Step into a powerful 5-day learning experience in the beautiful Mátra Mountains of Hungary 🇭🇺, where youth workers, social workers, educators, mentors and youth leaders come together to explore how trauma shapes young people’s lives — and how youth work can become a safe, protective and empowering force.

Taking place from 4–8 February 2026, this immersive training course blends science + practice + nature + experiential learning, giving participants the tools and understanding needed to support highly vulnerable youth with confidence, compassion and professional boundaries.

🌿 Why This Training Course Matters

Young people across Europe face rising levels of stress, instability, poverty, discrimination, and traumatic life events. Youth workers often become the first safe adult they encounter.

This training helps you:

  • 🧠 Understand trauma and how it affects behaviour, emotions and decision-making
  • 💬 Communicate in trauma-sensitive ways
  • 🌱 Support emotional regulation and resilience
  • 🔒 Set boundaries and safeguard youth workers + youth
  • 🧭 Recognise your role (youth work ≠ therapy)
  • 🤝 Collaborate cross-sectorally with psychologists, social workers, schools etc.

All of this while learning through nature, group processes, reflection and hands-on practice.

🎓 What You Will Learn (Highlights)

🧠 Trauma & Mental Health

  • Understanding trauma and stress
  • Nervous system responses
  • Adverse childhood experiences
  • Protective factors for vulnerable youth

💬 Trauma-Informed Skills

  • Emotion regulation techniques
  • Psychological First Aid (PFA)
  • Safe communication
  • Relationship-based support

🛡️ Safety & Professional Boundaries

  • Creating psychologically safe spaces
  • Safeguarding principles
  • Recognising red flags
  • Preventing secondary traumatisation
  • Self-care strategies for youth workers

🌲 Nature-Connected Learning

  • Outdoor reflection
  • Group challenges
  • Sensory grounding techniques
  • Creative and mindful practices

🏞️ Venue & Atmosphere

Galyatető, Mátra Mountains, Hungary 🇭🇺
Venue: Fogadó a Táncoló Kecskékhez

You will enjoy:

  • 🛏️ Shared rooms (2–3 people)
  • 🍽️ 3 meals per day + snacks
  • 🌿 Access to forest & nature paths
  • 🔥 Cosy indoor learning rooms
  • 🎒 A calm, distraction-free environment

First meal: Dinner on arrival day
Last meal: Breakfast on departure day

👥 Facilitators

👤 Mónika Rózsa
Child & Adolescent Clinical and Mental Health Psychologist

👤 Árpád Bárnai
Trainer & Youth Worker at Élményakadémia, supporting disadvantaged youth since 2006

Together, they bring a perfect balance of deep professional knowledge, field experience and supportive facilitation.

🌍 Who Can Apply?

Professionals and volunteers who work directly with young people, including:

  • 🧑‍🏫 Youth workers
  • 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Social workers
  • 🧑‍🏫 Educators
  • 🧑‍💼 Youth project managers
  • 🧑‍🎓 Mentors
  • 👥 Anyone supporting vulnerable youth regularly

You should have:

  • Good English level
  • Emotional stability (due to sensitive themes)
  • Willingness to learn, reflect and participate

🇪🇺 Eligible Countries (with Flags)

Austria 🇦🇹, Belgium-DE 🇧🇪, Belgium-FL 🇧🇪, Belgium-FR 🇧🇪, Bulgaria 🇧🇬, Croatia 🇭🇷, Cyprus 🇨🇾, Czech Republic 🇨🇿, Denmark 🇩🇰, Estonia 🇪🇪, Finland 🇫🇮, France 🇫🇷, Germany 🇩🇪, Greece 🇬🇷, Hungary 🇭🇺, Iceland 🇮🇸, Ireland 🇮🇪, Italy 🇮🇹, Latvia 🇱🇻, Liechtenstein 🇱🇮, Lithuania 🇱🇹, Luxembourg 🇱🇺, Malta 🇲🇹, Netherlands 🇳🇱, Norway 🇳🇴, Poland 🇵🇱, Portugal 🇵🇹, North Macedonia 🇲🇰, Romania 🇷🇴, Serbia 🇷🇸, Slovakia 🇸🇰, Slovenia 🇸🇮, Spain 🇪🇸, Sweden 🇸🇪, Switzerland 🇨🇭, Türkiye 🇹🇷

✈️ Travel Reimbursement

Covered according to Erasmus+ distance bands.
Eco-friendly travel receives a higher budget allocation.
All original travel documents are required for reimbursement.

📅 Key Information

⚠️ Important Notice

1️⃣ Source of Information
This announcement has been prepared based on the information provided by the project coordinator.

2️⃣ Responsibility for Content
The project coordinator is solely responsible for the accuracy, details, and updates of the opportunity content.

3️⃣ Right to Modify or Withdraw
Coordinating organisations reserve the right to make changes after publication — including dates, activity details, or application deadlines — or to withdraw the announcement entirely.

4️⃣ Disclaimer of Liability
YouthWorks Hub is not responsible for any such changes, updates, or cancellations made by the project coordinators.

💡 Final Note:
All listings are shared for informational purposes only. Please always verify details directly through the official project coordinator or programme website before applying.