Youth Workers Go to Theatre addresses the heightened stress and mental health issues among young people in the post-pandemic era. It redefines conflicts as growth opportunities, using Nonviolent Communication (NVC), self-awareness and drama work, including Theatre of the Oppressed and Psychodrama, to enhance youth workers’ understanding and management of these issues.
The project will train 30 youth workers from Armenia, Hungary, Georgia, Romania, France and Ukraine to apply theatre methods, empathy, and stress regulation in the youth work context, promoting peaceful communication and the well-being of youth.
The objectives of the project are threefold:
1. To enhance the conceptual understanding of youth workers in theatre practices and stress regulation within the youth work context.
2. To develop youth workers’ capacities to integrate theatre approaches and stress management methods into their daily youth work.
3. To foster international cooperation on stress management and theatre practices in European youth work.
By focusing on innovative, theatre-based methodologies, the project aims to equip youth workers with new skills for effective stress management and emotional support, contributing to young people’s resilience and emotional intelligence.
The project aligns with the Erasmus+ Programme and the EU Youth Strategy, supporting the professional development of youth workers, promoting cooperation and peer support among youth organisations, enhancing inclusion for young people in disadvantaged situations, and fostering diversity and language competencies for international collaboration.
Activities: The “Youth Workers Go to Theatre” project includes two activities – training courses, each rooted in applied theatre and drama methodologies, and nonviolent communication (NVC), aiming to enhance participants’ skills in conflict resolution and empathic communication.
Activity 1 – Likani, Georgia:
– Participants: 5 from each country – Armenia, Georgia, Hungary, Romania, France and Ukraine.
– Date: 3–9 February 2025.
– Methodology: Focuses on Theatre of the Oppressed and psychodrama techniques, combined with NVC. It emphasizes non-formal learning, using drama for self-awareness and skill development in conflict management.
– Program Elements: Includes initial team-building, mindfulness and bodywork for self-reflection, in-depth exploration of NVC through applied drama, networking, and dissemination planning.
– Daily Schedule: Four working sessions per day, with regular meals and breaks, supplemented by occasional evening activities.
Activity 2 – Dilijan, Armenia:
– Participants: Same group as Activity 1.
– Date: 2–8 June 2025.
– Methodology: Focusing on applied theatre, drama, and NVC within a non-formal learning framework.
– Program Elements: Re-forming group dynamics in a new environment, introducing and applying the Competence Model for Trainers, participants reinforcing skills in planning and facilitating non-formal education activities by themselves, and participant-led session delivery.
– Outcome Focus: Participants work on planning local activities post-project, supported by the sending organizations.
Both activities are structured to promote participatory and learner-centred approaches, encouraging participants to actively shape the program according to their needs and learning goals. The project ensures ongoing skill development and application, facilitating long-term impact beyond the training courses.
The project outcome is a booklet that includes methods, tools, and workshop outlines experienced and delivered during the trainings. This booklet also features inspiring stories from participants. The booklet is also available online on the websites and social media of partner organisations.
Profile of participants: This training gathered 30 participants who are employed (or volunteering) directly at the partnering organizations, or who are working with their local partners, and contribute to the activities organised in the future in collaboration with the sending organisation. Additional requirements were:
- Experience with conflict situations, enabling the group to learn from different types of experience, getting to know fresh perspectives and strategies working for longer time;
- At least basic knowledge and understanding of approaches to peace-building, specifically in the field of youth work;
- At least basic knowledge and understanding of peace education as an educational instrument in youth work;
- Work experience in youth work field by educational means;
- Having led at least 1 local or international educational programme (youth exchange, workshop, etc.) for young people on peace education, civic education or human rights education
- Good level of English to follow the courses and to contribute to it;
- Wish and ability to participate fully in the two training course.
Dates and locations: 3-9 February 2025 | Likani (Georgia) and 2-8 June 2025 | Dilijan (Armenia)
Partner countries: Armenia, Georgia, Hungary, Romania, France, Ukraine
Number of participants: 30 participants + 5 staff
Trainers: Paata Alaverdashvili, Anne Luise Antrup
Project managers: Andras Lorincz, Anna Sarkisyan, Boglarka Kiss
Info pack: more information about the project’s aims, objectives, training methods, profile of participants, venue, transportation, travel reimbursement conditions and other general info [pdf]
Publication: Youth Workers Go to Theatre project report [pdf]
Youth Workers Go Everywhere – Follow-up activities in the partner countries
As part of the Youth Workers Go to Theatre project, a series of follow-up activities were organized across the partner countries. These initiatives were designed and led by the participating youth workers themselves, giving them the chance to put into practice the knowledge and skills they had gained during the two training courses. Each activity served as both a testing ground and a learning opportunity, allowing participants to apply theatre-based methods in real settings, adapt the techniques to their local contexts, and engage young people in creative and meaningful ways. In doing so, the follow-up phase not only consolidated the learning outcomes of the training courses but also strengthened the capacity of youth workers to use theatre as a tool for inclusion, dialogue, and personal development within their communities.
These events also played a key role in disseminating the project’s results beyond the direct participants, sharing its innovative approaches with local communities and organisations. By doing so, they helped to raise awareness of the project’s impact and inspire further use of theatre in youth work.
