project activities



📍KICK-OFF MEETING



A Kick-off meeting took place in Fonyód, Hungary, on 20-21 May 2023, with five participants from partner organisations to discuss the project phases, design a roadmap, and address administrative matters.


The Kick-off meeting, convened by the project coordinator, the Austrian Association for Cultural Relations, and hosted by the International Alliance for Cultural Relations, was the first step of the project implementation.


The meeting consisted of two working days, including a meeting with a representative of a local civil society organisation and a short excursion. The Kick-off meeting was essential to start the project effectively and clarify all the steps to follow as a consortium through the different phases. It also provided an opportunity for each partner to present their tasks and how they plan to address them.


The main discussions during the meeting focused on six elements:


- Finalising the project roadmap and defining results and milestones.

- Presenting a visibility package and dissemination plan, including activities.

- Developing impact assessment, monitoring, and evaluation methods and tools to be used during the project.

- Establishing common platforms and communication methods for the consortium.

- Agreeing on financial and management arrangements, including administrative matters. ​

- Coordinating all project activities



📍RESEARCH PHASE



Partners conducted a research on rural development of youth clubs and organisations and needs for young people. The research was done in each country and consisted of 3 phases: research involving two focus groups; analysing collected data; and creating a final research report.


In Budapest on 29 June 2023, two focus group meetings named "Do Something Great!" were held with 20 participants. The programme consisted of a needs assessment, focus group questions, and individual interviews. Attendees received assistance in creating a youth club, implementing their project ideas, tools for establishing their own organisation, and learned how to obtain funds for their local or international activities.


On 16th and 20th September 2023, two focus group meetings titled "Youth in Conversation" were held in Judenau-Baumgarten, Austria to make the region more livable and appealing for young people. Participants shared their experiences, discussed ideas for improving the area, and explored opportunities to create initiatives that could better meet the needs of youth. The discussions encouraged participants to reflect on how they could collaborate to start new projects, such as youth meetings or community circles, to foster a vibrant youth culture in the region.


In Italy, two focus groups were conducted with young people from rural Sardinia, including past participants and others interested in joining the project and developing youth organisations and activities. The first focus group provided valuable insights into the challenges young people face in rural areas and discussed potential ways to make the region more appealing to youth. The second focus group focused on the challenges faced by youth workers in these communities, the need for greater collaboration between organisations, and the specific support required to effectively engage young people. The feedback gathered will help shape strategies to strengthen the network of youth organisations and ensure the sustainability of the initiatives.



📍 MANUAL CREATION



Based on the outcomes of the research and interviews, a manual was created for rural youth and those working with or aiming to include rural youth. The manual provides comprehensive guidelines on opening a youth club or info desk and offers tools on how to manage them. It covers core topics such as "What is a Youth Group/Association/Organisation," "Fundraising for Youth Groups," and an introduction to "Peer-to-Peer Education and Non-Formal Education." Additionally, it includes detailed activities to involve young people, complete with exact instructions and tips for facilitators. The manual also shares good practices for youth groups in rural areas and provides useful publications and links for youth workers.


The manual is available in English, German, Italian, and Hungarian.



📍 LOCAL ACTIONS IN HUNGARY



The International Alliance for Cultural Relations hosted the Transform Youth Ambitions workshops in Budapest, Hungary, as part of the Creating EU Villages project, on 27 and 29 August 2024. These workshops aimed to empower aspiring youth leaders by providing them with the knowledge and skills needed to create and manage youth organisations.


Workshop 1 - Creating and Managing Youth Organisations

The first session brought together future youth leaders for an engaging discussion on the creation and management of youth organisations. Participants learned about the essential steps for establishing youth clubs and informal youth groups, with a focus on legal and financial aspects. This workshop provided valuable insights into the foundations of successful youth initiatives, laying the groundwork for future projects.


Workshop 2 - Youth Leadership Skill-building

The second session focused on key skills for youth leadership, such as proposal writing, project design, and fundraising. Topics included:

- How to write a compelling project proposal and secure funding for a youth organisation.

