Let’s recognise work well done and inspire young people, European citizens, decision-makers and applicants of Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps to have
a greater impact.

Get Inspired by the Winning Projects of the SALTO Awards 2023!

Digital Transformation

The Spirit of Europe – Origins is an innovative video game which follows the story of Europe throughout some key historical periods: Ancient Greece, The Roman Empire, the Migration Period, The Viking Age, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The game presents these key ages in 13 maps. It provides learning through a large variety of methods: digital interfaces, videos, images, text, maps and navigation, diagrams, systematic progression, decision-making, etc.

Environment & Fight Against Climate Change

The Eco Echo Workshops project is a series of six workshops that use non-formal methods to deliver information about our environmental crisis. The workshops were designed to respond to the need of young people to obtain valuable information and be encouraged and empowered to take action regarding environmental protection, climate change, and sustainability.

Inclusion & Diversity

Solidarity Coffee is a project run by adults with intellectual disabilities. A team of five young people is spreading a message of solidarity through a coffee cup in a cafeteria. By serving coffee and desserts at events, not only do they learn how to be baristas, but they are also sending a message to the public that they have equal possibilities.

  • Coordinator / Host: Jaunuoliu Dienos Centras (Lithuania) 
  • Programme / Action: European Solidarity Corps / Solidarity Projects (ESC30) | Read more
  • More information:
    Facebook / Instagram

Participation in Democratic Life

nEU Citizenship is a groundbreaking initiative that empowers Greek youth to become change-makers and active citizens in their communities and beyond. It aims to revitalise public dialogue and encourage the active participation of young people in civil society and decision-making. Through education, training and networking opportunities, the project equips Greek youth with the skills and tools they need to drive positive change and tackle the challenges facing their communities and the world today. The project is based on the concept of “twin transformation,” which encompasses both green and digital transformation to help young people shape a greener, more inclusive and sustainable future.

Solidarity & Volunteering

Leaders of Solidarity is a Polish solidarity project aiming to activate young people in fostering social integration and inclusion by including refugees from Ukraine through initiatives in their local community. The project is hosted in Zabrze, a post-industrial city associated with coal mining. Young volunteers of the Oratory Community Center starting their civic engagement journey were engaged to independently design an event, “Soldarność Picnic”, to improve the integration of Ukrainian refugees into their local community.

  • Coordinator / Host: Leaders Don Bosco – Non-formal group of young people (Poland)
  • Programme / Action: European Solidarity Corps / Solidarity Projects (ESC30) | Read more

Competence Development

#SMILE, which stands for Sport, Motivation, Inclusion, Leadership, Engagement, is an innovative approach to reinforce the status of people with intellectual disabilities as European citizens entitled to freedom of movement and residence through participation in national and international grassroots sports activities. #SMILE initiative exemplifies the practical application of EU commitments to ensure that persons with disabilities have the same rights as others, in line with the horizontal objectives of the Erasmus+ Programme to promote inclusion and diversity in all areas of education, training, youth, and sport. It serves as a model for incorporating a highly disadvantaged group into international activities, demonstrating the power of sports to foster inclusion.

  • Coordinator: Bulgarian Sports Development Association (Bulgaria)
  • Programme / Key Action: Erasmus+ / Sport / Collaborative Partnerships | Read more
  • More information:
    https://www.inclusivesport.org/

Why should you apply?

By nominating your project for the SALTO Awards, you can win:

Who can nominate a project?

Project team members & participants

Individuals who have been part of or led any category-relevant projects

Organisations

Organisations, movements and groups who have led projects on relevant topics

Public institutions & stakeholders

Local authorities, youth centres, schools, universities or other decision-makers who have been involved with the projects.

National Agencies

The National Agencies for Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps

Every project has to

Be funded by Erasmus+ or European Solidarity Corps Programmes in the fields of Youth, Education or Training.

Produce far-reaching outcomes with a long-term impact on a local, regional, national or international scale.

Be actively progressing this year (2023), with the main activities finishing by the end of September (the initiation and finishing stages can be outside of the 2023 timeframe).

Selection timeline

1 June - 16 August
17 August - September
September
5 October
OPEN CALL. The application period is now closed.
EVALUATION. Our juries thoroughly evaluate the submitted projects and collectively choose the winners in each category.
SHORT LIST. Expect to hear back from us around that time. We invite the shortlisted teams to attend the Awards Ceremony.
AWARDS CEREMONY. The winners are announced at the ceremony taking place during the Youth Triangle Event in Lublin, Poland, and broadcasted live online.

Award Categories

Digital Transformation

Evolving integration of digital technologies into the society and youth field.

Environment & Fight Against Climate Change

Supporting environmental sustainability.

Inclusion
& Diversity

Supporting young people with fewer opportunities and diversity of all kinds.

Participation in Democratic Life

Shaping Europe’s democracy through civic engagement, connection, and empowerment.

Solidarity
& Volunteering

Changing Europe for the better with the “power of together”.

SPECIAL MENTION: Competence Development

Supporting lifelong learning and fostering the development of competencies, through the engagement of different stakeholders of the field.

We’re looking for youth-centred digital transformation projects investigating, inventing, and/or co-creating new approaches with the aim to support the sustainable and inclusive integration of digital technologies into society. We’re keen to learn about projects that go beyond a specific topic or skill set (e.g., digital literacy, coding, social media takeover).
Examples of projects might include youth-centred and/or youth-initiated solutions taking a holistic look at digital transformation processes OR solutions that solve serious problems using digital means OR solutions that take account of the challenging aspects that digital transformation has created for society.

