The YIPPIE project, short for Youthworkers International Professional Practice on Inclusion and Empowerment, is an Erasmus+ initiative focused on the mobility of youth workers. It successfully concluded in October 2023, and with an EU grant of €17,995, the project united youth workers from six European countries – Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Moldova, and Romania. The project’s aim was to empower youth workers and enhance their ability to support young people facing various challenges, especially those with fewer opportunities.
Objectives: Strengthening Youth Work Across Europe
The YIPPIE project had a clear goal: to strengthen youth work across Europe, with a special focus on Albania. By fostering international collaboration, YIPPIE aimed to equip youth workers with the skills and knowledge needed to support vulnerable young people. This includes individuals dealing with social, geographical, or economic obstacles, ethnic discrimination, health issues, and educational challenges.
The project’s overarching mission was to empower youth workers to help these young people transition into adulthood and lead independent, successful lives. Through exchanges, workshops, and collaborations, the project aimed to build a systematic approach to improving youth work and developing strong partnerships for future initiatives.
Key Activities: Learning and Sharing Best Practices in Albania
At the heart of YIPPIE was a four-day study visit to Albania. This visit brought together 26 youth work practitioners and program leaders from eight organizations across Europe. The agenda included peer exchanges with three Albanian youth work organizations, workshops, and training sessions designed to foster youth empowerment.
Key activities included:
- Peer Exchanges: On days one and two, participants engaged in exchanges with Albanian youth organizations, sharing experiences and good practices in youth work.
- Youth Empowerment Training: Day three featured a one-day training on “Youth Empowerment and Youth Participation” led by CRCA Albania. This session equipped participants with strategies to enhance young people’s involvement in decision-making processes.
- DEOR Workshop: On day four, a workshop focused on the Dissemination and Exploitation of Results (DEOR). The workshop, led by trainers from CONCORDIA Romania, discussed how to integrate learnings into daily youth work practices and develop strategies for future initiatives.
Impact and Outcomes: Empowering Youth Workers to Support Disadvantaged Youth
By the end of the YIPPIE project, participants gained significant insights and practical tools for improving their youth work. Some of the key outcomes include:
- Improved Services for Young People: Participants identified new services and activities that could enhance youth engagement, especially for those from marginalized communities, such as care leavers, NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), and the Roma community.
- Youth Participation: The project encouraged greater and more meaningful participation of young people in decision-making processes within their communities.
- Inclusive Training Methods: Partners explored ways to make staff training and supervision more inclusive and effective, particularly in working with young people facing migration or social inclusion challenges.
- Partnership Building: One of the long-term goals was to foster strong partnerships between participating organizations, ensuring that these relationships would continue to thrive beyond the project’s end.
Capacity Building: Equipping Youth Workers with Essential Skills
The YIPPIE project contributed significantly to capacity building among youth workers. Key areas of growth included:
- Fostering Youth Participation: Participants developed strategies to encourage social and civic engagement among marginalized young people.
- Supporting Marginalized Groups: The project enhanced the ability of youth workers to address the unique needs of disadvantaged groups, including children in care, refugees, and the Roma population.
- Transition to Independence: Special focus was given to supporting young people in their transition from dependent care to independent living, ensuring they are equipped with the necessary life skills and competencies.
Conclusion: Building a Future of Empowered Youth Work
The YIPPIE project has left a lasting legacy in the field of youth work. Beyond its immediate participants, the project aims to raise awareness among local and national authorities, advocate for better opportunities for young people, and promote the European Union’s priorities in youth work. It also emphasizes the importance of cross-border collaboration, which will lead to future partnerships and projects aimed at enhancing youth empowerment and inclusion across Europe.
As the Erasmus+ project concludes, its impact will continue to resonate in the participating countries, as youth workers apply their newfound knowledge and partnerships to create a brighter future for the next generation.
