices that can guide future youth work in the field of migration.
Results
The project led to the creation of a functioning mentoring system in 14 countries. Youth workers improved their skills and gained confidence in working with young migrants. The best practices document now serves as a shared resource for organisations across Europe. Each partner also hosted a national conference to present project results and inspire more local engagement. These events showed the real-world impact of the mentoring programme.
Impact
The project achieved long-term benefits. Youth workers became better prepared to support migrant youth. Local organisations strengthened their role in helping migrants feel welcome and safe. The mentoring model will be expanded to include more partners in the future, with the hope of reaching a global scale. By building cooperation across countries, this project created a strong network for sharing knowledge and promoting inclusion.
