“Youth Spark: Empowering Participation” – Erasmus+ Training Course 07/02/2026 – 15/02/2026
Kolín, Czech Republic
From 7th to 15th February 2026, the charming town of Kolín, Czechia became the meeting point for a lively group of youth workers and active young people from across Europe. We came together for YOUTH SPARK – Empowering Participation, a 7-day Erasmus+ training course dedicated to exploring how young people can take an active role in their communities.
About the Training
YOUTH SPARK is a fully funded Erasmus+ training course focused on youth participation. Over the week, it became much more than a series of workshops—it was a space to share stories, reflect on our experiences, and think creatively about how youth work can empower young people. Through interactive exercises, group discussions, and practical tools, we explored the different forms and levels of participation, learning how to translate these ideas into our own communities.
The diversity of participants—from Czechia, Poland, Spain, Italy, North Macedonia, Greece, Portugal, and Estonia—brought in rich perspectives. It was inspiring to hear how youth engagement works in different countries, and how we can adapt ideas across contexts while respecting local realities.
What We Aimed to Achieve
During the training, we focused on a few key goals:
- Building a shared understanding of youth participation, its principles, and the many ways young people can engage.
- Identifying the factors that help young people take initiative and become active citizens.
- Exchanging practical experiences and approaches from different countries and local realities.
- Discovering and trying out hands-on methods that promote youth participation.
- Learning how Erasmus+ and other European programs can support youth-led initiatives and participatory projects.
Through workshops, role-playing exercises, and reflection sessions, we got to test these methods ourselves and see what works in practice. It was exciting to try approaches we had only read about before, and to leave with concrete ideas to bring back home.
Making It Count
YOUTH SPARK was not just a training course—it was an energizing week of inspiration, learning, and connection. By the end, everyone left with practical tools, new ideas, and a stronger network of peers across Europe. It was amazing to see how sharing experiences and strategies can spark fresh ideas for youth participation and encourage young people to take the lead in shaping their communities.
This experience reminded us that meaningful participation doesn’t happen by chance—it’s something we can actively support and nurture. And that’s exactly what YOUTH SPARK set out to do: empower young people, inspire youth workers, and plant the seeds for positive change wherever we go.
🌎 Erasmus+ Training Course “Youth Spark: Empowering Participation” is funded by the Erasmus+ Programme.
