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👋 Let’s get to know each other before the training begins!

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👋 Let’s get to know each other before the training begins!

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Please share a short info and a photo – tell us who you are, where you're from, and what perspectives and skills you bring to a our training.

Simply click on "+" and add your description together with the photo. Looking forward to meeting you!

We’re looking forward to meeting you! For example: check the next column for Organizers:)

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What does Youth work look like where you come from? Who does it? And where?

Activities delivered in youth centers, organisations, or other venues like schools, to support and/or address issues the youth are facing.

Work done by youth workers, volunteers, youth facilitator.

For italy, the work is mostly delivered to international young people. Challenge to find young Italians to get involved.

How are young people involved in decision making or policy in your country?

🇨🇾: young people aren’t involved in decision making. However some youth agency are developing.

🇮🇹 -> Exists some youth organisations who take part in locals interviews for youth.

🇰🇪-> Yes, they are. Young people are involved when a budget is made for a project. Sessions are hold on an annual basis (at least), to receive suggestions and have feedback. However, plans are usually already ready and set, before those sessions. They also have a youth council at national level.

🇸🇴 -> organisation tried to help but youth are not involved in decision making at the government level.

🇷🇴-> there is a youth commission and representative of high schoolers in the country. Dialogues exist when it comes to EU structure and Eu project. However, it’s done superficially “to tick the box. Most funding comes from private companies.

What barriers do young people face when trying to be heard?

Lack of space and opportunity to be heard

Voice often ignored

Lack of participation

Gender barriers

Youth considered “too loud” are targeted by the government

Don’t know where to go/where to be heard?

Lack of support when youth need it

What would improve youth participation and support for youth work in your country?

More clear structure (not afraid to try it if there is a structure behind), visibility and transparency.

More people qualified to work with young people

Identified space to speak up without being judged

Better education, more training.

Stronger organisation

More spaces to experiment, express their needs without too much bureaucracy.

More responsibility for youngsters to make them active and feel important/watched (make you active, proactive -> feel important and watched)

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ABOUT YOUTH WORK

partners provide

-youth a place to discuss what they are passionate about or they need to talk about

-support them in finding solutions to their issues

-provide workshops possibilities

-offer opportunities for non formal education and exchange

(some of the topics: finance education, mental health issues,

OPEN WORKSHOPS: youth asks for a specific topic and educators provide it

WHERE

-youth centers

-HUB called swaili port - a community center for activities

WHO

educators, youth leaders, facilities

youth that have been nurthered by the association

DECISION MAKING / POLICY

RO - IT difficult to manage, youth are difficult to engage

KE - some are involved but the majority is not interested because they believe they are not heard.

same in all countries: some are active, some try and the majority do nothing or lost interest.

BARRIERS

- mistrust

-they do not identify themselves with the description that media or governament provide of them. stereotyping

-they lack confidence to speak up

-they do not know who to talk with

-they are not motivated or interested

-there is an intergenerational gap

IMPROVING

-solve issues in point 3!

-engage youth leaders to talk with peers

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Summary of the discussion

digital tools

liked - Teams, zoom, mentimeter to collect opinions at the end of the sessions or to engage distracted audiences.

not liked - long enroll procedures,

suggestions.

-provide clear instructions on how to use the tools

-best to use group-based activities to involve those with no internet

-make alliences with NOGs, schools, to provide free internet to youth

-find creative ways to promote the program ("influencers", local activists, youth leaders…)

-use sponsored posts on social media

-remember people with special needs

questions /

how long the sessions will be

can we pay for youth internet connection

how to count participants

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Walk and Talk about youth work

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What we learned:
✅ A deeper understanding of the EU Youth Goals and SDGs
✅ How much we can learn from each other’s experiences and perspectives

What we want to improve:
🔧 Our communication skills – both within the group and in general
🔧 Be more open to discovering new things and sharing good practices

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Day 1

✅ 2 Things Participants Learned

About Each Other & the Group

Many participants mentioned learning more about the people involved, building better interpersonal understanding.

