LTT
From 23 to 26 March 2026, the Erasmus+ project EmLead – Empathy-Driven Leadership: A Role-Playing Approach for Gen Z Development brought together youth workers and partner organisations from Spain, Austria, Serbia, Türkiye, Italy, and Slovenia for a training activity held in Vienna, Austria.
The training was designed to strengthen the capacities of youth workers in applying empathy-based approaches when working with young people. Through a combination of workshops, practical exercises, discussions, study visits, and exchange of experiences, participants explored how empathetic leadership and role-playing methods can support young people in developing communication skills, understanding different perspectives, and building more responsible and inclusive forms of leadership.
During the first day, participants were introduced to the EmLead project and its main objectives, followed by a workshop on Empathy Mapping. This activity helped participants reflect on the needs, feelings, challenges, and perspectives of young people in different situations. The day also included a visit to Europa Experience Vienna, offering participants an opportunity to connect the project topics with the wider European context and the values of participation, cooperation, and active citizenship.
The second day focused on modelling empathetic leadership for youth and developing communication skills. Participants discussed how youth workers can act as role models and create safe spaces where young people feel heard, respected, and encouraged to express themselves. The programme also included a presentation and Q&A session by SIA, providing additional insights and space for professional exchange.
On the third day, participants were introduced to the use of role-playing scenarios as a practical tool in youth work. The session focused on how role-play can help young people better understand different viewpoints, practise communication, and respond to real-life challenges in a constructive way. The day also included a study visit to Dschungel Wien, where participants had the opportunity to explore creative and cultural approaches relevant to working with young people.
Throughout the training, partners worked together on testing and discussing the role-playing scenarios developed within the project. These practical activities created space for feedback, reflection, and further improvement of the project tools, ensuring that they are relevant, engaging, and applicable in different youth work contexts.
The Vienna training confirmed the importance of international cooperation in developing quality tools for youth workers. By bringing together different experiences, perspectives, and professional backgrounds, the EmLead partnership continued to build a shared methodology based on empathy, inclusion, and active participation of young people.
The knowledge and experience gained during the training will support the next phases of the project, including further development, local implementation, and dissemination of the EmLead tools and methodologies across partner countries.
