ESAI EN ROI participation in the Erasmus+ TC "Essential Skills & Competencies in Youth Work" in Trento, ITALY
- EER
- 3 days ago
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Follow-Up Reflections from ESAI EN ROI
Youth Workers Exchange – “Value and Recognise Learning, Skills and Competencies”
Villa Sant’Ignazio, Trento, Italy | 15–21 November 2025
Our participation in the Youth Workers Exchange, hosted at the inspiring Villa Sant’Ignazio, was an enriching milestone for ESAI EN ROI. The training course brought together dedicated practitioners from across Europe, creating a vibrant landscape of dialogue, co-creation, and shared purpose. Below are our reflections and key takeaways as we continue to strengthen our organisation’s learning culture and community impact. ESAI EN ROI was represented by Eleni Kavazidou, the principal project manager of our association.
🌱 A Transformative Learning Space
Villa Sant’Ignazio proved to be more than a venue; it quickly became a living classroom of inclusivity, reflection, and collaboration. The natural surroundings — with sweeping views of Trento and its autumn colours — created a tranquil backdrop that encouraged open conversations and meaningful connections. The ethos of the venue, rooted in social commitment and coexistence, resonated deeply with the values of ESAI EN ROI.
🔍 Deepening Our Understanding of Skills & Competence Development
One of the most valuable aspects of the training was the structured exploration of learning, skills, and competences within youth work and volunteering. Through interactive exchanges and practical sessions:
We clarified the differences and complementarities between skills, competences, attitudes, and knowledge.
We examined models that support young people’s self-awareness and empowerment.
We shared examples from our own initiatives in Greece, noting how these frameworks can enhance local and international impact.
The training helped us reflect on how ESAI EN ROI designs learning experiences and how we can strengthen recognition pathways in future activities, including Green Velocity, Green Fridays, and our ongoing creative and social engagement actions.
🛠️ Designing Recognition Systems That Matter
A highlight of the programme was the hands-on focus on learning recognition systems. We gained new tools and methodologies that will allow our participants — volunteers, youth workers, educators — to clearly articulate and validate what they learn through our projects.
We explored ways to:
Integrate transparent learning outcomes into programme design
Support ongoing reflection and self-assessment
Align activities with competence frameworks that boost employability and personal development
These insights will directly improve how we document and showcase learning in future international collaborations and local community actions.
💻 Embracing Digital Badges & Modern Recognition Tools
Through the guidance of the expert facilitation team — Nerijus Kriauciunas and Jan Lai, — we developed a practical understanding of digital Open Badges, Cities of Learning, and Youthpass.
The hands-on sessions demystified digital credentialing and highlighted how recognition platforms can enhance visibility, accessibility, and motivation for young people. ESAI EN ROI is now better equipped to integrate digital badges into our participation frameworks, supporting more inclusive and future-oriented pathways of learning.
🤝 Building a Stronger European Network
The exchange fostered an atmosphere of trust and mutual support among participants from multiple organisations. We connected with youth workers, trainers, and managers who share a commitment to meaningful, values-based youth work.
These new collaborations open doors for future partnerships in:
Youth mobility
Community arts and social engagement
Sustainability and wellbeing projects
Competence-based learning pathways across Europe
ESAI EN ROI leaves Trento with an expanded professional network and renewed enthusiasm for cross-border collaboration.
✨ Final Thoughts
Participating in this training course reaffirmed our belief that recognising learning is as important as facilitating it. The experience provided ESAI EN ROI with new perspectives, tools, and inspiration that will be applied immediately in our ongoing and future initiatives.
We are grateful to the organisers — Associazione InCo, Civico13, Awero, Associazione Interculturale NUR and the Cities of Learning Network — for crafting a programme that was both thoughtful and forward-looking.
The Youth Workers Exchange has strengthened our organisation’s capacity, uplifted our team, and enriched our vision for empowering communities through meaningful learning.
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