Neighbours Discovering Internationality Together! A manual created from practice, for practice.

How to get started with internationality as a tool in youth work?

Internationality can be a powerful resource in youth work. It opens new perspectives, builds networks, and creates meaningful learning experiences, both for young people and for the professionals who work with them.

But for many organisations and youth workers, especially those in rural areas or smaller municipalities, international projects can seem out of reach. The opportunities exist, but the confidence, know-how, or connections may be missing. This is exactly the gap that sparked the idea behind the NDIT manual.

How was it born?

This manual was developed as part of the Erasmus+ project Neighbours Discovering Internationality Together! (NDIT), carried out from January 2024 to June 2025. The project was a collaboration between two partners: Juvenia Youth Research and Development Centre (Finland) and Fryshuset (Sweden).

Both organizations had noticed a similar pattern in their countries: a few professionals were highly active in international youth work, but many more, especially in rural areas, lacked the support to take their first steps. This shared challenge called for a hands-on approach.

The project brought together youth workers from Etelä-Savo (Finland) and Kalmar (Sweden), two regions where international opportunities are usually particularly distant. During the meetings, participants explored EU programmes like Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps, learned about each other’s local contexts, and exchanged ideas and tips on how internationality could be embedded into their everyday work.

This manual collects the most valuable insights from this shared learning journey.

What Does It Include?

The NDIT manual is designed as a practical introduction to international youth work. It includes:

• A step-by-step checklist to identify goals and take action
• A group activity called “The Garden of International Activities”, a tool to help youth workers and young people co-create project ideas
• Reflections and testimonies from professionals in Kalmar and Etelä-Savo, sharing their motivations, challenges, and learning
• A guide to useful platforms and tools such as Eurodesk, ESC, SALTO Resource Centres, and Star of Europe

Where can I find it?

Click HERE for the complete NDIT manual!

Text: Eleonora Ventura