🧭 Summary
Active Listening in Youth Work was an Erasmus+ Training Course implemented by AGECARE (Cyprus) Ltd between August 2018 and February 2019, with the main mobility held from 4 to 11 November 2018 in Larnaca, Cyprus.
The project brought together youth workers and educators from Cyprus, Romania, Poland, Italy, and Spain to enhance communication skills, active listening, and non-formal education competences for better engagement with disadvantaged young people.
This EU-funded initiative aimed to improve communication, inclusion, and empathy in youth work, empowering professionals to better understand and respond to the needs of young people through non-formal learning, intercultural dialogue, and community-based activities.
Keywords: Erasmus+ training course, youth empowerment, communication in youth work, non-formal education, active listening, inclusion, youth participation, disadvantaged youth, youth mobility, EU-funded projects.
🎯 Objectives
The Active Listening in Youth Work project achieved several objectives that directly support Erasmus+ priorities in education, training, and inclusion:
- Improved Communication Skills:
During the 7-month project, 25 youth workers enhanced their understanding of verbal, non-verbal, assertive, and non-violent communication, learning how to adapt messages to diverse and disadvantaged youth groups to foster more effective interaction. - Use of Non-Formal Education for Youth Inclusion:
Participants discovered how to use non-formal education methods to assess and respond to young people’s needs, learning and applying at least five new interactive methods in their local communities and organizations. - Encouraging Local Impact and Youth Engagement:
Each partner organization initiated at least two local projects involving a minimum of 20 disadvantaged young people, promoting social inclusion, motivation, and confidence among youth participants.
Through these actions, the project empowered youth workers to become more effective communicators and facilitators, enhancing their capacity for active listening and empathic communication in their daily work.
Keywords: communication training, youth work development, non-formal education methods, youth inclusion, intercultural dialogue, local youth projects, social engagement, capacity building for NGOs.
🏖 Implementation
The project’s main activities were designed collaboratively by the partner organizations to ensure maximum impact and relevance.
Hosted in Larnaca, Cyprus, the training course used interactive learning, group exercises, and practical sessions to build participants’ communication and facilitation skills.
Focus areas included:
- Motivating and engaging young people
- Understanding the barriers faced by disadvantaged youth
- Using non-formal education tools for active participation
- Practicing active listening and empathy in real settings
Participants also conducted activities at Larnaca High School, where they worked directly with disadvantaged young people. Using non-formal education (NFE) methods, they encouraged socialization, teamwork, and self-confidence among the students.
Keywords: youth communication training, Erasmus+ mobility, intercultural learning, non-formal education in schools, youth inclusion activities, European cooperation, experiential learning.
🤝 Partners
| Partner Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| AGECARE (Cyprus) Ltd | 🇨🇾 Cyprus (Coordinator) |
| ASK Yourself | 🇷🇴 Romania |
| FUNDACJA WSPIERANIA INICJATYW MŁODZIEŻOWYCH 4YOUTH | 🇵🇱 Poland |
| Come Pensiamo. Etnografia e Formazione. | 🇮🇹 Italy |
| Amigos del Pueblo Saharaui de Herencia “El Uali” | 🇪🇸 Spain |
These European NGOs collaborated to strengthen youth work competences, cross-border cooperation, and inclusive education, creating lasting partnerships in youth development and social innovation.
Keywords: European partnership, Erasmus+ cooperation, international youth work, NGO collaboration, inclusive education projects, transnational youth mobility.
📦 Outputs & Results
- 1 Erasmus+ training course on communication and active listening
- 25 trained youth workers with improved interpersonal skills
- 5+ non-formal education methods adapted for disadvantaged youth
- 10 local youth projects implemented in partner countries
- Improved cooperation between 5 European organizations
The project dissemination was successfully carried out across all partner countries. Participants applied what they learned in their daily work, integrating active listening, non-formal methods, and youth engagement techniques in their local communities.
Keywords: project dissemination, Erasmus+ results, communication toolkit, youth engagement, social inclusion projects, educational innovation, project impact.
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