Some noted learning more about team dynamics and collaboration.

About Organizations & the Project

Insights were gained into different organizations' work, goals, and approaches.

Some participants deepened their understanding of the overall project and its structure.

🔧 2 Things Participants Want to Improve

Logistics & Practical Aspects

Several participants flagged issues with WiFi quality.

Breakfast and general logistics were noted as areas for improvement.

Training Structure & Delivery

Some feedback suggested the sessions were too long and could benefit from being more concise or dynamic.

There were suggestions that the energisers were taking too long.

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Hey! I am Adela from Romania, a special education teacher with over 25 years of experience working with children and young people with intellectual disabilities. Throughout my career, I’ve dedicated myself to inclusive education, support and empowerment for those who often remain unheard.

I’m also the president of Association Colour Your Dreams, where I work as a project manager, youth worker and trainer. Over the years, I’ve initiated and coordinated numerous projects focused on green topics, social inclusion, civic engagement and career guidance – always with the goal of bringing positive, lasting change to the community.

I’m deeply passionate about reading, travelling and discovering new cultures. I truly believe in the power of education, empathy and intercultural learning to transform lives. My greatest joy is to support young people to grow, dream and take action.

Looking forward to connecting, sharing and building something meaningful together! 🌱📚🌍

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Bosire Redemptah – Kenya

I’m a passionate human rights advocate with a strong focus on gender-based violence awareness and youth empowerment. I actively engage in conversations and initiatives around GBV, aiming to promote equality, dignity, and safe spaces for all. I believe in the power of dialogue and intercultural exchange to inspire change, and I’m excited to connect with fellow participants through this Virtual Youth Exchange journey.

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What is 'restorative justice' anyway (1)

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Hello everyone! My name is Laura and I am a proud citizen of the world, now based in Targu Jiu, where I am the community manager of Zbor Hub, a Youth Hub, where young people discover their most authentic self through games, mentoring sessions, and interaction with each other and with other stakeholders within the community. Alongside this, I am the volunteer coordinator for the ESC project called "Green Fest" - a 5-day festival in which we (the international + local volunteers) create the space and context for green and sustainability activities and talks. Every year, we try to bring something memorable to the table, so I will leave you the link to the mockumentary that the green team did this year, called "Degrees of Confusion": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZaFOR3OJXc

As you might guess, I am a huge fan of sustainability and sustainable development, so this whole experience will be right down my line of interest and professional work. Looking forward to meeting all of you and sharing the important insights from our homes.

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Hi, I'm Lynn

I'm passionate about community work. I have had the chance of working with young women and girls championing SRHR , and I've also had the opportunity to support refugees through my work. I'm excited to be part of the virtual exchange training in Tanzania and to keep learning and growing.

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Hi, i'm Daniel.

During recent women engagement initiatives, i participated in a series of workshops organised by women groups focused on sexual reproductive health (SRH) and broader advocacy issues affecting women. These workshops brought together diverse participants especially professionals.

I'm so delighted to be part and parcel of this engagement and i commit to positively impacting the community after the training.

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I’ve been actively involved in youth exchanges and training courses for the past 6 years, which helped me grow both personally and professionally. I’m passionate about non-formal learning and the power it has to bring young people together and create meaningful change.

I’m currently a third-year student in Theatre Studies, and this year I also started studying Political Science – a step that reflects my deep interest in public politics, civic engagement, and how society works. My biggest passions are art, theatre, politics, history, and reading – I truly enjoy diving deep into complex ideas and turning them into creative action.

As a future facilitator, I’m excited to connect with other young people, to learn from different cultures, and to help create safe, inclusive, and inspiring spaces for dialogue and collaboration.

Looking forward to building bridges with all of you! 🌍🎭📚

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We’re the ones behind the scenes making sure your training experience is meaningful, smooth, and hopefully a bit fun too!
Below you’ll find a short intro from each of us — feel free to reach out anytime. We’re here to support you before, during, and after the training.

