The Erasmus+ project titled “Capacity Building of Youth Workers Against Xenophobia through Empathy Training”, which was carried out in Madrid, Spain, with the participation of 25 youth workers and facilitators between 18-25 January 2025, was successfully completed. The project aimed to increase the skills of youth workers to effectively combat xenophobia and to disseminate empathy-based approaches.
Participants from Spain, Turkey, Hungary, Romania, Greece, Bulgaria and Portugal explored the concept of empathy in depth through interactive workshops, intercultural learning sessions, drama and art-based practices for 7 days.
Participants introduced their own countries at cultural nights, strengthening intercultural interaction and further internalizing the Erasmus+ spirit. Youth workers evaluated their achievements through Youthpass certificates and prepared personal action plans to transfer the skills they developed to their local communities at the end of the project.
The project strengthened not only individual development but also inter-institutional cooperation. While the participating organizations established partnerships for new Erasmus+ projects for the future, concrete steps were taken to disseminate empathy-based approaches in youth work.
Project outputs and learning experiences were conveyed to a wide audience through social media and various dissemination activities. The social impact of the Erasmus+ Program was once again demonstrated by ensuring visibility at local and national levels.