DIGITAL TOOLS
Project Summary
The project also met International, EU, and E+ objectives because it:
-
encouraged the participation of youth workers, especially those with fewer opportunities,
-
secured a safe and pleasant non-formal learning environment,
-
promoted the development of:
-
learning outcomes and improvement of basic key competences,
-
practices for intercultural learning, equity, and social inclusion,
-
being a project created by youth workers for youths and the community.
-
The Training was held in Cyprus, hosted by NECI EU, and had the following objectives: (a) Increased awareness of the positive impact of Non-Formal Education and inclusive practices for personal and professional improvement.
(b) Developed youth workers' "learning to learn" and digital competence, with the main aim of influencing youths and the local community to develop opportunities for personal development.
(c) Offered a safe and educative space for learning by sharing among all participants, irrespective of skills and background, and promoted non-formal learning based on non-formal methods.
(d) Explored and understood the power of digital technology and AI for designing and orchestrating workshops in youth work.
(e) Trained youth workers on how to work with user-friendly applications for professional development.
(f) Created tangible and intangible results that could sustain the project’s impact.
This project was designed to promote Non-Formal Learning through which representatives of the partner organisations shared personal and professional experiences, contributed based on their competences, worked collaboratively regardless of background, and developed a programme that met the following objectives:
Objective 1: Fostered international cooperation between experienced and less experienced organisations and individuals, as well as among youth workers aiming to eliminate discrimination and marginalisation through internationally and European-funded activities.
Objective 2: Developed projects that left a meaningful impact for the new Erasmus period, particularly in the areas of social inclusion and intercultural learning.
Objective 3: Strengthened the skills and competences of youth workers, focusing on the enhancement of key competences—especially digital competence and media literacy.
Objective 4: Equipped youth workers with the tools to train young people to embrace diversity using innovative and engaging methods based on modern technology.
Empower Youthwork Through Digital Innovation
OUR PARTNERS
This section represents the diverse organizations and partners collaborating in the Training on Digital and Media Tools: An Asset for Youthwork, fostering international connections and knowledge exchange.
o Network for European Citizenship and Identity Cyprus
o Youthfully Yours Slovakia
o Fiatalok Egysegben Egyesulet Hungary
o CET Platform Hellas
o MTU Parnu Noorte Vabaajakeskus Estonia
o European Youth Centre Břeclav z. s. Czechia
o EdUcAntwerp VZW Belgium
o OSILL NECI Stip North Macedonia
o International Youth Activity Center -
o NECI Italia
REFLECTION DIARIES
MERILI
Kogu treeningprogramm oli väga loogiliselt üles ehitatud. Eriti meeldisid mulle ekspertide seminarid. Ma õppisin palju veel põhjalikumalt nii Canva kohta, kui ka GhatGPD ja teiste väga kasulike ja vajalike tööriistade kohta.
Eriti äge on need teadmised nüüd töösse rakendada.
Tahan lisada veel seda, et treener Renos oli väga proffesionaalne, kuid samas oli ta kaasahaarav ja humoorikas.
Aitäh väga vajaliku kogemuse eest, õppida sooja päikese all.
TOMAS
Během projektu Digital tools jsme se věnovali zejména poznávání a sdílení nových nástrojů, které jsou možné používat během každodenního života a zároveň během práce v mládežnických organizacích. Spolupráci v malém týmu jsme docilili efektivního sdílení zkusenosti a celý projekt se vydařil. Během procesu učení jsme zároveň využili řadu expertů a odborníků na dané téma, kteří nám pomohli prohloubit naše znalosti.
Nové nástroje a zkušenosti budu implementovat ve své dobrovolnické činnosti a tím dále rozvíjet kompetence mých svěřenců. K tomu využiji i nové nabité zkušenosti získané během workshopu pro kyperské školáky, který jsme organizovali.
MARGIT
The project was perfectly balanced between theoretical and practical learning. We were given an opportunity to learn from professionals and from there put our new gained knowledge into practice by creating workshops for 5th graders using digital tools. Absolutely amazing and very fruitful training course.
