Date: 8 November 2024
Format: Online (Microsoft Teams)
Time: 11:00 â 15:00 CET
The Youth Work in Schools (YWIS) consortium successfully hosted its Online Workshop 2/2024 on 8 November 2024. The event brought together over a hundred registered participants from seven European countries, representing teachers, youth workers, volunteers, and educators committed to strengthening youth work in educational settings.
The main goal of the workshop was to share ideas, promote peer learning, and encourage experimentation with youth work methods that can be integrated into schools. The event served as a platform for exchanging practical examples and adaptable resources developed through the YWIS project.
The workshop opened with Beatriz Ribeiro introducing âGet to Know YWIS â A Roadmap Through the Projectâ, providing an overview of the projectâs structure, objectives, and future outlook. Carla Rothes followed with a presentation on âYouth Work in Benfica: An Approach from the Community to HORIZONTAL360â, highlighting community-based approaches to youth engagement.
The second half of the session featured several inspiring speakers:
- Ăbris SzĂ©p discussed âSchool Visits During Erasmus+ Youth Exchangesâ, emphasizing how experiential learning fosters youth participation.
- Mihaela Diana Podariu presented âEngaging Youth in Protecting Cultural Heritage through Alternative Museumsâ, showcasing creative ways to make heritage education interactive.
- Maria Freitas shared her journey in âHow to Turn an ESC Project into an NGOâ, offering guidance on transforming youth initiatives into sustainable organizations.
- The workshop concluded with closing remarks by Miguel Carneiro, who summarized the discussions and thanked all speakers and participants for their contributions.
Photo: Beatriz Ribeiro
đ Participation Overview
A total of 100 people registered, representing diverse roles and countries:
- By role: Youth workers (21), volunteers (13), teachers (9), and others (57).
- By country: Greece (71), Portugal (13), Finland (5), Estonia (5), Romania (2), France (2), Latvia (1), and Hungary (1).
Each partner organization ensured a minimum of eight participants.
đŹ Feedback Highlights
At the end of the workshop, participants completed an anonymous evaluation form.
- 80% rated the workshop âexcellentâ or âgoodâ overall.
- 75% found the content highly relevant to their work or studies.
- 90% praised the effectiveness of the speakers.
Participants particularly appreciated learning about non-formal education methods, youth participation strategies, and innovative ways to connect youth work with school environments.
Common suggestions for improvement included providing more interactive sessions, extra discussion time, short breaks between presentations, and multilingual support such as subtitles or translated materials.
âThis workshop continues to strengthen the YWIS community by connecting passionate educators and youth workers across Europe. The exchange of ideas and good practices brings us closer to our goalâmaking schools more participatory, inclusive, and empowering for young people,â said coordinator Beatriz Ribeiro.
The YWIS consortium remains dedicated to fostering collaboration between schools and youth work organizations, building sustainable models that inspire active citizenship and lifelong learning among young people throughout Europe.