MovingON Train of Trainers: Empowering Youth for Crime and Violence Prevention
How can we support young people at risk in becoming active contributors to their communities?
This question lies at the heart of the MovingON Training of Trainers (ToT), focused on the module “Caring for Crime and Violence Prevention in My Neighbourhood.”
The training marked a key milestone in the project, equipping youth workers, educators, and practitioners with the tools and methodologies needed to engage justice-involved and at-risk youth in meaningful participation processes.
What is MovingON?
MovingON is a two-year Erasmus+ project designed to empower justice-involved and at-risk youth by strengthening their participation in democratic life.
The project promotes a shift from conflict to participation, enabling young people to express their voices, develop key competences, and contribute to decision-making processes that affect their lives.
By combining a participatory and restorative approach, MovingON aims to foster inclusion, reduce marginalisation, and support young people in becoming active citizens.
To learn more about the project’s objectives, activities, and impact, explore our
The Training of Trainers: Building Capacity Across Europe
The Training of Trainers brought together project partners from across Europe to prepare for the implementation of local youth workshops.
During the training, participants explored:
- the structure of the training programme
- key participatory methodologies
- practical tools and facilitation techniques
- expected learning outcomes and impact
A strong emphasis was placed on flexibility and local adaptation, allowing each partner organisation to tailor the activities to their specific context while maintaining a shared European framework.
Innovative Methodologies for Youth Engagement
One of the core strengths of the MovingON training lies in its interactive and experiential approach.
The programme integrates a range of innovative tools, including:
- Mood Meter to support emotional awareness and regulation
- Hot Balloon and MUST method to identify risks and priorities
- Field-based activities to explore neighbourhood realities
- Digital storytelling and edutainment to amplify youth voices
These methodologies encourage young participants to move beyond passive reflection and become active agents of change within their communities.
From Training to Action: Local Workshops
Following the ToT, partner organisations will implement local workshops between April and June, engaging young people directly in their communities.
Each partner will involve around 10 participants, contributing to a total of at least 70 young people across Europe.
Through these workshops, participants will:
- analyse their local environments
- identify risks and opportunities
- develop personal well-being plans
- co-create community safety strategies
These activities will serve as a foundation for further engagement, including international mobilities and dialogue with policymakers.
Challenges and Lessons Learned
The Training of Trainers also provided space to reflect on potential challenges in implementation, such as:
- maintaining youth engagement over time
- addressing low self-esteem and motivation
- managing diverse group dynamics
To overcome these barriers, partners highlighted the importance of:
- interactive and participatory methods
- safe and inclusive learning environments
- flexible and adaptive facilitation approaches
Towards Lasting Impact
The MovingON Training of Trainers represents more than a capacity-building activity—it is the starting point of a broader process aimed at creating real social impact.
By empowering young people to reflect on their experiences and transform them into concrete actions, the project contributes to building more inclusive, resilient, and participatory communities across Europe.
Giving voice to those who are often unheard is not only a project objective—it is a necessary step towards meaningful and sustainable change.
