Neighbours Discovering Internationality Together!
Rural youth workers in Finland and Sweden often lack access to international opportunities like Erasmus+ and ESC. This project empowers them by building awareness, skills, and confidence to integrate international tools into their daily work in their home communities.
Project Summary
Project period: January 2024 – June 2025
Partners: XAMK (Juvenia)
Funded by: Erasmus+ KA2
Neighbours Discovering Internationality Together! was a cooperation project between Juvenia (Finland) and Fryshuset (Sweden). It supported rural youth workers in Etelä-Savo and Kalmar to discover how international opportunities such as Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps can be used in everyday youth work. Through networking, peer learning, study visits, and hands-on training, the project made international youth work more accessible and practical.
Context & Challenges
Finland and Sweden share similar rural youth work challenges: limited resources, little prior experience with international programmes, and a need for practical tools to get started. While some organizations were already active, many needed support to take their first steps. With long-standing international experience, Juvenia and Fryshuset joined forces to strengthen youth work across borders.
Activities
The project combined local and international activities:
- Local meetings with participants and their organizations in Finland and Sweden to map needs and goals.
- International workshops in Mikkeli (Finland) and Kalmar (Sweden) featuring study visits, peer learning, and concrete project planning.
- Practical manual — ABC to Internationality: Practical Guide and Extra Tools for Rural Youth Work — summarizing learning outcomes and tips for getting started.
Impact
The project strengthened youth workers’ understanding of European opportunities, expanded cross-border networks, and provided practical skills to bring international cooperation into their organizations. The manual extended the reach of these results, offering accessible guidance to youth workers across Europe.
Updates & Reports
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Contact
📧 For more information or to get involved, contact us at: development@fryshuset.se
📲 Follow our journey on Instagram — click the names to visit the profiles: @fryshusetglobal & @fryshusetyouthmobility