From working with partner organisations to methodology and evaluation – on this page you’ll find tips and information to help you plan and implement your mobility project with Youth in Action successfully.

How do I find partner institutions?

The Youth in Action training courses are an ideal way of finding partner organisations abroad. By personally interacting with potential partners, you’ll quickly find out which format and which topics would be suitable for a joint project. Information and contact details for numerous international youth organisations and their projects are also available on the OTLAS networking platform. The information and networking portal Eurodesk Switzerland would also be happy to assist with your search for potential partner organisations.   

What should I bear in mind when working with project partners?

Good cooperation and regular interaction with the partner organisations are key prerequisites for the success of your project. A preparatory meeting can support cooperation as it is an opportunity to establish contacts and discuss project content. Find out more about funding of preparatory visits.

For Youth Exchanges and European Voluntary Service, an optional Advanced Planning Visit can be included in the application.

To avoid misunderstandings, it is important that tasks and roles are clearly assigned. You should discuss this at the beginning of the project planning stage and ideally record it in writing. An evaluation of the cooperation also helps ensure project quality and provides valuable insights to further develop the partnership. 

How do I locate additional funds?

Besides the use of own funds, you can also apply for contributions from other foundations or sponsors. In addition, you can request a participation fee from participants and/or a small contribution to travel expenses. It is important to ensure that the participation fee is proportionate to participants’ available resources and that it is not a barrier to participation. If a person is unable to pay the participation fee, individual alternatives should be offered. 

How do I find participants?

In general, the project participants are already involved with your organisation. You can also advertise the project in your network and via your communication channels. In addition, you can notify youth organisations and youth centres in your area and advertise the project on Eurodesk Switzerland

How are equal opportunities promoted?

Equal opportunities, inclusion and social diversity are important parts of the Youth in Action programme. Movetia provides additional funding to cover the costs associated with the participation of young people with fewer opportunities. Please find more information on equal opportunities and inclusion here

How are participants meaningfully involved in the project?

Participants’ learning experiences are boosted if they are actively involved in project development. Particularly in youth exchanges and projects in the field of Youth and Politics, it is important to involve participants in all project phases. This includes, for example, letting young people make content-related and methodological decisions and giving them (joint) responsibility for various tasks. 

How can non-formal and informal learning be recognised?

Non-formal learning methods are the main hallmarks of Youth in Action. Unlike formal learning, which institutions prescribe and structure, young people manage their own learning (e.g. by setting their own learning goals). They participate in the learning process on a voluntary basis and are given mentor support during this process.

A Youth in Action project also provides an opportunity for informal learning. For learning success to be lasting, it is important participants reflect on and record their learning outcomes. This will help them become aware of what competences they have acquired and consolidated during the project. Reflecting makes it easier to apply the competences in the future.

To verify and recognise learning outcomes, you can use tools such as Erasmus+’s Youthpass. The official “Youthpass” cannot be issued under the Swiss Erasmus+ programme. Movetia recommends using the “Youthpass” model as a guide when designing your own certificate and adapting it to your needs.

Click here for more information on the specifics of non-formal and informal learning, Youthpass and other tools for recognising learning outcomes.

How can the project results be disseminated?

During your project you will generate insights and knowledge and perhaps develop a product. You can boost the impact of your project by disseminating, publicising and entrenching these results in your organisation, in your network or in the public’s mind. You can also make a name for your organisation and raise its profile. In the case of mobility projects for youth workers in particular, it is important that your project provides added value to local, regional or (inter-) national youth work.

Align public relations and dissemination measures with the project objectives and your target groups. You can use the following questions as a guide:

  • Are the project participants multipliers who will convey the project message to the outside world?
  • How can your organisation reap a lasting benefit from the project outcomes?  
  • What can other organisations, target groups and the public learn from the project?

You can find exciting and important tips on how to maximise the impact of your project through targeted dissemination in the brochure “Making Waves“.

What should I bear in mind in terms of evaluation and impact assessment?

Evaluation and impact assessment is a core element of your project. During the evaluation you can review the project and identify optimisation potential for future projects. You will find out whether and to what extent your project achieved its goals and desired impact. You can also identify whether the project met the expectations of your partners and participants and what learning outcomes they achieved. Movetia recommends carrying out a survey before the project activity starts. This allows you to identify the experiences and expectations of participants, which you can then reconcile with the knowledge gained after the project. It is helpful to use different methods for the evaluation (e.g. written questionnaires, verbal feedback sessions, working groups). You’ll find tips on in-depth project evaluation on the  relevant “SALTO“ website, including a helpful template in ordert o plan your evaluation. The “I-Eval“ website also offers evaluation forms specifically designed for youth exchanges.  

Where can I find additional information on Youth in Action projects?

The “SALTO“ website (“Support, Advanced Learning and Training Opportunities”) is a support service offered by the Erasmus+ Youth in Action programme. There are a total of eight SALTO resource centres that are dedicated to various topics (e.g. participation and promoting inclusion) and publish free specialist publications. SALTO also offers a Toolbox with helpful methods for carrying out youth projects and the European training calendar which lists numerous training activities. Participation in training activities organised by Erasmus+ national agencies and SALTO resource centres is supported by Movetia. You can find further information on our website.