European training activities for Youth Workers

Youth workers in Switzerland have access to a wide range of international training activities in Europe. Choose one of the available European training activities to network with other youth workers, implement international projects or gain an insight into youth work in another country.

Next steps

Next steps

Find a European training activity and submit your application

Next steps

Find a European training activity and submit your application

Overview

For whom

  • Volunteer youth workers aged 18 and over who are resident in Switzerland
  • Professionals in the field of youth in Switzerland (e.g. in municipalities, NGOs, associations, clubs)

Duration

  • Usually 2 to 4 days

Where

  • At various locations within Europe

What we fund

  • Financial support for travel and participation costs minus a contribution of CHF 80 towards the cost price
  • Effective costs are covered for participants with special needs

What to do

  • You choose an existing training activity and apply to us for participation and thus financial support

Deadlines

  • Application deadline usually approx. 1 to 4 months before the training activity

Next steps

Next steps

Find a European training activity and submit your application

In detail

Youth workers from Switzerland have the opportunity to take part in European training activities, known as Training and Cooperation Activities (TCAs), as part of the Erasmus+ programme. This includes various formats such as training courses, study visits, European conferences and partnership-building activities. This gives them the opportunity for a cultural exchange as well as professional and personal development.

Current training activities for youth work

The training courses are organised by European organisations and Movetia’s partners and provided by SALTO-YOUTH, the European Resource Centre for Erasmus+ training and cooperation activities. 

We currently recommend the following training activities:

26 February - 2 March 2025, Vienna, Austria

Contact-making event: Erasmus+ Youth and European Solidarity Corps – What’s in it for organisations of or working with deaf and hard of hearing young people?  

Application deadline: 14.12.2024

17-20.02.2025, Waterloo, Belgium

Supporting Volunteers' Mental Health through Mentoring

Application deadline: 14.01.2025

19-24.05.2025, Morocco

“Spirit of dialogue” - Training course on interfaith dialogue & youth work

Application deadline: 19.01.2025

Is your desired training activity not listed? Then check the other SALTO-YOUTH offers in the European training calendar. All courses in this training calendar for the country of origin Switzerland are open for application. 

This activity is funded by the Swiss Programme for Erasmus+. This enables Swiss youth workers to take part in training activitiese as part of the European education programme Erasmus+..

European training activities enable expertise and community building

Deepen your skills and knowledge in divisions such as project management, intercultural competences and methods or expertise in youth work: 

At a European training activitiy for youth workers, you will meet like-minded people and professionals from other countries. The spotlight is on a topic that you deal with in an exchange with others and with the involvement of experts, e.g.

  • Can conflicts between children in Sweden, Italy and Switzerland be resolved in the same way?
  • What could a joint youth work project to reduce stress in young people look like?
  • Does sustainability mean the same for participants from Portugal, Romania and Switzerland?
  • How could young people organise an international democracy festival? 

You personally gain an insight into the work of other countries and organisations and learn about new methods and theories. You will also make contacts in your field of activity and perhaps even find a project partner for the next summer camp. 

Courses in Europe for every training need

The further education courses are aimed at different target groups. There are offers for volunteers (e.g. youth associations, youth groups or NGOs with young people or young adults) as well as for professional youth workers, for different training programmes, for "old hands" as well as for beginners. When choosing your training activity, make sure that your profile and motivation match the course description so that you get the most out of the exchange - there is something for everyone. 

The training activity can be thematic (e.g. integration, participation, environmental education), region-specific (e.g. Mediterranean region, South-East Europe) or project-based (e.g. preparation of Youth Exchanges, mentoring of volunteers). 

How the selection process works

Once you have decided in favour of a training activity apply directly via the course announcement in the European Training Calendar . Together with the organiser, we will decide whether you can take part in the desired training activity. By applying, you automatically apply for financial support for your participation.

Added value

For participants:

  • Networking with youth worker representatives in other countries
  • Raising awareness of socially relevant topics from different perspectives
  • Skills development and learning new methods and theories
  • Cost-effective training activity in an international environment

For organisations in the field of youth:

  • Quality development in the field of youth
  • Building and strengthening the network with international partners
  • Further development of project management capacities 
  • Cost-effective training activity that is relevant to the everyday lives of all collaborators

Requirements

  • You are at least 18 years old and resident in Switzerland.
  • You work in the field of youth or realise projects with young people as a volunteer. Regular contact with young people is a prerequisite.
  • European training activities usually lasts between 2 and 4 days.
  • Your profile and motivation to participate correspond to the target group described for the training activity. Please note the individual participation requirements.
  • Willingness to pass on what you have learnt or to implement it in a project.
  • You have sufficient language skills to benefit from training activities.

