Throughout 2024 and 2025, the Timiș County Youth Foundation (FITT) took part in a series of Erasmus+ job shadowings across Europe, strengthening its network of partnerships and exchanging good practices with youth and cultural organisations. These mobility experiences offered FITT team members the opportunity to observe, learn, and collaborate with European peers on topics ranging from youth participation and mobility to cultural management and activism.
Seine-Saint-Denis, France – Youth Engagement and Mobility Policies
17–19 June 2024
The first mobility took place in Seine-Saint-Denis, France, where FITT representatives joined the kick-off meeting of the Interreg Europe project “YES Volunteer.” Hosted by the Departmental Council of Seine-Saint-Denis, the visit focused on sharing best practices in youth engagement and European mobility at the local government level.
Seine-Saint-Denis is a vibrant and diverse county northeast of Paris, home to over 1.6 million inhabitants, 43% of whom are under the age of 30. FITT’s participation in the meeting provided insight into how public institutions can create systemic support for youth participation through targeted programs in education, inclusion, and cultural development.
During the three-day visit, the delegation attended meetings and workshops organised at the County Council in Bobigny, featuring presentations from European partners and sessions dedicated to analysing local and regional youth mobility strategies. Study visits in Pantin and Saint-Denis showcased the intersection between culture and social inclusion, including initiatives such as Relais Resto, a social integration restaurant offering training for young people in the culinary sector.
Through these exchanges, FITT deepened its understanding of institutional collaboration for youth mobility and reaffirmed the importance of cross-sector cooperation between NGOs, public authorities, and educational actors.
Bodø, Norway – Fostering Youth Participation Through Culture
12–16 August 2024
The second job shadowing brought FITT representatives to Bodø, Norway, for the AER Summer Academy 2024, hosted by Nordland County Council. Under the theme “Fostering Youth Participation and Inclusion through Culture,” the event was part of the celebrations marking Bodø as the European Capital of Culture 2024.
Over five days, participants explored how culture and creative industries can strengthen youth participation and community cohesion. The programme included plenary panels, parallel workshops, and cultural activities across the city. Among the highlights were sessions on mental health, art therapy, and intercultural integration, featuring contributions from regional representatives, youth delegates, and members of the Youth Regional Network.
Workshops such as “The Blikkåpner Project and Galleri F15” and “Art Therapy as a Tool for Inclusion” offered innovative methods to use art and creativity as forms of social participation. Cultural activities, including visits to the Narvik War and Peace Centre and Sámi Pathfinders workshops, provided further insights into how history and identity shape youth engagement.
Through this experience, FITT representatives exchanged ideas with regional councils, youth networks, and cultural institutions from across Europe, gaining inspiration for new ways to integrate art and youth participation into community life.
Copenhagen, Denmark – Youth Organising and Activism
25–29 November 2024
In November 2024, FITT’s team travelled to Copenhagen for a job shadowing visit with ActionAid Denmark – Global Platforms, as part of the Europe MOVEs programme. The initiative gathered youth workers and activists from across Europe to explore methods of community organising, leadership, and movement-building.
The weeklong exchange combined interactive training sessions with practical field visits in Copenhagen’s neighbourhood of Nørrebro, an area known for its diversity, civic engagement, and strong youth activism scene. Participants took part in sessions on storytelling for advocacy, grassroots organising, and volunteer coordination, learning directly from ActionAid Denmark’s experience in running the Global Platforms Network — a structure dedicated to empowering young people to lead social change.
Through open dialogue and shared reflection, FITT’s delegation had the opportunity to compare methodologies in youth participation and volunteer management, identifying new ways to engage young people in civic initiatives in Timișoara and throughout Timiș County.
Sofia, Bulgaria – Cultural Management and Transnational Cooperation
4–8 June 2025
The final job shadowing took place in Sofia, Bulgaria, where FITT partnered with Toplocentrala – Centre for Contemporary Arts to exchange practices in cultural management and community programming. The visit coincided with the Trans Europe Halles (TEH) Conference 99, hosted at Toplocentrala, bringing together cultural operators, managers, and artists from independent centres across Europe.
During the visit, FITT’s delegation took part in sessions dedicated to sustainable cultural practices, residency programmes, and advocacy for independent cultural spaces. The discussions focused on how cultural centres can act as democratic, inclusive spaces that foster participation, dialogue, and innovation.
FITT and Toplocentrala used the opportunity to lay the foundation for long-term cooperation, aiming to strengthen exchange between youth and cultural centres across the region. The visit also provided a platform for sharing FITT’s model of participatory youth governance — where young people directly influence the management and programming of the Youth House in Timișoara.
Shared Learning and Future Cooperation
Across these four European experiences — in France, Norway, Denmark, and Bulgaria — FITT staff and youth workers engaged in a continuous process of learning, observation, and exchange. Each mobility highlighted different dimensions of youth and cultural work: from public policies and institutional cooperation to art-based participation, activism, and cultural innovation.
These job shadowings strengthened FITT’s role within European networks and reaffirmed its commitment to connecting local youth work with broader continental practices. The lessons learned and the partnerships built will continue to inform the foundation’s activities, ensuring that its spaces and programmes remain open, innovative, and connected to the European youth and culture landscape.
Project co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.