🇷🇴 Erasmus+ Training Course in Romania 🗳️ Your Voice, Our Future: Modernising Youth Councils and Student Parliaments 🎭

Youth councils and student parliaments are where young people first learn to shape decisions that affect them — but too many of them feel dated, exclusive or disconnected from how "digital native" young people actually engage. "Your Voice, Our Future" is an Erasmus+ Training Course that equips youth workers to modernise these participation structures: more digital, more inclusive, and psychologically safer. It runs in Sfântu Gheorghe, Romania, from 10 to 18 October 2026. Youth Works Hub gathers funded training for youth workers, and this is a practical, tools-focused one, so here is everything the organisers shared.

What It's About

🗳️ The project aims to revitalise and modernise youth participation structures — specifically municipal youth councils and student parliaments — by equipping youth workers with the tools to make these bodies more inclusive, digitally relevant and psychologically safe.

🌍 It gathers 40 professional and voluntary youth workers who directly mentor youth councils, student parliaments or local participation initiatives, and is delivered fully through non-formal education. The host is Háromszéki Ifjúsági Tanács (HÁRIT), a regional youth umbrella organisation founded in 2007 in Sfântu Gheorghe, uniting over 20 local youth organisations, within a ten-country partnership.

What You'll Learn

💻 Digital Democracy — e-voting and hybrid consultation tools for "digital native" engagement.

🛡️ Safety & Inclusion — creating trauma-informed spaces and ensuring psychological safety for all.

🎭 Arts-Based Facilitation — non-verbal and creative methods like visual facilitation and theatre.

📣 Advocacy — strengthening the influence of youth voices on local policy decisions.

🤝 Community — building a sustainable European network of youth work practitioners.

How It Works: Methodology

🧩 The training is based strictly on non-formal education and peer learning — "learning by doing", no lectures. Methods include council simulation games, thematic workshops, study visits to local councils, and the co-creation of a "Starter Kit" for youth participation.

📅 Across the week the programme moves from group-building and Youth Goal 9 ("Space and Participation for All"), through the quality of youth participation, involvement methodologies (branding, visibility, communication for youth councils), a good-practice visit on municipality–council–NGO cooperation, participation tools (the SALTO Youth Participation Toolkit and Council of Europe materials), and finally the future of youth councils with project ideas and action plans.

🧭 New to this format and what it involves? Here's the essential guide: What Is an Erasmus+ Training Course? → https://youthworkshub.org/trainingcourse

Who Can Apply

👥 Youth workers, educators or active volunteers who:

🔹 Are actively working with youth and want to modernise youth councils, student parliaments or informal youth groups.

🔹 Are passionate about digital democracy tools, arts-based facilitation and trauma-informed inclusion.

🔹 Are in a position to apply the tools immediately and mentor young people in their local communities.

🔹 Are 18+ and comfortable communicating and cooperating in English.

Each partner organisation selects 4 participants committed to engaging during and after the training, of whom 2 must be young people with fewer opportunities (facing geographical, economic or cultural barriers).

🏛️ Want to understand the bigger picture of youth participation in Erasmus+? This guide explains it: What Are Erasmus+ Youth Participation Activities? → https://youthworkshub.org/youthparticipation

What's Covered

🏨 Accommodation at Pensiunea Urban Point and all meals at Orchidea Events are 100% funded by the Erasmus+ programme.

✈️ Travel is reimbursed as Erasmus+ lump sums by distance band (green travel — train, bus, carpooling — is encouraged and earns a higher budget): for most countries in the 500–1,999 km band €309 (Italy, Hungary, Poland, Croatia, Lithuania), and North Macedonia €309 (€417 green); Serbia and Bulgaria in the 100–499 km band €211 (€285 green). Keep all tickets, receipts and boarding passes — reimbursement is by bank transfer, preferably through the sending organisations, after the course.

The Venue

🏔️ Sfântu Gheorghe is the capital of Covasna County in Transylvania, next to the Olt River between the Baraolt and Bodoc Mountains — one of the oldest cities in Transylvania (documented in 1332) and a centre of Székely culture. The nearest airport is Brașov-Ghimbav (39 km), with Sibiu, Bucharest and Târgu Mureș also within reach, and minibus, train and bus connections onward.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ When and where? 10–18 October 2026 (10th and 18th are travel days; activities 11–17), in Sfântu Gheorghe, Romania.

❓ Who can apply? Youth workers, educators and active volunteers aged 18+ working with youth councils, student parliaments or local participation, comfortable in English.

❓ What's covered? Accommodation and all meals are 100% funded by Erasmus+; travel is reimbursed as lump sums by distance band, with a green-travel top-up.

❓ How are participants chosen? Each partner organisation selects 4 participants (2 with fewer opportunities).

❓ Is there a certificate? Youthpass is standard for Erasmus+ training courses recognising your competence development.

Deadline

⏳ As soon as possible! The training runs 10–18 October 2026 and participants are selected through the partner organisations, so express your interest early. Important: wait for the organisers' confirmation before buying any travel tickets. Youth Works Hub gathers funded youth-worker training like this so you can act before places are filled.

How to Apply

📝 Fill in the application form and send your travel plan to the host organisation by email; once selected, you'll be added to a participants' WhatsApp group 1–2 weeks before the course. Wait for confirmation before booking travel.