Funding amounts

  • Travel and participation costs are covered less a contribution of CHF 80. Board and lodging are included in the training programme. 
  • For special needs of people with disabilities or with physical, mental or chronic illnesses: Max. CHF 12,000 (actual costs according to notification of need)

Procedure

  1. 1

    Finding suitable European training activity

    • Choose a suitable training activity. Either one of our recommendations or another offer in the European training calendar of SALTO-YOUTH.
    • Equal opportunities are important to us: We will be happy to provide you with individual counselling to clarify questions about planning, submission and implementation. The consultation can take place over the phone, online or on site.
  2. 2

    Register for a European training activity

    • If you have found a suitable training activity and you fulfil the participation requirements, apply directly via the course announcement in the European Training Calendar. 
    • Please note the course-specific Deadlines. These are usually 1-4 months before the start of the course.
    • Movetia is responsible for selecting the participants together with the organiser of the training activity.
    • We will check whether your profile matches the desired training activity. Even if this is the case, we cannot guarantee that there will be enough places available. 
    • As soon as the decision about your participation has been made, you will receive a confirmation by e-mail. This is usually 1-3 weeks after the application deadline.
  3. 3

    Prepare stay

    • As soon as you have received definitive confirmation of your participation at a training activity, put together an itinerary and inform Movetia of the expected costs. We will approve your trip or suggest a reasonably cheaper alternative. Do not book any trips without prior consultation with Movetia. 
    • Please note that you must take out your own insurance (illness, accident, liability).
    • The organisers of the training activity will support you regarding questions about visas, etc. 
    • The most cost-effective public transport option must be chosen for the journey (2nd class train ticket or economy class flight ticket).
    • Please keep the receipts for your travel bookings so that your travel expenses can be reimbursed.  
    • Prepare yourself for the training activity abroad to benefit as much as possible from the experience.
  4. 4

    Participation in a European training activity

    • We wish you a successful training activity and an exciting experience!
  5. 5

    Submit final report and statement of account

    • For reimbursement of travel expenses, we require a short final report within 30 days of the training activity. This includes a few questions on the content of the training activity, the experience gained and the planned further use of what has been learned.
    • Once we have received and checked your receipts, the travel expenses minus the cost contribution will be transferred to the account you specified on the form. This usually takes place within 30 days. 
  6. 6

    Report on European training activities

    • Your experiences are valuable to others. Therefore, prepare a short news article for your institution. Make sure you mention the  funding by Movetia. We provide the logo and text modules. 
    • Share the content widely via your institution's channels, e.g. newsletter, social media, blog, etc. In this way, you will show the public that your institution is innovative, open-minded and an attractive employer. You will also stimulate professional exchange in the education sector. 
    • Contact us to increase your reach, e.g. by placing a Magazine article on our website. 

    Report on projects 

Q & A

If it is listed in the SALTO-YOTUH European Training Calendar and Switzerland is eligible to participate, Movetia can finance the European training activity.

No. If I organise a conference myself and want to work with international guests there, I use the International Youth Worker Mobility funding offer.

Yes, definitely. The European training activities are aimed at different target groups and in particular at those involved in voluntary work (e.g. youth associations, youth groups or NGOs with young people or young adults). Check whether your profile matches the requirements described for the corresponding training activity. 

No, that's not a problem. In this case, we will be happy to give you an overview of the Movetia funding agency and the link to Erasmus+ in a preliminary discussion. However, for certain training activities, project experience within the framework of Movetia funding or other transnational project forms such as Erasmus+ may be relevant and a prerequisite for participation. 

Yes, because exchange experiences should be open to all people, regardless of their personal situation. That is why we also finance the participation of accompanying or assisting persons associated with the participation of people with impairments, disabilities or people with physical, mental or chronic illnesses. Please contact us at an early stage. 

Further information can be found on the page Equal opportunities and inclusion.

Yes, because participants from Switzerland can take part in an Erasmus+ "Training and Cooperation Activity (TCA)" via the "European training activies for Youth Workers" funding offer. If you are interested, you can find all relevant offers in the European training calendar of SALTO-YOUTH. 

Insurance (illness, accident, liability) is generally the responsibility of the participants. You will receive information on visas or other requirements after the organiser has confirmed your participation. 

The European training activities for Youth Workers funding offer finances training courses as well as other formats such as conferences, study visits or partnership-building activities. It is important that your profile and motivation match the target group of the event. 

Contact

Similar funding opportunities

  • Exchange for Youth Workers

    Swiss organisations in the field of youth organise exchange projects in Switzerland and abroad for their youth workers. 

    Learn more

  • International cooperation for collaboration and innovation

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To all funding opportunities