Change Your Self

23/07/2026

How does parenting affect participation in Erasmus+?

We are sharing a call for a seminar for Slovak youth workers, trainers and project developers who are parents or work with parents, exploring structural barriers between caregiving and international mobility.

http://trainings.salto-youth.net/15138

14/07/2026

Hľadáme netradičných účastníkov na netradičný projekt. Pracovníci s mládežou, ktorí sú zároveň rodičia. V tomto projekte sme súčasťou od prvotnej myšlienky. Naši členovia sa mali zúčastniť mobility v Lotyšsku, no nakoniec musíme hľadať náhradu. Hrubé info o projekte v príspevku organizátora. Viac info cez správy.

🚀Gatavojoties starptautiskajam Erasmus+ projektam “Supporting Parents’ Expertise in Erasmus+”, ko ir apstiprinājusi Jaunatnes starptautisko programmu aģentūra vēlamies iepazīstināt ar vienu no projekta mācību vadītājām – Madara Mazjāne.

Madara ir dzimumu līdztiesības eksperte ar Stirlingas Universitātē iegūtu maģistra grādu (MSc) dzimtes studijās (Gender Studies). Kopā ar viņu projektā analizēsim sociālos un strukturālos izaicinājumus, kas skar jaunatnes darbiniekus un mācību vadītājus pēc kļūšanas par vecākiem.

🌿Kāpēc šis temats ir tik svarīgs?

Strādājot starptautiskā jaunatnes darbā (it īpaši kā neatkarīgam speciālistam), pastāv nerakstīts pieņēmums par neierobežotu pieejamību un mobilitāti. Tiklīdz profesionāļu dzīvē ienāk bērni, sistēma viņus bieži vien nemanāmi izstumj. Taču vecāku lomas nestā dzīves pieredze patiesībā ir vērtīgs resurss, strādājot ar jauniešiem, nevis profesionāls zaudējums.

👇Lasiet Madaras personīgo stāstu par izaicinājumiem un to, kāpēc šim projektam ir jānotiek, viņas LinkedIn ierakstā šeit:

🔗https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7469283330455420928/

Finansē Eiropas Savienība. Tomēr paustie uzskati un viedokļi ir tikai autora(-u) uzskati un viedokļi un ne vienmēr atspoguļo Eiropas Savienības vai Jaunatnes starptautisko programmu aģentūras uzskatus un viedokļus. Ne Eiropas Savienību, ne piešķīrēju iestādi nevar saukt pie atbildības par tiem.

02/07/2026

📚 We're excited to share our brand new Method Book!

As part of our training course "Inside the Algorithm: AI Impact on Mental Health" in Armenia, we have developed a practical resource for the youth work community.
🧠 "AI and Mental Health" — a method book designed to support youth workers, trainers, and organizations in integrating AI and mental health topics into their educational activities.

Inside you'll find:
✅ Practical, adaptable methods
✅ Participant-centred approaches
✅ Tools for discussing AI's impact on young people's mental health
✅ Activities inspired by real learning outcomes from our training course

We live in an era where artificial intelligence is no longer a distant future but an integral part of our present. While AI holds transformative potential, it also creates new challenges — especially when it comes to emotions, mental health, and ethics. 💙
This method book is our contribution to equipping the youth work sphere with the tools needed to navigate these important conversations.

📥 Download it for free on SALTO-YOUTH Toolbox:
🔗 https://www.salto-youth.net/tools/toolbox/tool/ai-and-mental-health.5836/
Funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union 🇪🇺

01/07/2026

We are glad to be part of such an interesting new concept - inclusion of parents in Erasmus+.

Being a parent is a wonderful experience. But it also brings drawbacks. When you are with a little child, you are usually excluded. Because the child is disruptive to the group, because of the nap schedule, because travelling with the child is difficult, and many more ...

This project is looking into this issue. We will keep you updated on results of such great idea :)

Vasara mums ir iesākusies raženi ar jaunām starptautiskām iespējām.

Mūsu Erasmus+ projekts "Supporting Parents' Expertise in Erasmus+" ir apstiprināts finansējumam! 🇪🇺

Šis augusts būs īpašs. No 25. līdz 30. augustam Jelgavā pulcēsimies kopā ar 16 jaunatnes darbiniekiem, treneriem un koordinatoriem no 8 valstīm — Latvijas, Slovākijas, Polijas, Ungārijas, Bulgārijas, Itālijas, Austrijas un Lietuvas.

Projekts pievēršas jautājumam, par kuru reti runā atklāti:
📍ko nozīmē būt vecākam un aktīvam Erasmus+ profesionālim un jaunatnes darbiniekam vienlaikus?
📍Kādi šķēršļi rodas?
📍Un kā mēs varam kopīgi veidot iekļaujošāku mobilitātes vidi?

Vairāk par projektu drīzumā.

Pagaidām — esam noslēguši partneru sadarbības līgumus un virzāmies uz satura slīpēšanu.

