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 (TCA), 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:

02.-07.06.2025, Florence, Italy

Municipalities4Democracy - The municipal youth perspective

Application deadline: 23.03.2025

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 activities as part of the European education programme Erasmus+.

European training activities enable expertise and community building

Deepen your skills and knowledge in different areas 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 training focuses on a topic that you will explore in 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 training 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 experienced youth workers 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. inclusion, 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.

Field report

Working together to improve inclusion in youth work

In cooperation with the national agencies from Belgium (Flanders), Germany and Estonia, Movetia organised an international continuing education course on inclusive youth work in Bern. Over four days, 23 youth workers from these countries and Switzerland discussed and gained new approaches based on practical examples. 

Read more

Added value

For participants:

  • Networking with representatives from the field of youth 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 work of all employees

Requirements

  • You are at least 18 years old and reside 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 last 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 a suitable European training activity

    • Choose a suitable training activity. Either from one of our recommendations or from 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 spots 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 are responsible for arranging your own insurance (health, 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

    • To reimburse travel expenses, we require a short final report within 30 days of the training activity. This report should include answers to a few questions on the content of the training activity, the experience gained and the planned future use of what has been learned.
    • After receiving and reviewing your receipts, the travel expenses will be transferred to the account you provided in the form, minus the contribution to costs. This will generally be done within 30 days. 
  6. 6

    Report on European training activities

    • Your experiences are valuable to others. Therefore, please 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, such as newsletter, social media, blogs, etc. In this way, you will show the public that your institution is innovative, open-minded and an attractive employer. Additionally, you will encourage professional exchange within the education sector.
    • Contact us to increase your reach, for example, by contributing an article to our website magazine.

    Spread the word

Q & A

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

No. If I organize a conference myself and want to collaborate with international guests, I use the funding opportunity International exchange for Youth Workers.

Yes, because exchange experiences should be open to everyone, regardless of their personal situation. Therefore, we also fund the participation of accompanying or assistant persons who are related to the participation of people with disabilities or those with physical, mental, or chronic illnesses. Please contact us in advance.

Further information can be found on the Inclusion and equal opportunities page.

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 opportunity. If you are interested, you can find all relevant training offers in the European training calendar of SALTO-YOUTH. 

Insurance (health, accident, liability) is generally the responsibility of the participants. Information regarding visas or other requirements will be provided after the organiser confirms your participation. 

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

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). Please check whether your profile matches the requirements described for the respective training activity. 

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

    International cooperations for the strategic cooperation of educational institutions.

    Learn more
To all funding opportunities