🇦🇲 Armenia
Armenian participants of the Youth Workers Go to Theatre (YWGTT) project contributed to the online follow-up workshop held on 8 July 2025 by the Ukrainian team. They shared their insights and experiences from the training courses, highlighting how theatre-based methods such as Psychodrama and Nonviolent Communication can support youth work. Their active involvement enriched the discussion and strengthened the collaborative spirit of the dissemination event.
🇬🇪 Georgia
As part of the Youth Workers Go to Theatre project, a follow-up activity was organised in Georgia by participant Nino Doliashvili with her class. The session introduced the project and focused on the concept of Forum Theatre, highlighting how it can be applied in education. Forum Theatre, where the audience actively joins in to change the story and explore different solutions to a problem, was presented as an innovative way to address real-life issues.
Students showed great interest and contributed insightful ideas, discussing how theatre can support people in expressing their feelings, understanding others better, and finding constructive ways to resolve social challenges. Several participants expressed enthusiasm about trying Forum Theatre in the future.
The activity also explored how acting out situations encourages deeper thinking, particularly regarding social problems such as bullying or unfair treatment. The session successfully connected art with education, demonstrating how creative methods can enhance learning in a more active and enjoyable way.
🇫🇷 France
On 14 July, a follow-up activity was organised online to disseminate the results, reflections, and good practices from the Youth Workers Go to Theatre project. The session provided an opportunity to revisit the project journey, which spanned from Likani to Dilijan, and to highlight the powerful tools it introduced, including Theatre of the Oppressed, Psychodrama, and Nonviolent Communication. These methods were presented as effective approaches to empowering youth workers in creating safe spaces for dialogue and transformation.
The online meeting brought together participants to exchange personal experiences and discuss practical ways of applying these methodologies in their local communities. The session not only reinforced the knowledge gained during the project but also encouraged participants to adapt the tools to their own contexts, ensuring the continuation of the project’s impact beyond the training courses.
On 20 July 2025, within the framework of the AI in Action seminar, an AI-designed website mockup of the Youth Workers Go to Theatre project was presented by Sedrak Karyan in Tallinn, Estonia. The mockup not only highlighted the project’s activities and outcomes but also demonstrated how digital tools can enhance the visibility and impact of youth initiatives. This creative approach showed how technology and theatre-based methods can complement each other — turning ideas into engaging platforms for learning and collaboration. A great example of how youth workers are using AI and digital skills to give their projects a wider reach and lasting impact.
🇭🇺 Hungary
Between 26–29 June 2025, the Youth Workers Go to Theatre project was presented as a follow-up activity at the IACR Summer Meeting in Fonyód, Hungary. Representatives of nine organisations from three continents gathered for four days of dialogue, networking, and strategic planning in youth work and cultural relations.
The dissemination included presentations on the project’s methodologies, sessions, and educational tools, alongside reflections shared by past participants. Representatives of partner organisations from Hungary and Ukraine contributed authentic testimonies on the project’s impact, while group discussions and informal exchanges offered space to brainstorm future initiatives.
By embedding the project into the Summer Meeting, the project’s outcomes reached a wide international audience and inspired ideas for continuation, such as integrating theatre-based methods into upcoming youth exchanges and intercultural dialogue projects.
In the beginning of July 2025 Brigitta Steppinger, participant from Hungary held two workshops in the headquarters of ThyssenKrupp AG in Budapest, Hungary. The first one was online on artificial intelligence and PowerBI, how can we profit from using these technologies. Making a company more efficient is key for improvement, and usually it starts with young workers innovative ideas. She gave an online presentation for the PMO department, and due to the increasing interest, a follow-up meeting was scheduled to deep-dive more in the topics.
The second one was a local workshop for the project coordinators of the company on how to be heard. Since young employees tend to face biases and may be treated differently by seniors, it is essential to take some steps. To stand for ourselves. Brigitta supports her team members to be aware of their rights, fight against discrimination or oppression, and how to show their value especially in a workplace environment. The training courses gave her core ideas how to build up these presentations, and how to express ourselves.
🇷🇴 Romania
On 14 July 2025, Romanian participants of the Youth Workers Go to Theatre (YWGTT) project organised a local follow-up initiative to put the knowledge and methods gained during the training courses into practice. The interactive sessions included power games with chairs, puppet improvisation, “Talk to the Hand,” Forum Theatre, and discussions on rap, culture, and inclusion. Each activity was designed to boost confidence, foster connection, and encourage creativity among participants. The event successfully combined theatre techniques with youth work objectives, showing how non-formal education tools can inspire inclusion and personal growth.
🇺🇦 Ukraine
On 8 July 2025, the Ukrainian project team organised a free online workshop to disseminate the outcomes of the Youth Workers Go to Theatre (YWGTT) project. The event brought together both interested Ukrainian youth and international participants from the project, creating a space for sharing stories, reflections, and practical experiences.
Among the presenters were not only members of the Ukrainian team but also Georgian and Armenian participants of the training course, who enriched the session with their perspectives and experiences.
The workshop introduced the opportunities available through the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programmes and presented the work of the Ukrainian partner organisation Forward for Future. Participants were also introduced to theatre-based methods in youth work, including Theatre of the Oppressed, Psychodrama, and Nonviolent Communication, all aimed at fostering dialogue, empathy, and creative problem-solving.
A project report prepared by the EMINA Career Guidance Foundation was shared, contextualising the initiative as a response to rising stress and mental health challenges among young people in the post-pandemic era. The session underlined how YWGTT equips youth workers with innovative tools to build emotional resilience and address complex interpersonal dynamics with confidence and creativity.
