Youth Winter Academy

The Youth Winter School training course was organized in Belgrade, Serbia, with the support of the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. It focused on strengthening the capacities of young NGOs and training youth workers in the fundamentals of non-formal education.

While many Erasmus+ projects focus on specific themes such as entrepreneurship, diversity, or radicalization, this initiative returned to the basics: equipping new youth workers and organizations with the tools to design, lead, and evaluate educational activities. The project created a space where participants could gain practical trainer skills and prepare to work with young people in multicultural environments.

Objectives

The training course aimed to:

• Introduce participants to different learning styles and approaches.

• Develop trainer competences in communication, facilitation, and coaching.

• Enable youth workers to plan and run workshops on active citizenship, human rights, social inclusion, and migration.

• Empower participants to work with diverse groups, including minorities, migrants, and refugees.

• Increase the capacity of NGOs to implement non-formal education activities.

• Foster international cooperation and create lasting partnerships among organizations.

Activities

The methodology of the course was based on non-formal education principles such as group work, discussions, and presentations of good practices. Participants prepared and delivered their own workshops during the training, covering topics like anti-discrimination, tolerance, hate speech, and human rights education. Intercultural nights allowed groups to share traditions, food, and stories, strengthening mutual understanding.

Participants

The project gathered youth workers and aspiring trainers from Sweden, Germany, Serbia, Turkey, Croatia, and Estonia. Each partner organization selected motivated participants, ensuring diversity in backgrounds and perspectives.

Venue

The training was hosted at Studentsko odmaralište “Radojka Lakić” in Belgrade, providing accommodation, meals, and a supportive environment for learning and exchange.

Support and Funding

The project was co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union and the Swedish National Agency. Travel, accommodation, food, and activities were fully covered, with participants contributing only their motivation, energy, and creativity.

Impact

Youth Winter School equipped participants with practical skills to become trainers and facilitators in youth work. By focusing on the fundamentals of non-formal education, it empowered them to design impactful workshops, support young people from diverse backgrounds, and strengthen the work of NGOs across Europe.