EUth Work: learning, sharing and growing together

The EUth Work project brought together youth workers and camp counsellors from Estonia, Austria and Spain within the Erasmus+ programme (Mobility of Youth Workers).

The idea behind the project was simple, but powerful: learn from each other through real experience, not just theory.

The goal was to improve the quality of youth camps by sharing practical methods, testing new approaches and building stronger connections between organisations.

What was the project about?

Throughout the project, participants explored key topics that are highly relevant in youth work today:

Instead of traditional learning, the project was based on non-formal education: learning by doing, reflecting and exchanging experiences.

Three countries - three different perspectives

The project was built around three international visits, each adding something unique to the overall experience.

🇪🇪 Estonia - starting with experience

The first meeting took place in Tallinn and Tammispea camp, where participants got a real feel of youth camp life.

The focus was on:

Participants didn’t just talk about youth work — they actually experienced it in practice, including working directly in a camp environment and organising activities.

“I gained confidence in leading games and activities in English, which was a big step for me personally.”

- Anita

This part of the project helped build trust in the group and created a strong base for further cooperation.

🇦🇹 Austria - understanding and exchanging

The second meeting took place in Linz and St. Valentin and shifted the focus towards understanding how youth work is organised in different contexts.

Participants:

A lot of learning happened through observation and discussion — seeing how things are done in another country often gives completely new ideas.

“Working in an international team was a very interesting and valuable experience. It was especially inspiring to see how youth camps are organised in different countries and what approaches are used.”

- Liza

💡 It was also during this phase that participants started working on a joint comic-based guide, aiming to present youth camp methods in a simple and engaging way.

🇪🇸 Spain - creating and reflecting

The final meeting took place in Málaga, bringing everything together.

The programme included:

There were also more informal moments that played an important role in learning:

“What I will remember the most is the atmosphere and the people. Since it wasn’t our first time meeting, everything felt even more enjoyable - there was a sense of comfort, shared humour and mutual understanding within the group.”

- Apollinaria

This phase was all about:

👉 applying what was learned

👉 reflecting on the experience

👉 creating something meaningful together

The comic guide became a central outcome here - a creative way to share methods and make them easier to use in real youth work.

“I will definitely use the ‘Space Bank’ game in my future camp work. I really enjoyed experiencing it myself from start to finish.”

- Inessa

What did participants gain?

The learning in this project was very practical. Participants developed:

But beyond skills, they also gained:

More than just activities

Of course, there were workshops, discussions and visits. But the real value of the project was in the people and the exchange between them. Participants learned from each other’s realities, challenges and ideas - and that’s something you can’t get from a textbook.

Final thoughts

The EUth Work project showed how powerful international cooperation can be.

It wasn’t just about learning new methods - it was about:

✨ sharing experiences

✨ creating together

✨ growing both professionally and personally

And most importantly - taking all of this back home and using it in real work with young people.

After completing all three mobilities, the Estonian team presented the results of the EUth Work project to future camp counsellors who are currently undergoing their training.

During this session, participants shared their experience from all three visits and introduced practical methods and activities that were tested throughout the project. Special focus was given to interactive games and approaches that can be directly applied in youth camps.

This dissemination activity allowed future counsellors to gain new ideas, learn from real experiences and better understand how international projects can support their development in youth work.