Every journey towards stronger communities begins with the people who guide young people. Civis Lab is an Erasmus+ activity focused on strengthening socio-educational animators as facilitators of youth civic and democratic participation. The project aims to create, test, and validate innovative non-formal education methodologies that empower young people to engage meaningfully in their communities and democratic processes.
About the Project
By equipping youth workers and organisations with inclusive, accessible, meaningful, and sustainable participation tools, Civis Lab builds capacity across Europe. The project brings together educators, youth workers, and community leaders to co-develop practical resources that can be replicated and adapted in diverse local contexts. It is organised by Caminho Coop, founded in 2022, whose team (Pedro, Filipa and Zรฉ) work to transform social realities, shape public policies and strategies for young people, and promote non-formal education and social innovation. They will also be the trainers and facilitators for this project.
Project Objectives
๐งโ๐ซ Train socio-educational youth workers in innovative participation methodologies through training sessions, job shadowing, and hands-on workshops
๐งช Test and validate new youth engagement approaches through pilot activities implemented in partner countries
๐ฃ๏ธ Strengthen youth workers' core skills: dialogue facilitation, active listening, conflict mediation, group management, and critical thinking stimulation
๐งฐ Create practical tools: a digital methodological toolkit with participatory activities, step-by-step guides, and real-world examples
๐ Promote inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities in rural, disadvantaged, or culturally diverse contexts
๐๏ธ Stimulate active and democratic citizenship among young people through meaningful engagement and empowerment
๐ค Strengthen participating organisations and build a lasting European network, ensuring the sustainability and replicability of methodologies so impact continues beyond the project's duration
Key Concepts
๐น Non-formal education methodologies
๐น Civic and democratic participation
๐น Youth work practice
๐น Inclusive and accessible participation
๐น Multiplier effect
๐น Active citizenship
๐น Community immersion
๐น Youthpass certification
Eligible Countries
This training course is open to participants from:
๐ต๐น Portugal
๐ช๐ธ Spain
๐ฑ๐น Lithuania
๐ฉ๐ฐ Denmark
๐น๐ท Turkey
Participant Profile
The target group is youth workers, educators, teachers, young leaders and professionals working with young people. There will be 25 participants from different European countries, 5 from each, with at least 10 participants with fewer opportunities. We are looking for youth workers and animators working directly with young people in associations, local authorities or community structures, educators and teachers interested in integrating participatory methodologies in formal and non-formal learning contexts, and young leaders and representatives of youth organisations, cultural associations and community projects. At least 10 participants will be young people or professionals with fewer opportunities, including those from rural areas, socio-economically disadvantaged contexts or with limited access to international experiences.
Participant obligations include actively participating in all phases of the project, respecting deadlines and timing (filling out forms, purchasing tickets, coming to workshops, carrying out follow-up events, setting meetings, sending reports), respecting other participants and promoting inclusion, understanding and support, and researching the project topic in your own community.
๐ก Also open now: Erasmus+ Training Course in ๐ต๐น Portugal ๐ก Bioconstruction and Sustainable Building for Rural Regeneration โ https://youthworkshub.org/20693
Dates and Venue
๐ Dates: 17 to 25 October 2026 (7-day project)
๐ฌ Arrival date: 17 October 2026 (between lunch and dinner time)
๐ซ Departure date: 25 October 2026 (after breakfast)
๐ Location: Apรบlia, Esposende, Portugal
๐๏ธ Accommodation and meals: Centro Social Joรฃo Paulo II, double rooms
The preferential airport is Francisco Sรก Carneiro Airport in Oporto, with Lisbon Airport as an alternative. As usual with mobility projects, there will be intercultural evenings, where teams from each country prepare a presentation of their country.
Travel Budget and Reimbursement
Travel budget per participant by country:
โ๏ธ Lithuania: 395 EUR
โ๏ธ Spain: 417 EUR (green travel)
โ๏ธ Turkey: 580 EUR
โ๏ธ Denmark: 395 EUR
Please check green travel options and the cheapest travel solutions. Do not purchase tickets before getting approval from Caminho Coop. Only fiscal bills (with VAT number) will be considered, not POS payment confirmations. Only public transportation will be reimbursed, with no gasoline, highways or taxi. Do not lose your tickets, and make photos, scans and downloads of all tickets immediately. Caminho Coop will transfer money to each sending association, who will then transfer to participants. You can arrive 2 days earlier and stay 2 days longer, but Caminho Coop will not cover the costs of additional accommodation, food or public transportation during extra days.
Insurance
All participants should bring their European Health Insurance Card. You can use the free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access public hospital treatment. Please be aware that the EHIC is not a travel insurance policy, and it will not cover private health care, non-emergency health costs, or being flown back to your home country.
Post-Project Outcomes
๐งโ๐ซ Training multipliers: participants replicate methodologies locally
๐งฐ Digital toolkit: online manual with methodologies, good practices and prototypes
๐ฃ Local dissemination events by participants and partner organisations
๐ Strengthened European network, with participants and partner organisations remaining connected via digital platforms
๐ Youthpass certification for all participants, validating their non-formal learning and competence development
โป๏ธ Sustainable replication of methodologies and tools across partner countries
How to Apply
Deadline for applications: 31 August 2026. Open to youth workers aged 18 and over.
๐ Application form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScFcREVJ8kJPQU40m42quh807Ok9rYw9f3017RxTiSLY7nO0Q/viewform
โน๏ธ Infopack: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13T2CXOtQhyXDXzlNJVjswsJVQHrawVUD/view
Partner organisations: Caminho Coop (Portugal), EUROACTIVA-T (Spain), Tepebaลฤฑ Foundation (Tรผrkiye), Average Youth Association (Lithuania) and Together is Better (Denmark).
๐ You might also like: Erasmus+ Training Course in ๐ธ๐ฎ Slovenia ๐ Somatics, Ecopsychology and the Art of Building Bridges in Youth Work โ https://youthworkshub.org/21650