Paldies Madara Mazjāne par kopradi!
Paldies Jaunatnes starptautisko programmu aģentūra par projekta apstiprinājumu!
Paldies projekta partneriem
Alp activating leadership potential (Austria)
Ribologija (Lithuania)
Madiba Cooperativa Sociale (Italy)
Change Your Self (Slovakia)
Tréneri Edzőtábor Egyesület (Hungary)
Фондация „УоманЪп" / WomanUp Foundation (Bulgaria)
Inicjatyw Międzykulturowych Horyzonty (Poland)

29/06/2026

✨ A journey that changed us all!
As we close the chapter on our training course "Inside the Algorithm: AI Impact on Mental Health" in Armenia, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude. 💙

Thank you to all the amazing participants who joined us in Tsaghkadzor! You brought curiosity, openness, and passion to every session, discussion, and activity. Watching each of you go through this transformative journey — questioning, learning, growing — has been truly inspiring. 🌱

The connections made, the knowledge gained, and the perspectives shifted will create a lasting change — not only in your work with young people but in how we all approach technology and wellbeing. 🧠🤝

A huge thank you to our partners for making this experience possible. Together, we proved that when innovation meets empathy, meaningful change happens. 🌍
This is not the end — it's the beginning of something bigger. Carry this experience forward and continue making a difference! 💫

Funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union 🇪🇺

31/01/2026

✨ Sharing impressions from our participants!
We recently held the training course "Inside the Algorithm: AI Impact on Mental Health" in Armenia. Here's what our participant had to say:

💬
This training course was a huge opportunity for me! 🌟

I connected with very interesting and intelligent participants from very different backgrounds. The topic of the training was stimulating and interesting, and it helped me deepen my knowledge. 🧠

The trainers were very professional, and the atmosphere was extremely friendly. 🤝
After this training, I feel prepared and confident to train young people about the impact of artificial intelligence. 💙

Funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union 🇪🇺
— Catarina Cardoso, Participant

29/01/2026

✨ Sharing impressions from our participants!
We recently held the training course "Inside the Algorithm: AI Impact on Mental Health" in Armenia. Here's what our participant had to say:
💬
I recently had the opportunity to participate in this project in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia, which focused on AI and its impact on mental health.

It was a great chance to connect with people from Romania, Italy, Portugal, Georgia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Poland and Armenia. 🌍 We shared our experiences and worked through an intense program about the digital environment and how AI relates to youth work.
Through various non-formal education activities and the guidance of our trainers, we played engaging games, worked on group projects, and discussed the pros and cons of AI in our lives, especially in the lives of the youth. 💬

We also covered youth psychology and the "new definition" of the youth age group. The brainstorming sessions and group work gave me a more balanced view of how AI fits into our daily lives. 🧠

Additionally, we took a trip to Yerevan to visit the TUMO Center, which focuses on digital education for teens and highlights the importance of this kind of work and education. 🚀

This experience gave me many new ideas, valuable friendships, and skills that I will continue to use. 💙🤝

Funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union 🇪🇺
— František Váňa, Participant

28/01/2026

✨ Sharing impressions from our participants!
We recently held the training course "Inside the Algorithm: AI Impact on Mental Health" in Armenia. Here's what our participant had to say:

💬

Over the past days, we explored how AI can be used in a human-centred, ethical, and responsible way, with a strong focus on mental health. 🧠

Through non-formal education methods, discussions, workshops, and creative activities, we reflected on how technology and online tools impact the mental health and wellbeing of young people. 💬

The programme included inspiring workshops on mental health, psychology across age groups, and the benefits and challenges of using AI to support wellbeing, as well as a study visit to the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies. 🚀

This experience was both enriching and meaningful, highlighting the importance of balancing innovation with empathy and seeing AI as a tool designed to support people. 💙🤝

Funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union 🇪🇺
— Veronika Plachá, Participant

28/01/2026

✨ Sharing impressions from our participants!
We recently held the training course "Inside the Algorithm: AI Impact on Mental Health" in Armenia. Here's what our participant had to say:
💬

The project in Tsaghkadzor was a vastly important opportunity for personal development and professional advancement for me as a person working with young people affected by the conflicts in our region and beyond. 🌍

I have met many interesting professionals engaged in work with youth. 🤝
The project in Tsaghkadzor was a highly important opportunity for my personal development and professional advancement, as I worked with young people affected by conflicts in our region and beyond. 🌍

Funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union 🇪🇺
— Irakli Kvaratskhelia, Participant

25/01/2026

✨ Sharing impressions from our participants!
We recently held the training course "Inside the Algorithm: AI Impact on Mental Health" in Armenia. Here's what our participant had to say:
💬

I participated in this training course, which took place from 12 to 19 January 2025 in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia.

The training focused on the impact of artificial intelligence on mental health, especially in the context of youth work. During the week, we explored how AI can influence young people's emotions, identity, behavior, and overall well-being, as well as the ethical challenges related to digital tools. 🧠

The sessions were very well organized and interactive. In the first days, we focused on getting to know each other and building a safe learning environment. In the following days, we worked more deeply on topics such as digital stress, online vulnerability, emotional intelligence, ethical use of AI, and how to talk about AI and mental health with young people. 💬

One of the highlights was the study visit to the TUMO Center in Yerevan. It was very inspiring and showed practical examples of how technology can be used in a creative and positive way with young people. 🚀

The group was very motivated and mature, which made the discussions more interesting and meaningful. The facilitators were always available, supportive, and clear in their explanations, which helped create a very positive learning experience. 🤝

Overall, this training course was a very valuable experience. I gained new knowledge, practical tools, and a better understanding of how to address mental health topics in an AI-driven world. I will use what I learned in my future work with young people and in my local context. 💙

Funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union 🇪🇺
— Bruno Santos, Participant