Today I’m a baby seed excited to grow
From February 21st to 27th, I had the opportunity to participate in the Erasmus+ international project “My Voice My Choice.” This seminar, focused on climate and participation issues for young people and youth workers, brought together 30 youth workers from various European countries at Lielvirbi Manor amidst the forests and fields of Latvia. We spent a week full of informative seminars, thought-provoking group work, forest adventures, and deep conversations.
From the moment we arrived, the sense of purpose was palpable. Although many of the participants do not work directly with young people on a daily basis, it quickly became clear that everyone present was a youth worker in some capacity. The ultimate goal of all our efforts is to benefit the youth. The seminar’s main objective was to equip youth workers with the competencies and knowledge to encourage young people to become change-makers and climate activists.
Community was a recurring theme throughout the seminar. While the participants quickly understood that everyone defines community a bit differently, the importance of it was always agreed on. There’s no right or wrong answer regarding community because so many variables can make or break it. Being curious and accepting of others does not mean letting go of our own beliefs and ideas – it means growing together and evolving.
Creating and maintaining a community in youth work is often challenging because people change so quickly. However, it is certain that how our community of practice develops is shaped by our professional identity and understanding of why we do what we do. Professional identity, however, develops through actions, behavior, and interaction in a social context.
The true realization of the importance of community came on the last evening while sitting around the campfire. It was a moment of reflection and connection. As youth workers, to become a community, we must first become a community as individuals. Only in this way can genuine connections be formed, from which common ideas, actions, and hopes can grow.
This experience has profoundly impacted my perspective on youth work and community building. It reinforced the idea that our professional journeys are deeply intertwined with our personal growth and interactions. Moving forward, I am more committed than ever to fostering environments where young people can thrive and lead positive change.
I encourage anyone passionate about youth work and climate action to seek out opportunities like “My Voice My Choice.” Together, we can create a network of empowered individuals ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.
The youth workers' mobility "My Voice My Choice" is financed by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union that in Latvia is administrated by The Agency for International Projects for Youth. This publication reflects only the viewpoint of the author.
