The Group Facilitation Path: Co-creating Safe and Brave Spaces for Transformative Learning Experiences is a project designed to enhance the facilitation skills of the youth workers participating in the training courses, enabling them to create inclusive, participatory, and transformative learning environments. By equipping them with practical tools and methodologies, the project strengthens their ability to navigate group dynamics, foster safe spaces, and empower young people to engage actively in society.
Organizations from Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Italy develop and implement the project collaboratively. It includes online preparatory meetings, structured training sessions, ongoing support, and follow-up initiatives. With a strong focus on sustainability and inclusion, the project ensures that learning spaces are accessible and that the facilitation toolbox remains a valuable resource for youth workers beyond the training period.
This project is designed to equip youth workers and workshop leaders with the frameworks, tools, and methodologies needed for effective group facilitation, particularly in the context of Transformative Education. Participants will gain confidence in navigating group dynamics, learn strategies to create safer and more inclusive spaces, and deepen their understanding of their role and influence as facilitators.
Our objectives are:
1. Define and analyze the role of a facilitator, with a focus on the power, privileges, and dynamics it entails. Enhance participants' understanding of responsibility and accountability in facilitation while developing skills to build confidence, trust, and participatory leadership.
2. Equip participants with practical tools and methodologies to address key aspects of facilitation, including emotional regulation, time management, conflict resolution, and inclusive practices.
3. Co-create a toolbox with visual aids to collect, share, and disseminate the methods and practices learned and developed during the training, ensuring accessibility and long-term impact.
Activities
The main activities of the project consist of two training courses, the first one will take place in fall 2025 in Germany, near Dresden, will last 5 days, and will welcome 26 participants from the partner countries; the second one will take place In Czech Republic, near Brno, will last 6 days and will host 27 participants. The two activities will be distinct but complementary learning experiences. The first mobility will focus on understanding the role of a group facilitator and on the development of key competencies such as assertive communication, time management, and emotional intelligence. Emphasis will also be put on developing a feedback culture and inclusive practices. The second training course will center on self and group emotional management, transparency and trust in group dynamics, analyzing and assessing power and privileges, and promoting participatory leadership. Both trainings will provide Youth workers with new effective methodologies and tools to use with the young people they work with and in their community work.
The primary target group of the project consists of youth workers participating in the mobilities. This includes educators, teachers, social workers, staff, and volunteers from youth centers and NGOs, as well as anyone working/volunteering with young people and managing group dynamics. Ideal participants are those eager to enhance their facilitation skills and acquire tools for carrying on transformative education activities. To foster diversity, the project aims to include individuals facing discrimination or obstacles that would prevent them from participating in a similar commercial training course.
The secondary target group includes those who will be indirectly impacted through participants' engagement before, during, and after the project. This includes young people in participants' networks and local communities, such as school students, marginalized youth, individuals from vulnerable backgrounds, people on the move, or those with disabilities. Participants will act as catalysts for change, promoting non-violent communication and fostering inclusive interactions within their communities.
Additionally, youth workers who engage with the project’s dissemination activities or utilize the toolbox created during the training will also benefit from the knowledge and methodologies shared.
Impact
The project is expected to have a lasting impact on both the participants and the broader field of youth work by equipping youth workers with facilitation skills that will enhance their ability to create inclusive, participatory, and transformative learning environments. By deepening their understanding of group dynamics, emotional regulation, and participatory leadership, participants will be able to navigate complex group processes with confidence and adaptability. This will not only benefit their immediate work with young people but also contribute to a shift in organizational culture, fostering a more collaborative and empowering approach to youth work.
Beyond individual growth, the project will have a tangible impact on the participating organizations by strengthening their internal structures and improving decision-making processes. Facilitators and youth workers will be better equipped to manage group interactions, prevent and transform conflicts, and create spaces where all voices are heard. This will lead to more effective teamwork, stronger community engagement, and the ability to implement projects with greater cohesion and purpose.
The long-term impact of the project extends beyond the participating organizations, as participants will share their learning with their networks, inspiring broader adoption of facilitation practices in youth work across Europe. The project’s results, including the co-created facilitation toolbox, will provide accessible and practical resources for youth workers. This ensures that the methods and insights developed during the project will continue to benefit a wider audience. Through dissemination activities, follow-up initiatives, and ongoing collaboration between partners, the project will foster a culture of engaged, self-aware, and skilled facilitators who can support the growth of inclusive and effective youth work practices in the groups they support.
More information here.
Locations: Germany and Czechia
Dates: 27 October – 2 November 2025 (Germany) | 18 – 25 April 2026 (Czechia)
Coordinator: Cambio e.V - DE
Partners: Re-set: Platforma pro sociálně-ekologickou transformaci, z. s. - CZ / Fundacja KAMAN - PL / Adventures of the Valparaíso - NL / Tudatos Ifjúságért Alapítvány - HU / New Wellness Education - IT
2025-1-DE04-KA153-YOU-000302389