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Hi

I am Rozetha from TAMASHA in Tanzania, a dynamic facilitator and trainer with over 10 years of experience, with a strong background in Social Work and Business Administration. I am specialized in empowering organizations and communities through capacity building in gender, youth skills, management, business development, and social issues.

I enjoy working with young people, organizations and grassroots communities to help them build capacities and gaining hands-on experience so they can solve their own challenging situations.

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Hello, I am Churchill Shakim a passionate traveler, creative writer, and facilitator in youth and development, as well as a consultant in organizational management. I enjoy traveling just as much as I enjoy facilitating. My work and experience have spanned many countries across Africa and beyond.

I’m truly excited to meet everyone in Dar es Salaam for the Digital Youth Work training. Beyond the training itself, I look forward to the work we'll do together on this project and above all, to the results we’re aiming for, the fun we’ll have, the meaningful interactions, and the great networking opportunities ahead.

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Hi everybody, I am Carmen from Romania! I’m a trainer and consultant in youth work, education, and NGO management. Over the years, I’ve facilitated training courses across Europe through Erasmus+ and worked closely with young people, youth workers, NGO leaders, and teachers. I enjoy designing engaging learning experiences—both in-person and online. I’m also passionate about strategic thinking and Theatre of the Oppressed.

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Hi everyone, I am a UK Project Manager at RJ4All where I oversee our core poverty relief and restorative justice casework projects for affected parties. I hold a Master's in Education and International Development from UCL and have 5+ years experience working in the overlaps of the education, justice and non-profit sectors. I am particularly passionate about community projects which support and empower disadvantaged groups to attain the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to address their daily challenges, seek remedies for justice issues, and participate more fully in civic life. Looking forward to learning together!

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Greetings Building Bridges fellows. I am looking forward to meeting you all in lovely Tanzania. I am the Founder and Director of RJ4All and I work for the European Commission, the Council of Europe and OSCE. I love writing and legal philosophy, and, of course, anything that relates to restorative justice, and peace. I am also passionate about fitness and keeping healthy, and thus in my free time I am a Personal Trainer.

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Hello, I’m Linh, Communications Officer at RJ4All. I’m currently working remotely from Viet Nam and unfortunately won’t be able to attend the training in person. However, I’m really looking forward to seeing what will be covered and sharing highlights on our social media channels.

If you have any messages, photos, or moments you'd like featured on RJ4All’s platforms, please feel free to email me at l.nguyen@rj4all.org, along with your name and any images if available.

Thank you!

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I am a volunteer at RJ4ALL and have been around for quite a long time! I am on the YMB (youth management board) at RJ4ALL, and I participate and help run workshops at RJ4ALL, including Youth clubs, and help out with a whole range of activities. I am looking forward to the Tanzania workshop, and hope to learn many things, and take away a memorable experience. This training will help me facilitate the FRED youth led campaign which will support the project and young people in taking part in dialogue across our countries and continents.

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Hello, I'm Eleonore from France and Theo's research assistant at RJ4All. I have a background in Political Science with a specialisation in International Cooperation. I look forward to participating in this training to develop my skills and to meet you all!

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Hi, I’m involved with RJ4All and I’m enthused to see how restorative justice initiatives can thrive in this youth- focused, pan- cultural initiative. I have extensive criminal justice and youth experience, primarily in Britain but also in Canada and Europe. Looking forward to meeting everyone.

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Hi, I'm Ronja, working as part of RJ4All's international team as a community project officer, with a keen interest in community building and restorative approaches to harm. I have a political science background, specialising in gender studies, particularly with an intersectional approach. Currently involved in projects addressing gender-based violence, hate crime, and partnering with youth justice services. Also practicing restorative justice circle facilitation skills and dialogue. Excited for this exchange and to learn from each other.

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Hi i'm Tommy (15), son of Theo Gavrielides!

