From 27th to 31st October 2025, three youth workers from ETMI participated in Training programme in Deventer, as part of the SPACE project, together with partners like Wonderland Architecture, Fakulteti i Arkitekturës – Universiteti “Hasan Prishtina,” New Horizon NGO, and Saxion University of Applied Sciences.
Throughout the week, participants explored how youth can actively shape their communities through placemaking, creative activation, and collaboration. The programme included practical workshops, field visits, and interactive exercises that helped participants understand how public spaces can be transformed into vibrant, inclusive hubs for youth engagement.
We explored how municipalities and local youth organizations in Deventer engage young people in decision-making. Later, visits to the rural villages of Lettele and Bathmen showed us how local initiatives like Plattelands Jongeren Bathmen (PJB) empower youth to stay active and connected in their communities. A creative workshop with OBB Engineers introduced us to inclusive urban design, followed by inspiring visits to The Mall and Raster youth centers. Cooking dinner together and joining local youth workers in their evening rounds made the experience even more hands-on and authentic. We closed the week with Impacter Center, discovering new ways to activate young people through meaningful volunteer experiences.
Group discussions and peer-to-peer sessions allowed participants to share experiences, reflect on challenges, and co-create solutions applicable to their local contexts. Strategies for fostering community involvement, promoting creativity, and encouraging sustainable initiatives were explored in depth.
Beyond learning, the training strengthened international networks, inspiring youth workers to collaborate across borders and bring fresh ideas back to their municipalities. Equipped with new skills, practical methods, and a creative mindset, participants are ready to empower young people and transform their communities into more inclusive and engaging spaces.
Space project it’s co-founded by European Union and is implemented by a partner consortium consisting of: Wonderland Architecture, Saxion Univeristy of Applied Sciences, Fakulteti i Arkitekturës Universiteti ‘Hasan Prishtina’, Environmental and Territorial Management Institute, Placemaking Western Balkans.
