Open call for youth workers (18+) from Italy, Germany, Portugal and Spain to join the Erasmus+ Training Course "From the Ground Up – Building youth participation in local communities," from 15 to 22 July 2026 in Malaga, Spain. The course deepens understanding of youth participation in democratic decision-making and strengthens your capacity to design and facilitate meaningful participation processes for and with young people.
About the Course
Through non-formal education and experiential learning, participants explore key concepts of youth participation, including the principles of participation, the ladder of participation, power dynamics, digital and virtual youth spaces, and the role of rights in participatory practice, while gaining practical tools that promote youth engagement at local, national and European levels. Strong emphasis is placed on the role of youth workers as enablers of youth participation in their local communities, and the course is rooted in Youth Goal 9: Space and Participation for All.
Want to understand the role youth workers really play? Here's a closer look: https://youthworkshub.org/15128/
What the Course Looks Like
🤝 An initial phase building a safe, supportive learning environment, trust and group cohesion
🛠️ Interactive workshops, small-group design sessions, intercultural exchange and hands-on activities
🏛️ A simulation of cooperation between youth organisations and local authorities
🔍 A self-organised exploration of local realities
📋 Developing concrete local follow-up activities and personal and professional commitment plans
Objectives
🎯 Introduce key concepts of youth participation, using the principles and the ladder of participation as a common reference
🌍 Explore country realities of youth work and exchange good practices across national contexts
⚖️ Develop understanding of power and participation, rights-based approaches and digital/virtual youth participation
📘 Examine non-formal education as a tool for empowering youth participation and strengthen facilitation competences
🛠️ Equip participants with skills for concrete local follow-up activities
🌟 Foster understanding of how Erasmus+ and YouthPass support youth participation
📝 Support personal and professional commitment plans for after the training
Who Can Participate
🧑🏫 Youth workers and youth leaders, aged 18+
🌍 From the partner countries
📋 Able to attend the full duration and complete the preparation tasks
Eligible Countries
🇮🇹 Italy, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇪🇸 Spain
Accommodation & Food
🏨 Accommodation at Albergue Inturjoven Malaga, well connected to the city centre, in 3/4-bed rooms (bunk beds), with bed sheets and towels included and wifi throughout
🍽️ Breakfast, lunch and dinner served daily at the residence, where the course is also held
Travel & Reimbursement
✈️ Travel reimbursed 100% up to the maximum Erasmus+ unit cost per distance band, for the cheapest return route (plane, bus, train, ferry, carpooling, but not taxi)
🌱 Green travel encouraged; for distances under 500 km one way, land transport is preferred (planes for such distances are reimbursed at 60%)
💶 Distance-band unit costs (standard / green): 10–99 km €28/€56; 100–499 km €211/€285; 500–1999 km €309/€417; 2000–2999 km €395/€535; 3000–3999 km €580/€785; 4000–7999 km €1,188; 8000+ km €1,735
📄 Keep all original tickets, invoices and boarding passes; reimbursement is by bank transfer after you return home and submit your documents and evaluation forms
🚫 Don't buy tickets before they're approved; you may arrive max 1 day before and depart max 1 day after (up to 4 extra days for green travel)
Preparation & Follow-up
💻 Complete a preparatory online course (up to 3 practical assignments) before the event
📣 Design, organise and implement follow-up educational activities based on what you learn
The Details
📍 Location: Malaga, Spain (Albergue Inturjoven Malaga)
🗓️ Dates: 15 to 22 July 2026 (arrival 15 July between 17:00 and 19:00; departure the morning of 22 July)
👥 For: youth workers aged 18+ from the partner countries
💶 Funding: Erasmus+ (accommodation and meals covered; travel reimbursed up to the unit-cost limits above)
🌟 Rooted in Youth Goal 9: Space and Participation for All
How to Apply
📝 Fill in the application form (linked below). For travel planning, contact logistics coordinator Veronica Bracaccini at project03@yp-de.org
Deadline
📅 21 June 2026
Links
📝 Application form: https://forms.gle/SUpSK5TPqtHEoo6v9
📄 Infopack: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wjg1M0FJABM-HTLgTs49uCk2aaOCQLST/view?usp=drivesdk
📧 Logistics: project03@yp-de.org
