From Art To Empowerment

"<< Background >>We applied for the project to address the urgent need for increased competencies and confidence among youth workers in working with individuals facing Gender-based Discrimination (GbD), particularly LGBTQIA+ youth. There was a gap in existing methodologies that combined arts and outdoor activities to promote inclusion, mental wellbeing, and empowerment. Through this project, we aimed to develop an innovative non-formal education methodology to create safer spaces for youth to express their intersectional identities. The project also responded to the need for high-quality, inclusive youth work, fostering equality, diversity, and the mental wellbeing of both youth workers and the youth they serve. We aligned our goals with Erasmus+ priorities by promoting equal opportunities and enhancing the recognition of youth work as a tool for social change. << Objectives >>The main objective of the ""From Art to Empowerment"" (FETA) project was to increase the competencies and confidence of youth workers in supporting youth facing Gender-based Discrimination (GbD), particularly LGBTQIA+ youth, and to empower both youth workers and the youth they serve. Specifically, we aimed to:- Identify the needs of youth and exchange existing tools between partner organisations.- Provide 59 youth workers from Poland, Latvia, and Greece with knowledge on inclusion and equality, raising the quality of their work.- Develop a non-formal education methodology that combines arts and outdoor activities to create safer spaces for youth to express their identities.- Improve the mental wellbeing of youth workers and the youth they work with.- Distribute the methodology guide to over 800 youth workers across Europe, fostering broader impact.- Enhance the capacities of partner organisations in inclusive youth work, empowerment, and international cooperation, contributing to a more inclusive European identity.<< Implementation >>Project Management & Kick-off Meeting to coordinate efforts between partner organisations.Study Visits in Poland, Latvia, and Greece, focused on understanding local communities, youth workers, and the needs of youth. We met with local stakeholders, observed and noted findings, and used this input to shape our methodology.Development of the FETA Methodology and Guide: Over 8 months, we collaborated to create a non-formal education methodology combining artistic tools and outdoor activities, aimed at improving youth workers' and youth's mental wellbeing and empowerment. We developed an online, user-friendly guide to share this methodology.Training Course in Greece: We trained 23 youth workers from partner organisations using our developed methodology. The training combined non-formal education, art, and outdoor activities, and focused on fostering inclusivity and youth empowerment.Local Workshops in Poland, Latvia, and Greece: These workshops introduced local youth workers from each country to the methodology and prepared them to implement it in their communities. The events were attended by 139 people.<< Results >>In this project, we have produced concrete outputs and results across various target groups:Youth Workers:23 youth workers participated in training and 139 in workshops.Over 107 hours of training delivered.Our learning methodology reached over 1,000 young people.A learning methodology and guide were created and used by 159+ youth workers.Intangible results included:Enhanced competencies and confidence in working with youth facing gender-based discrimination.Increased mental wellbeing for both youth workers and their target groups.Partner Organisations:A partnership between 3 organisations was created.10 local stakeholders engaged.200+ hours of cross-learning between partners.Intangible results included:Improved international cooperation and youth work quality.Increased capacity in inclusive youth work, use of artistic tools, and outdoor activities for empowerment.The project’s main output, the learning methodology, will be used by partners in future projects, ensuring continued impact and replication across networks. We have already applied for funds to implement a continuation of this project: “From Empowerment to Action”."