Youth Work Horizons: Learning from Greece
Atenas, Grecia
Study Visit: 20-25 August, 2025
From 20–25 August 2025, youth workers from Greece (EKO), Spain (Creamos Europa) and Croatia (Argonauta) came together in Athens for an Erasmus+ study visit focused on youth work, sustainability, and international cooperation. This initiative brought together 9 dedicated youth workers who shared a common vision: to strengthen the impact of youth work across Europe by learning from each other, exchanging good practices, and building strong cross-border networks.
The study visit was designed as a four-day intensive journey of learning, discovery, and collaboration. Hosted by EKO Greece and supported by several local NGOs, the program combined theoretical input, practical workshops, and experiential learning. Participants explored how sustainability can be integrated into daily youth work, how emotional intelligence plays a key role in engaging young people, and how digital tools can help amplify youth voices and improve participation.
Programme Highlights
- Site visits and meetings with Greek youth organisations actively working in empowerment, inclusion, environmental awareness, and civic engagement.
• Interactive workshops on non-formal education, youth participation, and environmental education.
• Peer-to-peer exchanges where youth workers reflected on their own practices, shared methodologies, and discussed challenges faced in their communities.
• Reflection and evaluation sessions aimed at connecting daily learnings with long-term strategies for youth work back home.
• Informal networking activities and cultural exchange moments that helped strengthen intercultural understanding and team spirit.
Throughout the program, participants not only gained new insights but also built lasting relationships. The informal moments – sharing meals, intercultural evenings, and informal discussions – proved equally valuable in creating a sense of trust, solidarity, and mutual support among the group.
Key Achievements
At the conclusion of the study visit, the partner organisations identified several tangible outcomes:
• Increased knowledge on innovative youth work methodologies, particularly those linking sustainability and participation.
• Stronger partnerships between Greece, Spain, and Croatia, paving the way for future joint initiatives.
• Practical tools and resources to better engage young people in meaningful, sustainable, and impactful ways.
• The creation of a joint report highlighting key takeaways and recommendations to inspire local stakeholders and policy-makers.
• Renewed motivation among participants to apply what they learned in their own organisations and communities.
• Broader awareness of the importance of youth workers’ role in shaping civic life and empowering young people to become active citizens.
Importantly, the visit also demonstrated the added value of Erasmus+ mobility projects. By stepping outside of their usual contexts, youth workers were able to reflect critically on their approaches, become inspired by different cultural perspectives, and gain confidence in their ability to contribute to European cooperation in the youth field.
Looking Ahead
This study visit was not an end but a beginning. The partner organisations are already planning future Erasmus+ collaborations to build on the momentum created in Athens. Upcoming projects will continue to address pressing issues such as sustainability, digital transformation, civic participation, and social inclusion, while keeping young people at the center of the process.
As one participant reflected: ‘The visit to Athens was more than just a professional exchange; it was a reminder that youth work is about building connections, creating opportunities, and empowering young people to shape the future.’
With this spirit, Creamos Europa, EKO Greece, and Argonauta reaffirm their commitment to creating inclusive, sustainable, and innovative opportunities for young people across Europe. Together, they continue to prove that when youth workers collaborate, they can turn challenges into opportunities and ideas into action.
This Erasmus+ study visit in Athens has set the stage for stronger networks, better practices, and greater impact in the field of youth work. The journey continues, and the future looks bright.