🇮🇹 Erasmus+ Training Course in Italy 📖 Storytelling: Discovering the Inner Superhero 🦸

Every young person has an "inner superhero" — a sense of their own value and values — and a big part of youth work is helping them find it. Storytelling: Discovering the Inner Superhero is an Erasmus+ Training Course (Youth Worker Exchange) taking place in Trento, Italy, from 4 to 10 November 2026, bringing together 26 youth workers from across Europe to compare methods and tools of innovative storytelling. At Youth Works Hub we gather fully funded Erasmus+ training for youth workers, and this one is a hands-on, co-created week of sharing real practice.

What It's About

The project is an opportunity for youth workers from different parts of Europe to meet and compare methods and tools of innovative storytelling. Throughout the week, participants discover new ideas together to guide young people to build their own identity, boost their self-confidence and empower them to create healthy social relationships. Concretely, it offers the chance to share best practices on creative storytelling and to run workshops on the Human Library, active listening and positive communication — stimulating an openness in youth workers that they can then pass on to the young people they work with.

🧭 New to this format and what it involves? Here's the essential guide: What Is Mobility of Youth Workers? → https://youthworkshub.org/mobility-of-youth-workers

The Programme, Day by Day

The exchange runs 4–10 November 2026, with the 4th and 10th as travel days:

📅 Wednesday 4 Nov — arrivals, discovering the space and surroundings, and resting after travel;

📅 Thursday 5 Nov — getting to know each other, exploring the area, and understanding more about innovative storytelling;

📅 Friday 6 – Sunday 8 Nov — three days fully dedicated to the hands-on exchange of best practices and to workshops on Human Library, active listening and positive communication. This is the heart of the exchange: each participant shares one educational storytelling methodology in a 360° structure (preparation, implementation, evaluation), so everyone gains new skills and tools for working with young people;

📅 Monday 9 Nov — evaluating the activities and giving the group space to share their experience;

📅 Tuesday 10 Nov — departures.

The programme is a co-creation process — the organisers are open to participants' ideas and suggestions. Activities are held in English and partly outdoor (weather permitting).

Who Can Apply

The project targets youth workers (18+) from all over Europe who work closely with young people — youth-centre workers, organisations, schools and similar. Requirements:

✅ At least 1 year of experience working with youth (mandatory, so you can share good practices);

✅ A sending organisation with a valid OID is mandatory; each organisation can send up to 2 participants;

✅ Ability to work in English.

A total of 26 youth workers take part. It is recommended for youth workers and youth leaders.

🎓 Want the essentials of this activity type? Here's the guide: What Is a Training Course? → https://youthworkshub.org/trainingcourse

Where You'll Stay

The exchange takes place in Trento, a town of about 120,000 in northern Italy near the Austrian border, known for its beautiful countryside, mountains and lakes (great for hiking, sailing and mountain-biking). Participants stay at Villa Sant'Ignazio, a residential hospitality house run by a social-solidarity cooperative, in double and triple rooms. It is a 5–10 minute (downhill) walk from Trento's historic centre — the walk back up is fairly steep, and public transport is also available. The working room is in the facility, and breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided by Villa Sant'Ignazio (with the group occasionally eating out in the city centre).

🇮🇹 Also in Italy and built on storytelling? Take a look at this Erasmus+ Youth Exchange — Crossroads: Connecting Stories in 🇮🇹 Italy → https://youthworkshub.org/21934

Costs and What's Covered

There is no participation fee. Board, lodging, local transportation and programme implementation costs are covered upon full participation in the event. Travel is reimbursed based on actual costs, up to the Erasmus+ lump sums by distance band:

10–99 km → €28 (green travel €56)
100–499 km → €211 (green travel €285)
500–1,999 km → €309 (green travel €417)
2,000–2,999 km → €395 (green travel €535)

Only justified costs are eligible; if travel exceeds the lump sum, the remainder is covered by the participant or their sending organisation. Participants can opt for green travel (train, bus, carpooling, bike) for a slightly higher travel budget — contact the organiser about eligible options. You must travel from the country of your sending organisation; if you need to travel from a different country, inform the organiser in advance for National Agency approval. A Youthpass certificate is provided.

Reimbursement, Insurance and What to Bring

💳 Reimbursement: Made only after all travel documents are received. Electronic tickets are strongly preferred; original paper tickets must be handed over (required by Italian law). All documents must reach InCo by 10 December 2026, and reimbursement is made no later than 10 January 2027. Payment goes only to your personal bank account (name must match) or your sending organisation's account — no third-party accounts, no cash.

🛡️ Insurance (mandatory): Per the Erasmus+ Programme Guide, participants must be insured for their participation. You (or your sending organisation) must arrange and pay for insurance covering your stay in Italy — covering, where relevant, travel insurance (incl. luggage), third-party liability, accident and serious illness, and death/repatriation. It is not reimbursed by InCo, and you must send a copy of your policy. A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is strongly recommended.

🎒 What to bring: toiletries, warm clothes (Trento mornings/evenings are breezy in November), a waterproof jacket, comfortable clothes, indoor shoes (for your room), comfortable shoes, a reusable water bottle, personal medication, optional typical food/items from your country, and anything that tells the group about your organisation.

🕵️ Prefer another Erasmus+ project on communication and critical thinking? See this Erasmus+ Youth Exchange — Truth Seekers: Media Literacy in 🇨🇾 Cyprus → https://youthworkshub.org/erasmus-youth-exchange-truth-seekers-media-literacy-cyprus

About the Organiser

The exchange is organised by Associazione InCo – Interculturalità & Comunicazione APS, a non-profit in Trento that creates opportunities for people of different cultures to meet, increasing intercultural sensitivity and international solidarity among young people, encouraging active participation, and offering non-formal learning and personal/professional development. InCo organises and manages various international mobility projects for young people and youth workers.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Who can apply? Youth workers aged 18+ from Erasmus+ Programme countries with at least 1 year of experience working with youth, and a sending organisation with a valid OID.

❓ What are the dates and venue? 4–10 November 2026 (4th and 10th are travel days) at Villa Sant'Ignazio, Trento, Italy.

❓ What does it cost? No participation fee; board, lodging and local transport covered; travel reimbursed up to Erasmus+ distance bands. Insurance is arranged and paid by the participant/sending organisation.

❓ How many per organisation? Up to 2 participants per sending organisation (26 in total).

Deadline

⏳ 15 September 2026 (24:00 UTC), with selection results by 25 September 2026. This closes soon — Youth Works Hub keeps time-sensitive Erasmus+ training like this in one place so you can apply before it closes.