DANAH T
This week in Paralimni Traning Course was fruitful and really interesting! Since day one with the getting to know each other activities and introducing of the topic, we were created an amazing bonding with the group. The rest of the week, all the youth workers presented useful Digital and media tools , we had some visits from experts in AI and website creation. The last day , we visited a primary school in Cyprus and implemented workshops that we had prepared. The students were thrilled and enthusiastic throughout the process and wanted more time with us! I am glad that you had the chance to participate and share my ideas and tools.
JANA
From the start of the Training Course Digital and Media Tools, I was excited to share something about social media and marketing, as it was a topic other participants had expressed interest in.The first days focused on getting to know each other and slowly starting to collaborate on small digital tasks. One of the activities I enjoyed the most during these first days was the knowledge-sharing session, where participants presented quick summaries of digital tools they use in their everyday lives. Some of their presentations truly inspired me, and after their short workshops, I tried out tools like Adobe Lightroom, Lovable, Zonerama, and many others myself.
We also had two expert visits focused on digital tools, with presentations about AI and Canva. Personally, the Canva workshop provided me with valuable new insights — for example, I learned about creating websites within the program, a feature I hadn't used before.
During the final days, we prepared and presented small workshops for students from a local school. This experience gave me a lot of new skills and pushed me a little out of my comfort zone, but ultimately, it was a great learning opportunity. I hope to continue using many of the tools and techniques we explored throughout this course in the future.
RADOVAN
Prvý deň sme začali zoznamovacími aktivitami, ktoré nám pomohli zapamätať si mená účastníkov a vytvoriť základ pre lepšiu spoluprácu v nasledujúcich dňoch.
Počas troch večerov sme mali každý večer interkultúrne prezentácie, kde 2–3 krajiny predstavili svoju národnú kultúru, tradície a tradičné jedlá.
Druhý deň sme sa venovali digitálnym nástrojom – každý účastník mal popísať svoju skúsenosť s vybranými nástrojmi. V popoludňajších hodinách nás navštívil expert na umelú inteligenciu, ktorý nám priblížil fungovanie modelov ako ChatGPT a tvorbu obrázkov pomocou AI.
Tretí deň sme začali prezentáciami účastníkov o ich skúsenostiach s AI nástrojmi. Každý predstavil vybraný nástroj a priblížil jeho praktické využitie v skupinovej práci. Popoludní k nám zavítal ďalší expert, ktorý nám predstavil nástroj Canva a jeho AI funkcie vrátane tvorby webových stránok.
Štvrtý deň sme sa rozdelili do skupín a pripravovali vlastné aktivity. Tie sme nasledujúci deň prezentovali žiakom základnej školy, ktorých sme zoznámili s vybranými digitálnymi nástrojmi.
Spoločne strávený čas sme si veľmi užili a odniesli si množstvo nových skúseností a inšpirácií.
SANLY
During the training course "Digital and Media Tools: An Asset for Youth
Work", I had the opportunity to explore a wide range of innovative tools that
are highly relevant for modern youth work and personal development. We
learned to use interactive platforms like Blooket and Menti for engaging
activities, creative design tools like Canva for professional presentations,
and cutting-edge AI tools such as Gemini, ChatGPT, and Suno to support
content creation and communication. These new skills expanded my digital
competence and showed me how technology can be effectively implemented
into youth work to foster greater inclusion, creativity, and collaboration.
Overall, the experience was more than just a mere course to learn new things
--- it was an eye-opening opportunity that allowed me to broaden my
technical skills, at the same time informing me about this modern digital
world I am living in and how I can take advantage of it.
HRISTINA
From this experience i learned new digital tools. It was very new to me but it was so interesting and fun to learn through workshops. I also learned how to work with kids and that experience i will never forget.
