SPARK: From Inspiration to Action: Empowering Youth in Peripheral Regions
Project Summary
SPARK is an Erasmus+ (KA220-YOU) Cooperation Partnership project. The project will run for 28 months, starting on September 1, 2025, and ending on December 31, 2027. The project addresses the pressing challenge of limited structured participation opportunities for young people in peripheral and underserved areas across Europe.
Many young people in these regions face exclusion due to geographical isolation, weak institutional support, and limited civic opportunities, which leads to disempowerment and disengagement from decision-making processes. SPARK aims to bridge this gap by empowering youth workers, fostering collaboration with local authorities, and providing innovative, sustainable participation models.
The project involves a partnership of six organizations from Italy (Applicant: Vedogiovane Società Cooperativa Sociale impresa sociale), Spain (AC Amics de la Biblioteca de la Fonteta and NEXES INTERCULTURALS SCCL), Greece (KOINONIKI SYNETAIRISTIKI EPICHEIRISI SILLOGIKIS KAI KOINONIKIS OFELEIAS INFINITY GREECE), Luxembourg (Formation et Sensibilisation de Luxembourg), and The Republic of North Macedonia (ZDRUZENIE NA GRAGJANI KREAKTIV SKOPJE).
Main Objectives
The SPARK project focuses on three key objectives to achieve sustainable civic engagement:
- Strengthening Skills: To train at least 40 youth workers and local officials in youth participation methodologies, participatory governance, and digital engagement.
- Creating Opportunities: To implement at least 6 youth-led action projects, directly engaging 150 young people in leadership and civic initiatives, and to foster partnerships with at least 8 municipalities/local institutions to embed participation mechanisms in local governance.
- Developing Innovative Tools: To create and disseminate participatory tools, including a gamified approach, self-reflection tools for youth workers, and self-perception tools for local authorities, ensuring participation is interactive and accessible.
Key Activities and Methodology
SPARK utilizes a cross-sectoral and adaptable methodology that blends in-person training with digital and gamified tools:
| Work Package (WP) | Focus | Description of Activities |
|---|---|---|
| WP2: Illuminating the Path | Research and Gaps Analysis | Digital Mapping of Best Practices and a Participatory Needs Assessment Report to understand barriers. Includes a Study Visit in North Macedonia to explore successful participation initiatives. |
| WP3: Empowering Connections | Capacity Building and Piloting | Development of a Comprehensive Training Program (including an LTTA in Spain) and the implementation of 6 Youth-Led Action Projects involving 60 young people to test the Youth Participation Framework. |
| WP4: Designing Participation | Co-Creating Engagement Models | Iterative design, testing, and refinement of the SPARK Toolbox, which includes the Participatory Game and self-reflection/self-perception tools for youth workers and local authorities. |
| WP5: Expanding Horizons | Dissemination and Sustainability | Creation of Digital Content, organization of 6 Regional and National Dissemination Events, and development of a Sustainability and Exploitation Strategy to ensure long-term impact. |
Expected Results and Impact
SPARK will deliver a validated Youth Participation Framework, ensuring methodologies are structured and sustainable. Key results include:
- Trained Professionals: 40 youth workers and local officials equipped with skills in governance, advocacy, and digital engagement.
- Structured Engagement: 8 municipalities/local institutions engaged in adopting participatory governance models.
- Innovative Resources: 3 participatory tools developed (the game, youth worker tool, local authority tool).
- Youth Leadership: 150 young people actively involved in decision-making through hands-on initiatives.
The long-term impact is ensured through policy recommendations, the integration of digital tools for accessibility, and the provision of open-access digital resources on Vedogiovane’s website, allowing for the scaling and replication of SPARK methodologies across Europe.
Partners
| Organization Legal Name | Country | City | Website |
| Vedogiovane Società Cooperativa Sociale impresa sociale | Italy | Borgomanero | www.vedogiovane.it |
| AC Amics de la Biblioteca de la Fonteta | Spain | Agres | www.amics.eu |
| KOINONIKI SYNETAIRISTIKI EPICHEIRISI SILLOGIKIS KAI KOINONIKIS OFELEIAS INFINITY GREECE | Greece | THESSALONIKI | www.infinitygreece.com |
| ZDRUZENIE NA GRAGJANI KREAKTIV SKOPJE | The Republic of North Macedonia | SKOPJE | www.kreaktiv.mk |
| Formation et Sensibilisation de Luxembourg | Luxembourg | Luxembourg | fslux.lu |
| NEXES INTERCULTURALS SCCL | Spain | BARCELONA | www.nexescat.org |
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