I'm here to learn; and i think that's exactly what i'm going to do! I hope this training well benefit me greatly, and I am confident that I will take away lots of memorable experiences

(sorry about old photo!)

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My name is Pukey, and I have been actively engaged in the civil society sector for over a decade. Throughout this journey, I have contributed to a wide range of initiatives aimed at community development—working across diverse organisations and thematic areas such as youth empowerment, content creation and media production, intercultural learning, policy reforms, the budgeting process, and facilitation.

KARIBU TANZANIA

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Hello everyone,
I'm Maria Bîrcu from Romania, the city of Târgu Jiu. I've been working in the youth field for about 5 years, and our organization coordinates a youth center with various activities focused on financial education, mental health, career counseling, and civic engagement.
Over time, I’ve also worked in journalism, PR, and communication.
The photo I’ve attached here was taken at our space in Târgu Jiu, called Zbor Hub, and behind me is a text that says: “Tot mai sus” (“Ever higher”).
I’m confident we’ll learn a lot from one another so that we can keep reaching higher in our professional activities—and also as individuals.

Interesting work and meaningful conversations go great with a latte :D. I can’t wait to meet you all.

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My name is Sadala Ismail. I am a civil engineer by professional but I have been enjoying facilitation for over 15 years now. I have done so with all ages but mostly young people in building their capacity to participate in various things in the community. Creativity, humor and personality always distinguish me from other facilitators.
I am happy to be among the facilitators in the building bridges program and I promise to offer my skills and learn more from other facilitators too.

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I’m Mohamed Abdi kamil from ICO somalia I have worked as a trainer and community facilitator for 10 years focusing on youth empowerment education and development I’m excited to join this seminar in Tanzania exchange experiences with peers and explore new ideas in digital youth work this is a great opportunity to learn contribute and grow professionally I’m ready to make the most of it

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My name is Mohamed Abdukadir Hassan from Somalia. I'm very happy to be part of this training in Tanzania, and I look forward to learning, sharing, and connecting with others throughout the program.

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Hello everyone!

My name is Sultan abdi isak

I’m from Somalia

I have worked for a long time as a teacher trainer

I am very happy to participate in this training, and I hope it will make a big difference in the future of our youth.

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Hello everyone!

I’m Najma from Somalia. I’m really excited to take part in this training. Hoping to gain new skills and connect with amazing people here.

Looking forward to a great learning journey together!

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Hi, everyone, I am Abdifatah, from ICO Mogadishu Somalia, I have been working on issues related to community development and youth empowerment for a long time. I hope that I will learn a lot from this training, as well as gain experience and skills , I am very happy to attend this meeting.

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Hi! I’m Diana Grecu – a community organizer, facilitator, and social entrepreneur who’s passionate about working with people, especially young people, and being part of positive change.

I love creating spaces where others feel seen, heard, and inspired to grow whether it's through local projects, meaningful conversations, or co-creating ideas together.

Outside of work, you’ll most likely find me traveling, laughing with friends, or dreaming up new ways to bring people together. I’m really excited to explore how all of this can come to life in online facilitation!

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Here you will find all the essential resources to review in preparation for the training. We hope you find them helpful!

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Youth Goals The Youth Goals are the outcome of the Youth Dialogue process with over 50.000 young people. They represent views of young people from all over Europe and are part of the EU Youth Strategy. These are the Youth Goals: Foster the sense of youth belonging to the European project and build a bridge between […]

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Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

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Hi, everyone! I am Andreea, the project coordinator, so happy to now that this training is coming and you will all have fun and learn together! I will not be joining you, but will follow from the distance and wish you a great time!

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Equip 30 youth workers, from 6 countries, with the skills to facilitate virtual exchanges effectively.

Enhancing digital competency and intercultural communication skills among youth workers.

Understanding and putting into practice the concepts of youth participation, intercultural communication, conflict resolution, European Youth Goals and Sustainable Development Goals.