ELIZABETA
Grazie al training course “Digital and media tools: an asset for youthwork” ho avuto la possibilità di migliorare le conoscenze relative agli strumenti digitali, da un punto di vista sia teorico sia pratico. L’intervento di un esperto in IA (intelligenza artificiale) ha messo in luce come quest’ultima non sia una novità degli ultimi tempi, ma qualcosa su cui l’essere umano sta lavorando e che interviene nelle nostre vite da decenni. Attraverso la sperimentazione di diverse risorse che si avvalgono della IA è stato possibile approfondire non solo le opportunità offerte dall’IA in campo educativo e scolastico, ma anche alcuni aspetti controversi legati alla perfettibilità dell’IA e a un utilizzo etico di essa. Ho messo alla prova le mie capacità in diverse attività laboratoriali, laddove era possibile scegliere mi sono concentrata sugli strumenti digitali a me sconosciuti. Allo stesso tempo, ho scoperto alcune funzioni di Canva (da me già conosciuto) grazie al workshop realizzato da un docente di scuola primaria esperto in tecnologie digitali. L’ultimo giorno di training ha visto me e gli altri partecipanti mettersi in gioco e utilizzare le competenze acquisite per svolgere delle attività educative in una scuola locale. L’esperienza è stata molto significativa non solo perché si è trattata di una conclusione opportuna e necessaria, ma anche perché ho avuto la possibilità di osservare in che modo l’istituto scolastico visitato organizza i propri spazi di apprendimento ed educazione. Infine, l’incontro e con il confronto con partecipanti provenienti da diversi paesi europei è stato per me un fattore estremamente stimolante, non solo dal punto di vista professionale, ma anche da un punto di vista umano. Tutti noi partecipanti abbiamo avuto la possibilità di condividere la nostra esperienza con gli strumenti digitali: in tal modo ho avuto la soddisfazione non solo di arricchire il bagaglio di conoscenze dei miei compagni, ma anche e soprattutto di essere ispirata da strumenti digitali e utilizzi da me mai sperimentati prima.
ALEX
I am glad that I have participated in that project about digital and media tools because it was beneficial and I gained knowledge that will be very helpful in my work, future plans and also in life.
During the training I've learned about a lot of tools and platforms and how to use them. We exchanged knowledge between the participants and also we had sessions from experts.
I am happy to share the experience and knowledge I have learned with the organization I am volunteer in and with youths they are working with and also to spread the information to other youths I am working with.I'm looking forward to explore these tools and more further. Thank you for this experience!
DANAH P
Το Training Course "Training on Digital and Media Tools: an Asset for Youthwork", που πραγματοποιήθηκε από τις 23 έως τις 29 Απριλίου 2025, υπήρξε μια δυναμική εμπειρία μη τυπικής μάθησης που ενίσχυσε καθοριστικά τις δεξιότητές μου στον τομέα του youth work με τη χρήση ψηφιακών εργαλείων και διαδικτυακών μέσων επικοινωνίας. Μέσα από την αλληλεπίδραση με μια πολυπολιτισμική ομάδα youth workers, την προσωπική εργασία, καθώς και τη συμμέτοχή σε εργαστήρια με ειδικούς στην τεχνητή νοημοσύνη και στα ψηφιακά μέσα στον τομέα της εκπαίδευσης, αναπτύξαμε περαιτέρω τις δεξιότητες εκείνες που θα μας βοηθήσουν να προσεγγίσουμε ακόμα πιο στοχευμένα το θέμα του προγράμματος. Ένα από τα σημεία που ξεχώρισα ήταν η επίσκεψη μας σε ένα σχολείο της τοπικής κοινωνίας με σκοπό την εξοικείωση μαθητών του Δημοτικού με ψηφιακά εκπαιδευτικά μέσα, τα οποία μάθαμε και εφαρμόσαμε μέσα στο πρόγραμμα. Φεύγω από αυτή την εμπειρία με νέα εργαλεία και φίλους, έτοιμη να αξιοποιήσω όσα μάθαμε για να ενισχύσω ουσιαστικά τη δουλειά μου στον τομέα του youth work και να σταθώ δίπλα στους νέους με ακόμα μεγαλύτερη αυτοπεποίθηση και έμπνευση.
