Youth leadership strengthens GSI’s role in the European NextGen Youthwork project

Youth leadership strengthens GSI’s role in the European NextGen Youthwork project | Image credits: NextGen Youthwork - Richter Foundation - Erasmus

The Global Society Institute (GSI) is taking part in the European project NextGen Youthwork, an Erasmus+ training initiative focused on youth work, international cooperation and the development of practical skills for young people and youth workers. The board includes Mohamed Ben Mussa Hamed, Alba Rodriguez, Fabio Parzych and Santiago Santos, young members of GSI who have already been involved in youth leadership, education, democratic participation and international learning.

The project has been approved as part of the Erasmus+ framework and will bring together partners and participants from different European countries. Its purpose is to strengthen the role of youth work, support the development of new youth-led initiatives and explore how international cooperation can respond to the needs, interests and challenges of young people.

NextGen Youthwork is designed as a practical training process based on non-formal education, peer learning and active participation. The programme will include presentations, group discussions, debates, case studies, practical exercises, cultural activities and visits connected to youth work. Through these methods, participants will be encouraged to develop leadership skills, build international networks and gain a deeper understanding of how Erasmus+ projects can be designed and implemented.

The initiative also aims to give young people a stronger role in shaping activities that affect their own communities. Rather than presenting youth work only as a professional field, the project approaches it as a space where young people can learn to take responsibility, observe social needs, cooperate with others and create meaningful opportunities for their peers.

According to the project information, the first training activity will take place in Kosovo in November 2026 and will last five days, with additional travel days. This first stage will focus on the position and role of youth work, the responsibilities of youth workers and the different realities faced by young people across communities.

A second training activity is planned for Georgia in January 2027. This stage will focus on identifying suitable Erasmus+ activities, such as European Solidarity Corps initiatives, youth exchanges and training courses. It will also explore how organisations can develop cooperation across Europe and strengthen international networks.

Within this framework, GSI’s Youth Advisory Board will contribute to the development and organisation of the project. Mohamed will have an active role in the organisation, with the support of Rea Fraser, while the wider board represents the institute’s commitment to involving young people not only as participants, but also as contributors to the design and growth of international initiatives.

The members of the Youth Advisory Board bring different backgrounds and areas of interest to the project. Their profiles include international trade, democratic participation, student representation, science, education, biology, technology, mathematics, sports performance and global society initiatives. This diversity reflects the broader purpose of the board: to connect young people with different skills, interests and perspectives around shared social responsibility.

For GSI, the project is closely connected to its wider work on global society, civic participation and international learning. It provides a concrete example of how young people can move from representation to action, contributing to projects that build bridges between communities and support long-term cooperation across borders.

The participation of the GSI in NextGen Youthwork also highlights the importance of creating institutional spaces where young people can develop confidence, leadership and practical experience. In this context, youth participation is not presented as a symbolic gesture, but as an active contribution to project development, European cooperation and community impact.

Through NextGen Youthwork, GSI takes another step in its development as a space for young leadership, international cooperation and social engagement. The project strengthens the connection between youth work, Erasmus+ learning opportunities and the institute’s commitment to supporting a more connected, inclusive and responsible global society.