The training course “UP-EET: Step Up, Stand Out”, organised by Strauss APS and funded under the Erasmus+ Programme, was successfully implemented between 26 November – 2 December 2025 in Nicolosi, Sicily, Italy.
Representing our organisation in this year’s course were: Hidayet AKTORAMAN and Onur ÇALIŞKAN.
About Strauss APS – Mission and Purpose
Strauss APS is a civil society organisation established in 1999 in Mussomeli, Sicily, dedicated to supporting the social, cultural, and professional development of young people.
Its mission is to support disadvantaged youth, foster social inclusion, and promote European values.
Within the framework of Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), the organisation carries out a wide range of activities, including youth exchanges, volunteering projects, capacity-building programmes, training courses, and mobility initiatives.
In this context, the “Step Up, Stand Out” training course provided a valuable learning opportunity specifically designed for youth workers and volunteers.
Course Content and Objectives
The aim of the UP-EET training course was to equip youth workers, volunteers, and professionals actively working with young people with the tools and competencies necessary to play an effective role in international voluntary and civic engagement projects.
The main themes and objectives of the course included:
-
Personal identity, self-awareness, and self-development – supporting the personal growth of participants.
-
Gaining tools and methods that foster active participation in social and democratic processes.
-
Strengthening youth workers’ personal and professional resources, including resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving skills.
-
Developing structures for evaluating the learning experiences of volunteers and young people, and creating methodologies that ensure long-term learning impact.
-
Building cross-European networks, facilitating cooperation, and enabling the exchange of experience among youth workers from different countries.
Through these dimensions, the course aims not only for individual development but also for long-term impact in civil society, volunteering, and democratic participation.
Experience and Significance – Why “Step Up, Stand Out”
The course fully covered accommodation and meals, while travel expenses were reimbursed based on the Erasmus+ distance-based reimbursement scheme. Participants were required to obtain approval from the host organisation before purchasing any flight tickets.
Nicolosi, located at the foothills of the famous Mount Etna, provided an ideal environment not only for training activities but also for cultural exchange and regional interaction.
Through this course, Hidayet and Onur gained valuable personal and professional experience, contributing to both their own development and our organisation’s international youth work and volunteering initiatives. This is considered an important step aligned with our organisation’s vision.
Outcomes for Our Organisation & Future Expectations
The completion of this project provided our organisation with:
-
Increased international visibility,
-
New methodologies and competencies in youth work,
-
Stronger networks with similar organisations across Europe,
-
Valuable references and experience for future projects.
In particular, the experience gained by Hidayet and Onur will inspire new practices and innovations that can be implemented in our future activities.
Some photos from the activity:
