Partnerships for Youth: Learning mobilities in Spain

About the project

Partnerships for Youth: Learning mobilities in Spain gathers the Erasmus+ youth exchanges and training courses in Spain that EMOTiC has joined as a partner, open to young people who are citizens or residents of Austria. Together with Spanish NGOs, EMOTiC supports projects where a group from Austria travels to Spain to learn alongside peers from across Europe and beyond, since partnerships can include both European and non-European countries.

A youth learning mobility is a short international meeting of youth groups around a specific topic, usually lasting 7 to 23 days including travel. Youth exchanges focus on intercultural dialogue, inclusion and active participation, while training courses help youth workers and youth leaders improve the quality of their practice and build a community of professionals who support young people.

Several Spanish projects looked closely at life online. The youth exchange Out of Signal in Miranda de Ebro, from 8 to 15 August 2022, was hosted by Brisa Intercultural and brought together 42 young people from Austria, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland and Spain. They reflected on excessive social media use, the lack of privacy and the risks of digital tools. They also looked at real cases of how social media has influenced major public debates such as elections, and built media and digital literacy for informed civic participation.

A month later, the youth exchange The Digital Shadow took place in Xàtiva, near Valencia, from 16 to 23 September 2022. Hosted by the Teamworking Association, it gathered 26 young people from Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, France and Spain to learn what cybersecurity is, how to protect themselves digitally and how to strengthen their digital skills, while getting to know six cultures and working together in English.

Spain has also hosted training courses. Youth in Focus in Toledo, from 22 to 28 May 2022, hosted by Participa Joven CR, gathered 20 participants to explore non-formal education as a way to empower young people, learn about Erasmus+ Youth and the European Solidarity Corps, and plan future European cooperation. Embrace Diversity in Santiago de Compostela, from 17 to 22 October 2022, hosted by Acción Social Juventud, brought 25 participants from twelve countries, including Morocco and Türkiye, to explore the multiple forms of oppression women face, especially migrant women, women with disabilities and LGBTIQ+ women, and to share inclusive youth work methods.

EMOTiC took part in each project as partner and co-beneficiary, running the call in Austria, selecting participants and coordinating the group's travel. The programmes are funded by the European Commission through Erasmus+, so accommodation, meals and travel are covered, and some activities have a small administration fee of 30 to 50 euros. Groups normally travel together from Austria, and travel costs are refunded after return. Participants can also receive a Youthpass certificate that recognises what they have learned.