Improving the quality of youth work by providing innovative tools and training to support young people’s mental well-being and resilience through a holistic and digital approach.
Description of the project
In recent years, data on youth mental health in Europe has shown an alarming trend. According to the Health at a Glance 2022 report, about 50% of young Europeans reported having untreated psychological needs. EmpowerYOUth was born out of this need to support the mental well-being of young people. The project aims to develop an innovative curriculum based on emotional intelligence (EQ) and resilience strategies, offering practical training and digital tools accessible on a free, multilingual platform. By involving youth workers, young people and parents, the initiative aims to promote the development and dissemination of practical support tools based on cognitive-behavioral therapy methodology and the reciprocal maieutic approach. The project is based on validated models, from successful experiences such as the BUILD project and the I.YOU application, to create new synergies between formal and non-formal education.
Objectives
- To improve the skills of youth workers by providing practical training on emotional intelligence, mental well-being, coping strategies and digital tools to support young people.
- To increase young people’s resilience and mental well-being through the creation of an innovative curriculum and a safe digital learning environment that promotes awareness and resilience strategies.
- To promote an inclusive support ecosystem through an open digital platform that offers resources and tools for youth workers, young people and parents.
Activities
- Development of the EmpowerYOUth curriculum with training modules on resilience, emotional intelligence and transversal skills.
- Training and mentoring for youth workers, with face-to-face and online sessions to develop practical skills.
- Creation of a free digital platform with training materials, practical exercises and support tools for youth workers, young people and parents.
- Workshops for parents to provide practical tools to support their children’s emotional well-being.
- Dissemination and awareness-raising through public events, publications and sharing of results with the European youth community and final round table in Bulgaria.
Results
Resources
- Curriculum: 12 training modules on resilience, emotional intelligence and transversal skills.
- Digital library: a collection of practical exercises based on the methodology of cognitive-behavioral therapy and the reciprocal maieutic approach.
- Training program: training for youth workers, with theoretical and practical content.
- Online platform: an online platform for discussion and educational resources for youth workers, young people and parents.
- Parent workshops: training sessions to improve family support for young people’s mental well-being.
Impact
- Increased quality of youth work through training and innovative digital tools.
- Skills development for at least 32 youth workers, impacting approximately 288 young people in partner countries.
- Improved resilience and mental health among the young people involved.
- Increased access to mental health resources through the use of the digital platform, breaking down geographical and linguistic barriers.
- Raising awareness among parents and communities through workshops and awareness-raising activities.
Partners
- Coordinator: Píeta Ísland, Iceland
- NORTH Consulting ehf, Iceland
- Centro per lo Sviluppo Creativo Danilo Dolci – ETS, Italy
- Natsionalna Shkola Pomenidzhmant, Bulgaria