KHADIJA
My time in Cyprus was not just a learning opportunity, it was a complete shift in the way I see and use digital tools. Before this project, I mostly saw technology as something practical and sometimes overwhelming. But through this experience, I discovered how digital tools can become bridges, not only to efficiency but also to real human connection, creativity, and social impact.
Throughout the project, we participated in workshops, group tasks, and hands-on activities that pushed me out of my comfort zone in a good way. I explored platforms I had never used before and saw how they could simplify things that used to feel complicated or time-consuming. I learned how to present ideas more clearly, how to collaborate online more effectively, and most importantly how to stay open and adaptable when new technologies are introduced.
One of the highlights for me was working in a team with people from different backgrounds. We had different styles and experiences, but we found common ground through digital collaboration. It reminded me that technology is only as powerful as the people using it and when used with purpose, it can truly bring people together.
This project also helped me grow personally. I gained confidence in my digital communication skills, learned to be more structured in the way I work online, and developed a new mindset around learning: instead of fearing what I don’t know, I’ve learned to explore, try, fail, and improve. I saw how tools like collaborative whiteboards, interactive presentations, and content creation apps can actually support education and inspire others to take part in positive change.
I’m really grateful for this experience not just because of the skills I gained, but because of the energy, encouragement, and inspiration I found in the group. Cyprus wasn’t just about learning something new; it was about discovering what I’m capable of when I’m surrounded by the right people and given the right tools. I’m leaving this project with more knowledge, but also with more courage, more ideas, and more hope for the future.
And I can't wait to apply everything I’ve learned in upcoming projects, especially those that aim to empower others.
ILENIA
I am very satisfied to have been one of participants who took part in the training course, held in Paralimni, Cyprus from 22nd to 29th April 2025.
During these days, I had the opportunity to discover new digital tools and to deepen the use and knowledge of those I already knew. It was very interesting to see how these tools can be applied while working with youngsters. We visited a local elementary school where we carried out a workshop engaging pupils through the use of digital tools. I am glad I had the chance to learn more and to realize the perks of some tools that I didn't know, like for example Suno and Anatomy. I am eager to share what I have learned with the people I know, and I am sure they will be as fascinated as I was during this training course. Thank you, see you in the next adventure.
MOSES
Participating in the Erasmus+ program in Cyprus has been a truly transformative and enriching experience for me. Hosted in Paralimni, the program brought together youth workers from across Europe, offering an intensive week of learning, sharing, and cultural exploration. The program
officially started on April 22nd, with participants' arrival, dinner, and a warm welcoming session. We introduced ourselves and reviewed the detailed outline of the week ahead. It immediately created a sense of community, excitement, and expectation among us.Throughout the week, we had numerous sessions focusing on improving our digital competence
and media literacy. I learned how to create websites using Canva, use Kahoot for interactive learning and quizzes, collaborate with others through Miro, make creative avatars with a avatar- making app, edit faces and transform photos using FaceApp, edit videos professionally using CapCut, and explore many more modern digital tools that are essential for today's youth work. A particularly memorable highlight for me was presenting a session on Adobe Lightroom to my fellow participants on April 25th, 2025. Sharing my photo editing knowledge and seeing the group's engagement and curiosity was a proud and rewarding moment. Moreover, it was inspiring
to learn from other participants as they also presented different digital or media tools, they were familiar with. The mutual learning environment was supportive and motivating.Beyond classroom activities, we had the privilege of connecting with the local culture. On April 26th, we visited the breathtaking Open Sculpture Museum and the stunning Sea Caves of Cyprus.
These excursions offered a perfect blend of art, nature, and relaxation, enriching the cultural dimension of the program. One of the most impactful parts of the experience was visiting a local school, where we had the chance to pass on the knowledge we had acquired during the week.
