We are pleased to present our project “Balancing Digital Competencies and Well-being in Youth Work,” supported by the Erasmus+ programme. This youth worker mobility will take place from October 6 to October 10, 2025, in Maribor, Slovenia, and focuses on enhancing the competencies of youth workers to effectively tackle the challenges posed by digitalization, while also promoting the well-being of young people through inclusive and balanced approaches to youth work.
Objectives and Purpose of the Project:
- Enhancing Digital Competencies for Youth Workers: The primary objective of this project is to equip youth workers with knowledge and skills critical for mastering digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI) in youth work. Through this training, we aim to increase their ability to use digital technologies critically and safely, enabling them to support young people in developing their own digital literacy and integrating these tools into their personal and professional lives.
- Developing Methods and Tools for Promoting Well-being and Quality Leisure Time in Nature:Beyond digital competencies, the project will focus on the importance of balancing the digital world with natural, offline activities. By focusing on youth, especially those from disadvantaged groups, we will train youth workers to encourage active leisure time in nature, promoting mental and physical well-being while enhancing social cohesion and connection to the environment.
- Fostering Social Cohesion and Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups: We will place special emphasis on youth workers who work with young people from marginalized communities, particularly young Roma women, who often face multiple layers of discrimination. The project will help develop new methods that will empower these youth and provide them with greater opportunities for education, employment, and community engagement.
- Sharing Best Practices and Innovative Approaches to Youth Work: The project will provide youth workers with the opportunity to explore and apply best practices in youth work, including the use of artificial intelligence and digital tools, while also exploring offline methods that help young people in their personal growth, confidence building, and motivation to engage in physical and social activities.
- Supporting Sustainable International Networks and Cooperation: The project will serve as a platform for exchanging experiences and ideas between youth workers from different countries. Participants will be able to develop long-term international connections that will help foster continued development of youth work methods and create new opportunities for collaboration.
Specific Details:
- Partners: Društvo za povezovanje romskih žensk Loli Luludi (Slovenia), Moby Dick (Italy), YEŞİL GENÇ HAREKETİ DERNEĞİ (Turkey), Grüne Jugend Mobilität e.V. (Germany), Asociación Nacional Presencia Gitana (Spain).
- Locations: Maribor (urban) and Pohorje (natural).
- Mobility Duration: October 6, 2025 – October 10, 2025.
- Participants: 20 youth workers, half from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Objective: Strengthening digital and methodological competencies, experience exchange, and development of sustainable youth work methods.
Project Aims:
The goal of the project is to equip youth workers with digital and methodological skills that will enhance their ability to work with young people, particularly those from vulnerable groups. Moreover, we aim to highlight the importance of balancing digital engagement with offline, nature-based youth activities, promoting overall well-being. The project will also encourage the inclusion of young people from diverse backgrounds in collective activities, which will contribute to greater social cohesion.