Volunteer Action for Change Kenya

24/08/2026

Exchanging our realities in Africa and Europe gives us an opportunity to inspire the the development of 21st century skills for young people.

Youth360 project provides the platform for young people to develop their essential skills in partner countries.

Come on board and let's learn and develop our skills together.

23/08/2026

23/08/2026

The Universal Civil Service (Servizio Civile Universale) is an Italian government programme that offers young adults the opportunity to participate in structured work and training experiences, including in international contexts.

Participants spend 10 months working within local organisations, contributing to existing activities while supporting their development. They do not come from outside simply to implement temporary projects; rather, they become part of ongoing organisational processes, working alongside local staff and contributing to the organisation’s objectives.

They are therefore not visitors or occasional guests, but active members of the organisation who gain practical experience, develop professional skills, and grow through meaningful engagement with local communities.

The 2025 cohort saw seven participants join our teams in Nairobi and Ukunda/Diani, where they actively contributed to the implementation of our programmes, supported the development of key initiatives, and participated in fundraising efforts to make community activities possible.

Among the many milestones achieved through their contribution was the establishment of a community water point in Gandini Village, Kwale County, helping to improve access to water for the local community. The participants also supported the introduction of agricultural activities in collaboration with a local women’s group, creating opportunities for women to strengthen their livelihoods, develop practical agricultural skills, and contribute to greater community resilience.

These achievements demonstrate the value of the Universal Civil Service experience, not only as an opportunity for young Italians to develop professionally and personally, but also as a meaningful mechanism for long-term partnership, community development and intercultural exchange.
Cammini Minimi
Dipartimento per le politiche giovanili e il servizio civile universale – Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri
Servizio Civile Universale

23/08/2026

🇲🇬 YOUTH360 Training Course in Madagascar – Day 7!

And just like that, we reached the final day of our YOUTH360 Training Course in Madagascar.🌍✨

After seven days of learning, exchanging ideas and creating together, today was about testing, reflecting and celebrating everything developed throughout the week.

Participants tested the online learning pathways and Open Badges,, explored the first steps for using the Cities of Learning platform in their own contexts, and worked on their action plans.

More than a week of technical learning, Madagascar gave us the opportunity to connect people from different countries and realities, exchange youth work experiences, challenge our ideas and build new ones together.

A huge thank you to all the participants, facilitators, partners and especially our hosts in Madagascar for making this experience possible. 🇲🇬🤝

We leave the Training Course with new knowledge, new tools, new connections and plenty of inspiration.

For now, we celebrate the end of an unforgettable week. 🌍💛
📍 Antananarivo, Madagascar
📅 Day 7 | 21 August 2026

🇪🇺 Co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme.

21/08/2026

🇲🇬 YOUTH360 Training Course in Madagascar – Day 6!

From ideas to digital learning experiences! 💻🏅

Day 6 of the YOUTH360 Training Course was all about putting knowledge into practice and turning the work developed throughout the week into concrete online learning pathways and Open Badges.

The day started with technical training on quality learning activities, helping participants reflect on how to create meaningful experiences where learning objectives, activities, skills and recognition are clearly connected.

Then it was time for the Badge Labs. 🔧✨

Working in teams, participants continued developing their own:

🔹 online learning pathways;
🔹 learning activities linked to specific skills;
🔹 Open Badges and recognition criteria;
🔹 and practical approaches that can later be adapted to their local contexts.

The focus was not simply on creating a digital badge, but on designing a complete learning journey where young people can participate, demonstrate what they have learned and receive meaningful recognition for their achievements.

This practical work brings us closer to one of YOUTH360’s main goals: equipping youth workers with tools to make non-formal learning and young people’s skills more visible, understandable and transferable to education and employment opportunities.

The day ended with reflection, badge earning and national team meetings — another opportunity to connect what was learned in Madagascar with what will happen next in each participating country. 🌍🤝

Designing learning. Recognising skills. Creating opportunities.

📍 Antananarivo, Madagascar
📅 Day 6 | 20 August 2026

🇪🇺 Co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme.

21/08/2026

🇲🇬 YOUTH360 Training Course in Madagascar – Day 5!

After several intensive days of training, discussion and co-creation, Day 5 invited YOUTH360 participants to learn in a different way: by experiencing Madagascar itself.🌿🌍

Our hosts took the group beyond the training room to explore the country’s culture, natural heritage and unique biodiversity.