- Exploring available resources for newly established youth organisations, including Erasmus+, Visegrad Fund, ESC, and EYF.

- Strategies for successful fundraising and identifying local and international partners for youth projects.

- Essential concepts in EU youth project management.


Participants gained practical tools and strategies to help grow and sustain their organisations, ensuring a lasting impact on their communities.


Between the workshops, the first roundtable took place on 28 August 2024 at Miskolc City Government’s Participation Office.


Roundtable 1 - Addressing Rural Youth Needs

In cooperation with Miskolc City Government, the IACR hosted a meeting with city council members, the Miskolc Student Council, and the Célpont Community Space Public Foundation. The discussion focused on local youth policy, ongoing projects, and opportunities for young people in the Miskolc metropolitan area. Key topics included youth representation in decision-making and collaboration between the municipality, youth councils, and civil society organisations. The event also highlighted successful models like the Célpont Foundation, which supports youth-led initiatives in the region.


Roundtable 2 - Meeting with Attila Magyar, Mayor of Nak, Hungary

On 3 December 2024, a roundtable meeting was held with Attila Magyar, the Mayor of Nak, Hungary, to explore local development and cross-border cooperation. The discussion focused on enhancing rural development through initiatives like improving infrastructure, supporting small businesses, and preserving cultural heritage.


The meeting brought together local youth, who actively contributed to conversations on future opportunities. Key topics included leveraging EU funding programs, such as Erasmus+ and Interreg, to support collaborative projects. This roundtable contributed to strengthening local governance and fostering long-term partnerships for sustainable development.


On 2 December 2024, an engaging and informative webinar titled Launching and Leading Youth Organisations: From Idea to Impact was held. Aimed at those interested in starting or managing youth organisations, the event provided practical guidance on building a successful youth-led initiative.


The 1-hour session featured expert speakers who shared valuable insights into the key aspects of creating and sustaining youth organisations. Topics covered included:

- People management,

- Financial planning,

- Resource optimisation,

all crucial for the growth and impact of any youth organisation. Participants gained a deeper understanding of the practical steps involved in starting a youth club, from securing funding and navigating legal requirements to building a supportive and engaging environment for young people.



📍 LOCAL ACTIONS IN AUSTRIA



The Transform Youth Ambitions workshops took place in Tulln, Austria, on 16 and 17 October 2024, offering participants a chance to turn their ideas into actionable youth-led initiatives. These two separate events featured presentations, discussions, and Q&A sessions to support the growth of youth organisations and activities.


Workshop 1 - Empowerment Forum

This workshop provided resources and toolkits for starting and managing a youth organisation or youth-led activity. Participants:

- Explored the Creating EU Villages Guide, a manual for establishing youth and civil society organisations in Austria and Europe.

- Gained insights into why and how to create a youth organisation.

- Learned about opportunities for civil society organisations.

- Heard real stories and best practices from people who successfully created and managed their own organisations.


Workshop 2 - Youth Leadership Skill-building Session

This workshop focused on building leadership skills for youth, covering:

- The basics of proposal writing and securing EU and regional grant opportunities.

- How to find local and international project partners.

- Key concepts of EU youth project management and fundraising mechanisms.

- Strategies for growing and sustaining youth organisations.



Later in October, the Austrian Association for Cultural Relations and GEMMA Tulln organised two roundtable meetings in Tulln as part of the CEUV project to address rural youth challenges.


Roundtable 1 - Addressing Rural Youth Needs

Held on 22 October at Treff:Nibelungengasse, this meeting explored youth isolation due to limited opportunities, poor awareness of services, and inadequate public transport. Participants included youth workers, a psychologist, and Tulln’s youth city councillor.


Roundtable 2 - Youth Perspectives on Local Challenges

On 28 October at Junges Hotel Tulln, discussions focused on financial struggles of youth organisations, stigmatisation of youth in public spaces, and the need for safer, inclusive environments like better-lit skate parks.


