The SYWOR staff meeting of partner organisations, held in Lublin, Poland, brought together youth workers from five countries for an intensive exchange of experience, reflection, and joint planning to support displaced young people in local communities.
The first moments of the meeting were about connection. Before discussing projects or policies, participants took time to get to know one another, build trust, and create a working atmosphere where openness felt natural. When organisations began sharing their experiences from Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia, Moldova, and Poland, the room filled with stories, — about young people affected by displacement, about youth workers navigating limited resources, and about communities learning how to welcome newcomers. Despite different national contexts, many challenges overlapped, making it clear that cooperation across borders is necessary.
A strong emphasis was placed on intercultural learning and the idea of belonging. Through discussions and creative group work, participants explored what concepts such as culture and “home” mean for refugees and IDPs. These conversations helped deepen understanding of what young people leave behind. It is not only about moving from one place to another, but about losing familiar routines, languages, and support systems, while trying to adapt to new ones. These reflections helped youth workers rethink their approaches and better understand what young people need the most.
Another important part of the meeting was dedicated to organizational development. Partner organizations reflected on their own sustainability, looking at values, activities, and resources. This process led to the creation of concrete action plans, with each organization defining steps to be implemented in the upcoming 6 months to strengthen their work with displaced young people.
The human aspect of youth work was addressed during a workshop on trauma-sensitive and inclusive practices. Together with a psychologist, participants discussed crisis situations, emotional resilience, empathy, and communication methods such as motivational dialogue and reflective listening. The session emphasised the importance of caring not only for young people, but also for youth workers themselves.
The meeting concluded with reflection on the future of the SYWOR project. Partners shared their vision for the next year, building on the action plans developed during the meeting.
About the Project
The course was part of the SYWOR project, implemented by Young Agents of Change in collaboration with:
- “Georgian Youth Development Association” (Georgia)
- “European Integration Association” (Turkey)
- “MilleniuM Training and Development Institute” (Moldova)
- “Nowy Staw Foundation” (Poland)
The project is funded by the European Union and aims to strengthen youth workers and organizations involved in supporting displaced young people through capacity building and cross-border collaboration.