A highlight of the day was the visit to Lemurs’ Park, where participants had the opportunity to discover one of Madagascar’s most iconic symbols — the lemur — while learning more about the protection of endemic species, conservation and reforestation efforts. 🐒🌱

The experience offered much more than a cultural visit. It was also an opportunity to:

🔹 discover Madagascar’s extraordinary natural heritage;
🔹 learn more about local approaches to conservation and environmental awareness;
🔹 strengthen connections between participants in an informal learning environment;
🔹 and reflect on how place, culture and community can themselves become powerful learning experiences.

International mobility is not only about what happens inside the training room. It is also about understanding the country that welcomes us, connecting with its people and environment, and creating shared experiences that strengthen cooperation across cultures.

Five days into the YOUTH360 journey, the group continues to learn, connect and discover together. 🌍🤝

📍 Madagascar
📅 Day 5 | 19 August 2026

🇪🇺 Co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme.

17/08/2026

🌍 YOUTH360 Training Course in Madagascar – Day 2! 🇲🇬

Day 2 of the YOUTH360 Training Course in Antananarivo took us deeper into one of the main questions behind the project: how can we make the skills young people develop through non-formal learning more visible and recognised?

The day started by exploring young people’s skills, needs and opportunities across the different participating countries. Bringing together perspectives from Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa gave participants the chance to compare realities, identify common challenges and reflect on the skills young people need today.

From reflection to practice, participants then moved into the world of Open Badges. 🏅

Through the BadgeMe activities and technical sessions, the group worked on:

🔹 identifying meaningful learning achievements;
🔹 understanding what makes a quality Open Badge;
🔹 connecting skills, learning activities and evidence;
🔹 and starting to craft badges that can genuinely recognise learning gained through youth work and non-formal education.

It was a very hands-on day, with plenty of discussion, creativity, teamwork and shared learning. 💡🤝

And learning did not stop when the training sessions ended!

🌍✨ The evening was dedicated to our Intercultural Evening, celebrating the diversity of the YOUTH360 partnership. Participants shared elements of their countries and cultures, creating another opportunity to learn from one another, build connections and enjoy the richness of bringing Europe and Africa together in the same space.

Because international youth work is also about this: learning together, understanding different realities and turning diversity into a source of connection and cooperation.

Two days completed — and many more ideas still to come! 🚀

📍 Antananarivo, Madagascar
📅 Day 2 | 16 August 2026

🇪🇺 Co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme.

15/08/2026

The training course in Madagscar is on

🌍 YOUTH360 is heading to Madagascar! 🇲🇬

A major new stage of the YOUTH360 – Developing and Recognising Youth Skills project is about to begin!

From 15 to 21 August 2026, 36 participants from the 12 YOUTH360 partner organisations will take part in a 7-day international Training Course in Antananarivo, Madagascar, hosted by ONG Youth First , with the support of project coordinator CODEC vzw.

The Training Course has a very practical goal: to strengthen the capacity of people working with young people to design and implement 21st-century skills learning pathways and use Open Badges to recognise skills developed through youth work and non-formal learning.

Throughout the week, participants will:
🔹 exchange experiences and explore youth skills and employability;
🔹 learn to create Open Badges and online learning pathways;
🔹 discover good practices in skills learning and recognition;
🔹 connect with youth organisations and stakeholders in Madagascar;
🔹 test their learning pathways and badges;
🔹 and prepare action plans to bring the learning back home.

Participants will earn Open Badges throughout the programme and receive a Youthpass Certificate recognising their learning and achievements.

🌱 After the Training Course, they will bring this knowledge home and support local training activities on Open Badges and learning pathways, multiplying the impact of YOUTH360 across participating countries.

This is what YOUTH360 is about: connecting youth work, skills development, digital recognition and employability, while fostering learning between Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa.

🇲🇬 Madagascar, here we come!

Follow us over the coming days as we share moments, learning and experiences from the YOUTH360 Training Course in Antananarivo. 📸🌍

🇪🇺 Co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme.

10/08/2026

Webinar Highlights | Youth 360

✨ Webinar Highlights | Youth 360 ✨

On 23 July, the Youth 360 project hosted a specialised webinar focused on strengthening youth work, recognising young people's skills, and building stronger connections between youth work and the labour market. 🌍

During the session, participants explored:
🔹 How to translate day-to-day youth work into recognised 21st-century skills
🔹 The Cities of Learning platform and how it can support learning and skills development
🔹 How Open Badges can help bridge the gap between youth work and the labour market
🔹 Real-life examples and practical tools that can be applied straight away

The webinar brought together participants from across the Youth 360 network, creating an opportunity to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and explore practical approaches to supporting young people in a changing world.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to the discussion! 💚🚀