Preparing and delivering workshops for students gave practical meaning to everything we had learned and emphasized the importance of dissemination and real-world application. We stayed at the SEK Apartments in Paralimni throughout the training, which provided a comfortable
environment that fostered interaction and friendships beyond the sessions. The daily schedule was intensive but well-balanced, allowing room for professional growth, personal reflection, and intercultural exchange, especially during the vibrant intercultural evenings.In conclusion, the Erasmus+ program in Cyprus not only equipped me with new technical skills
and creative digital tools but also fostered a deeper sense of European identity, collaboration, and social responsibility. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and excited to apply everything I have learned in future projects and youth work initiatives.
AISHA
I will use the tools I have learned during this training with the young people I work with, and share them with my colleagues. I found it very valuable that not only the potential of digital tools was discussed, but also the pitfalls. This helps me make more thoughtful choices and better address the needs of the young people.
NINA
Taking part in the Erasmus+ project in Cyprus was one of the most meaningful and exciting experiences I’ve ever had. It took place in Paralimni, a peaceful town by the sea, and brought together young people from all over Europe. From the very first day-arriving, meeting everyone, and joining the welcome evening I already felt like I was part of something special. There was this instant connection and a shared feeling that the week ahead would be unforgettable.
Throughout the program, we joined all kinds of workshops that helped us improve our digital and media skills. I learned how to build websites using Canva, make fun quizzes on Kahoot, and work on group tasks through Miro. We created avatars, edited photos using FaceApp, made videos with CapCut, and explored many other creative apps that are super useful for youth work today. It was awesome to watch others share tools I hadn’t heard of before. We were all learning from each other in such a supportive and relaxed way it didn’t feel like school, it felt like real growth. Besides the workshops, we had time to explore Cyprus and connect with the local culture. On April 26th, we visited the Open Sculpture Museum and the amazing Sea Caves. The views were breathtaking, and it gave us a chance to relax and just enjoy the moment. Another powerful part of the week was visiting a local school, where we ran
workshops for the students. It felt great to pass on what we’d learned and actually use it in a real setting. We stayed at the SEK Apartments in Paralimni, which quickly felt like home. The vibe was chill but also inspiring we had time to reflect, connect, and just be ourselves.
Looking back, this Erasmus+ project didn’t just teach me new digital tools. It helped me grow as a person. I feel more confident, more connected to Europe, and more motivated to keep doing youth work. I’m really thankful I got the chance to be part of it, and I can’t wait to bring everything I learned into future projects.
Maria
Erasmus+ Experience: Exploring Digital Tools, Creativity, and Cultural Exchange
The Erasmus week was full of diverse activities and learning experiences.
On the first day, we enjoyed ice-breaking games that helped us get to know each other and remember each others names, creating a friendly and cooperative atmosphere from the start.
The second day included a lecture on AI tools, where we learned about the wide range of digital resources available — my personal favourite being Suno, an AI music generator that stood out for its creativity.
On the third day, we attended workshops where digital tools were presented; while the sessions were extensive and at times challenging due to the long hours, they offered valuable insights into current technologies. Later that day, another lecture introduced us to Canva, where we had the chance to create our own websites using AI-generated art. This was one of the most enjoyable moments, as my group created a spiritual and magical website that allowed us to apply what we had learned in a creative and fun way.
On the fourth day, we went on an excursion to visit nearby towns. The scenic bus ride and the cultural tour added a special touch to the week, providing a welcome change of pace.
The fifth day was dedicated to preparing for school visits, where we planned presentations of digital tools for children — a task we approached with enthusiasm, using Suno to create music that would engage the students.
On the sixth day, we worked on designing flyers to
summarize our Erasmus project. Although the process was longer than expected, it was ultimately rewarding to see our collective work take shape. Finally, on the seventh day, we visited the school and presented our projects. It was a unique and joyful experience; despite initial shyness, my team collaborated effectively, and the children responded with great
excitement, particularly enjoying the AI-generated music. It was a memorable highlight of the entire exchange.
Looking back, this Erasmus experience was intense, dynamic, and transformative. It combined deep learning, creative expression, and real-world application. Though it required energy and adaptability, it also offered moments of connection, laughter, and personal growth. I am grateful for the opportunity to participate, and for the meaningful exchanges that
will continue to inspire my work and my view on digital tools in the future.
