What happens when 19 passionate youth workers from 9 different countries come together in the beautiful city of Helsinki, Finland? Magic! ✨
Our team had an unforgettable experience at the "Art Unites: Strengthening NGO Networks" project, an Erasmus+ mobility that proved just how powerful art can be in bringing people together.
From seasoned pros to rising stars in youth work, everyone shared a common passion: using art to connect with young people. And wow, did we connect! The energy was contagious, the ideas were flowing, and the results? 8 brand-new projects in the making – talk about a success! 🎯
But let’s get to the fun part – here’s what made this project so special:
💡 Sharing Best Practices: We got to showcase our work with young people to an international audience and learn from each other.🗣️ Real Talk: Open and honest discussions about the exciting (and sometimes tricky!) challenges of combining youth work and art.
🤝 Collaboration at Its Best: Brainstorming creative solutions for today’s youth challenges and coming up with fresh project ideas.
🎭 Learning from the Past: We reflected on previous Erasmus+ collaborations in the arts sector and how to make them even better.
Each day was packed with new experiences, creative sessions, and unforgettable moments:
📅 Day 1: Breaking the ice, team-building, and exploring each other's artistic superpowers.📅 Day 2: Diving into the intersection of youth work and the arts, plus exploring the exciting opportunities Erasmus+ has to offer.
📅 Day 3: Collaborating on brand-new project ideas and getting inspired by local success stories.
📅 Day 4: Wrapping up, fine-tuning ideas, and looking ahead to the next big deadline in February 2025.
The best part? The connections we made didn’t end with the project – they’ve grown into 8 exciting initiatives that will continue to impact young people across Europe. 🚀
A big shout-out to the amazing organizing team who made it all possible:
🙌 Ksenia Balmasova – Project Coordinator🙌 Anna Webster – Erasmus+ Coach & Director of Life Zone Group, Estonia🙌 Svetlana Tchistiakova – Director of Vantaan Venäläinen Klubi, Finland
None of this would have been possible without the support of the Erasmus+ Youth Programme, which continues to empower young people and youth workers across Europe.
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