These sessions fostered dialogue between young people, youth workers, and policymakers to inspire actionable solutions.


On 7 December 2024, the Austrian Association for Cultural Relations hosted an engaging webinar titled "From Idea to Impact: Launching and Leading Youth Organisations".


Held via Zoom, the session brought together youth leaders and aspiring organisers to explore the fundamentals of establishing and managing youth organisations. Boglarka Kiss from the Foundation for Consciousness and Environment led the 1-hour session, covering key topics such as people management, financial planning, and resource optimisation. Participants gained practical insights into building sustainable and impactful youth organisations while also having the opportunity to network and exchange ideas with peers.


This webinar was a valuable resource for empowering youth leaders and advancing the youth work sector.



📍 LOCAL ACTIONS IN ITALY



As part of ongoing efforts to empower young people, TDM 2000 International conducted two impactful workshops in Sardinia, focusing on youth engagement and community development.


Workshop 1 - Youth Engagement on Rural Development in Sardinia

In September 2024, 22 young people from rural towns around Cagliari participated in a 6-hour workshop at Pacinotti School. The session focused on addressing local challenges in rural Sardinia, with participants brainstorming ideas for cultural, social, and economic projects. They also learned the basics of creating community-driven initiatives and were introduced to European Solidarity Corps (ESC) funding opportunities. By the end of the workshop, participants had concrete ideas for projects like cultural events, youth centres, and sustainability programs.


Workshop 2 - Youth Engagement at CONNESSIONI Event

From 21-25 October, 18 young people gathered for a workshop at the CONNESSIONI event, organised by TDM 2000 International. The session empowered participants to create organisations, secure funding, and use innovative engagement tools like Virtual Reality (VR) educational games. The workshop covered project design, funding opportunities, and fundraising strategies, inspiring participants to apply new skills and ideas in their communities. By the end, they were motivated to take active roles in youth engagement and drive local change.


The following event was a round table discussion held in Elmas, Sardinia, in September 2024, aimed at addressing youth engagement and rural development.


Roundtable 1 - Rural Development and Youth Engagement

The event brought together 17 participants, including local politicians and young people from rural Sardinia, to explore the challenges and opportunities for youth in rural areas. Vice Mayor Giacomo Carta and Mayor Marco Sideri shared their perspectives on the issues facing these communities, particularly the need for youth-focused initiatives. Participants used Mentimeter to identify key obstacles and propose solutions, such as youth advisory councils, mentorship programs, and cultural events. This roundtable encouraged collaboration between youth and policymakers, fostering actionable ideas for strengthening local development and engagement.



📍 FINAL SEMINAR



A Final Seminar took place in Tulln an der Donau, Austria, from 28 October to 1 November 2024, bringing together participants from Austria, Hungary, and Italy to share good practices in the field of youth work, with a focus on youth spaces and clubs.


This significant event aimed to foster collaboration and innovation among stakeholders to advance youth initiatives and build stronger communities. The seminar hosted by the Austrian Association for Cultural Relations marked the culmination of the project and served as an essential platform for exchanging knowledge and experiences.


The seminar spanned five productive days and featured several key highlights:


- Visits to exemplary youth initiatives in Lower Austria, offering participants practical insights into managing and sustaining youth spaces.

- A Youth Spaces and Tool Fair, presenting diverse management strategies and tools aimed at improving youth services and information dissemination.

- Collaborative sessions to discuss follow-up activities and develop new project concepts to enhance youth engagement across Europe.

- The Conference on the Future of Youth and the Youth Spaces Fair of Good Practices, where stakeholders examined the role of youth spaces, youth-led activities, and related policies in shaping inclusive, supportive environments.


The event attracted youth club developers, policymakers, and stakeholders committed to empowering young people and strengthening communities. The seminar successfully served as both a capstone for the project and a launchpad for ongoing collaboration.



Creating EU Villages, 2022-3-AT01-KA210-YOU-000096464





Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or OeAD-GmbH. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.