The Erasmus+ project “EmpowerUp: Elevating Youth Workers with Digital Skills for Social Innovation” was successfully held in Düzce, Turkey, from 26 May to 1 June 2025. This international training course gathered youth workers from five countries to strengthen their digital competencies and promote innovative, inclusive practices in youth work.
The project aimed to enhance participants’ ability to support disadvantaged youth by integrating digital transformation, social innovation tools, and sustainable practices into their daily work. Through a week of interactive workshops, case studies, field visits, and practical sessions on AI-based platforms, participants gained valuable skills to design new projects and foster greater inclusion.
EmpowerUp was coordinated by the Governorship of Düzce (Turkey) with the support of key partners:
Düzce University (Turkey)
Partnership for Rural Development K2 (Serbia)
ZNRO (Slovenia)
One Wild Life (Bulgaria)
European Cultural Epicenter Bitola (North Macedonia)
The training emphasized environmental sustainability by encouraging green travel, minimizing waste, and sharing educational materials digitally. Beyond the sessions, participants enjoyed intercultural evenings, showcasing traditional food, music, and customs from their countries, and explored Düzce’s rich natural and cultural heritage.
