Young people and in the youth project supported by the Spanish National Agency (INJUVE) and the EU. The project Beyond the Stage: Creative Pathways to Empower Youth Workers aimed to enhance the capacity of youth workers to use creative and artistic methods to promote inclusion, empowerment, and social participation among young people, particularly those from marginalized or disadvantaged backgrounds. Its objectives focused on equipping youth workers with innovative tools to improve their practice through non-formal education methods such as theater, poetry, visual arts, and music. The project empowered youth workers to create safe and inclusive spaces for self-expression, enabling young people to explore their identities, share their concerns, and develop active roles in their communities. It also strengthened youth workers’ capacity to engage with young people facing discrimination, social, or geographical barriers, fostering intercultural dialogue and encouraging participation in democratic and cultural life.
A further objective was to develop non-formal educational tools that incorporated artistic approaches, providing youth workers with adaptable methods for diverse contexts and challenges. The project also promoted the personal and professional growth of youth workers by enhancing creativity, communication, facilitation, critical thinking, and reflective practice. Moreover, it encouraged cross-cultural collaboration and exchange of best practices, contributing to stronger international cooperation in the youth field. Another important aim was to support the recognition and professionalization of youth work at local, national, and European levels by validating competences and providing concrete learning outcomes. Ultimately, the project improved the quality of youth work by equipping participants with new skills and methods that they could transfer directly into their daily practice.
The main activities included interactive workshops, training sessions, artistic performances, group discussions, reflection exercises, and collaborative project design. Sessions focused on using theater, poetry, visual arts, and music as tools for social inclusion, giving participants practical experience in facilitating such workshops. Training activities introduced non-formal educational techniques integrated with creative arts, including case studies and collaborative exercises. Participants also presented artistic performances—such as theater pieces, poetry recitals, and visual art installations—that demonstrated the application of these methods in practice. Structured reflection and peer feedback enhanced learning, while group projects addressed issues of inclusion and empowerment to be adapted in participants’ home organizations. Intercultural dialogue and diversity activities promoted inclusivity across cultural contexts, and networking sessions created the basis for sustainable international partnerships.
The project involved 28 youth workers from seven countries—Spain, France, Romania, Türkiye, Slovakia, Portugal, and Ukraine—along with trainers, bringing the total to 30 participants. They were aged between 25 and 45 and represented a broad professional profile, including youth workers, social educators, art educators, cultural mediators, NGO staff, mentors, and volunteers working with marginalized youth. Selection processes ensured balanced representation from each partner, prioritizing experience, motivation, and potential for applying outcomes in their work.
The project produced significant results. Youth workers gained concrete skills in creative and artistic methods for inclusion, improved their facilitation and leadership capacities, and developed stronger intercultural and empathetic approaches to youth work. They experienced professional renewal and increased motivation, positively affecting the young people they served. Organizations benefited from enhanced capacity to design and implement creative and inclusive youth programs, raising the overall quality and innovation of their practices. International partnerships were strengthened, laying the foundation for future cooperation.
The wider communities also benefited, as youth programs became more inclusive and creative, increasing young people’s engagement and reducing social isolation. At the national and European levels, the project contributed to advancing non-formal education practices by promoting arts-based approaches and underlined the value of creativity as a tool for social inclusion. By disseminating the toolkit and methods developed, the project achieved long-term sustainability. Its impact extended beyond the immediate participants, creating ripple effects across organizations, local communities, and the broader field of youth work in Europe. Ultimately, disadvantaged young people emerged as the main beneficiaries, gaining confidence, self-expression, and a sense of belonging through the empowered and innovative practice of the youth workers involved.