Contributed by Solidarity Tracks.
In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, the role of young people in shaping their communities and contributing to the broader European context is essential. With this understanding in mind, the Power Youth Up project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme, has been initiated since 2021 to promote creativity and engagement among the youth, involving a network of European partners: Youth Coop (Portugal), Novo Mundo (Portugal), Solidarity Tracks (Greece), P.O.D (Spain), FITT (Romania) and Centro Fonti San Lorenzo (Italy).
This project aims to recognize the value of creativity and the importance of youth participation in decision-making processes. The project's primary objective is to foster the involvement of young people in community spaces through youth work methodologies linked to Creativity, Critical Thinking, Experimentation and Active European citizenship. It also acknowledges their right to freely express their opinions on issues that directly impact their lives and communities.
Needs assessment and best practices
Through survey and focus group methods, the project evaluated the specific needs of young people to identify effective practices that promote creativity and youth participation in youth and community spaces. This research-driven approach ensured that strategies are tailored to each community's unique challenges and opportunities.
Empowering youth workers and organizations
In addition to empowering young people, the project also focuses on equipping youth workers, leaders, and organizations with the tools and knowledge to effectively engage and support the youth in their journey towards empowerment and active European citizenship. Youth workers had the opportunity to participate in transnational meetings, led in each partner country to discover local good practices and visit youth centres. Dedicated training also took place to share good practices, experiment with the creative activities developed by the network and follow up with the project outcomes:
- A guide to local Youth Work practices in Community Centers and non-profit organizations - which also includes identifying and collecting good Youth Work practices and diagnosing the local needs of young people.
- A Toolkit for Youth Creativity and Engagement in Community Spaces—This includes designing and testing a methodology for creativity and participation and developing a toolkit.
- MOOC for digital facilitation and community involvement: This is a massive online course on digital facilitation and community engagement that aims to promote the digital skills of young workers and educators.
Local Engagement, Global Impact
The project operates at a grassroots level, starting with local communities by reinforcing the role of youth work in community development. Partners developed creative activities enhancing youth engagement among their local community and the European network. Self-love, environment, recycling, sport, participatory art, and writing were among the topics developed.
Implementing the Vision
The project started by collecting and disseminating best practices for youth empowerment. It sought to develop innovative means for active participation at both local and European levels. This is being achieved through collaborative and non-formal education methodologies. Special emphasis was placed on community spaces, youth centres, and youth NGOs.
As we look to the future, the energy, creativity, and active involvement of the youth will shape the European landscape. This project stands as a testament to the commitment to developing innovative youth work approaches, making this project a promise of an enriched and participatory European society led by today's vibrant, creative, and engaged youth.