What is specifically important for a project in this category?

  • Finding new approaches aiming to solve challenges and support the sustainable and inclusive integration of digital technologies into society, covering aspects such as digital literacy, coding, and social media takeover.

We are looking for inspirational projects aimed at developing competences in various green sectors, including those within the framework of the contribution from education and culture to sustainable development goals, developing green sectoral skill strategies and methodologies, future-orientated curricula, as well as initiatives that support the planned approaches of the participating organisations regarding environmental sustainability.

What is specifically important for a project in this category?

  • It supports the use of innovative practices to make learners, staff and youth workers true actors of change (e.g., save resources, reduce energy use, waste and carbon footprint, opt for sustainable food and mobility choices, etc.).
  • Priority will also be given to projects that – through education, training, youth and sport activities enable behavioural changes according to individual preferences, cultural values, awareness, and more generally support active engagement for sustainable development.

We are looking for practices that achieve a greater impact on the lives of people with fewer opportunities, promote positive diversity management and an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity.

What is specifically important for a project in this category?

  • It targets people with fewer opportunities (e.g., disabilities, health problems, cultural differences, or other barriers such as those linked to education and training systems, discrimination, social, economic, or geographical barriers) and contributes to reducing those barriers, overcoming obstacles and upskilling people with fewer opportunities;
  • It contributes to an active and conscious outreach process to involve more people with fewer opportunities in EU youth programmes; E+, ESC programmes;
  • It positively addresses the diversity that different groups add to our lives;
  • It brings increased knowledge, awareness and understanding of the importance of inclusion & diversity;
  • It showcases an evident impact, visibility and recognition of the benefits of the experience for people with fewer opportunities and supports follow-up actions, sustainability and future opportunities for them;
  • Project results have a long-term impact on the community, educational sector or people with fewer opportunities who are not directly involved in the project.

We are looking for projects that involve citizens in a meaningful and impactful way, contributing to them feeling empowered to be actively involved and engaged in society.

Projects should involve digital and/or in-person forms of supporting the engagement of individuals or groups in democratic life at the local, national or international level, such as: taking part in decision-making processes and/or policy changes; accessing quality information; expressing opinions publicly; strengthening media and information literacy skill; increased understanding of politics (including the functioning of the European Union); among others.

What is specifically important for a project in this category?

  • It involves and engages the target group as leaders or key stakeholders in different dimensions of the project, including decision-making;
  • It provides participants with a safe space to express their views and opinions and fosters their engagement with decision-makers and with the surrounding community;
  • It has positive outcomes that impact the community, policies and/or the competences for the democratic life of the people involved;
  • Special attention will be given to projects that reach citizens with fewer opportunities, and/or support sustainability, and/or digital innovation.

For more details, see “Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture”.

We are looking for inspirational projects with an outstanding solidarity dimension.The projects can be implemented by communities, organisations, companies, municipalities or young people themselves under the European Solidarity Corps Programme, but also Erasmus+ Programme as long as it specifically promotes solidarity as a core value.

What is specifically important for a project in this category?

  • It helps to understand what solidarity in Europe means;
  • It develops skills and knowledge around solidarity;
  • It makes a difference in the community even after the project has finished.
  • Our background info on community impact provides an excellent example of how solidarity connects to the bonus criteria: Sustainability, Participation in Democratic Life, Digitalisation, Inclusion.

We wish to honour the impact of European youth programmes on supporting lifelong learning and fostering competence development, engaging different stakeholders of the field. We are looking for inspirational projects where young people, youth workers, representatives of organisations and other involved parties are encouraged to reflect on their learning journey and competence development. When evaluating the projects, we are particularly interested in your practices and approaches to support and accompany the learning processes and development of young participants and youth work practitioners. All activities with a strong learning dimension are eligible – youth exchanges, volunteering projects, youth-led activities, training courses etc.

What is specifically important for a project in this category?
 
When evaluating the projects, we are particularly interested in your practices and approaches to support and accompany the learning processes and development of young participants and youth work practitioners. All activities with a strong learning dimension are eligible – youth exchanges, volunteering projects, youth-led activities, training courses etc.

Meet the Jury

Digital Transformation

Veronica has more than 17 years of experience at the intersection of education, policy and new technologies. She has been engaged in multiple international initiatives, from research to public policy, capacity building or project management, while providing expertise for stakeholders such as the Council of Europe, UN agencies and European Union bodies. Her recent activity includes contributions to digital policies, research on the social impact of artificial intelligence and new technologies, and development of digital competencies. Veronica leads a series of international partnerships on digital transformation and youth participation for the Estonian National Agency for Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps.

Panu is a professional with more than 15 years of experience in digital youth work. Currently, he works as a planning officer at Verke Technology Education & International Affairs. He is a community educator, photographer, designer and amateur musician.

Bojana is an English Language Teacher, Certified Teacher Trainer and Educational Adviser, currently working at Ivo Andric Primary School in Belgrade, Serbia. She has delivered numerous workshops and created accredited seminars for the professional development of teachers. As a strong believer in lifelong learning, she has coordinated and participated in various programmes supported by the European Union. She coordinated Digital Bridges, the SALTO Awards 2022 winning project. Her professional interest involves ICT in teaching, digital literacy, CLIL, critical thinking skills and creativity.

Jemma is the Senior Support and Development Officer for Erasmus+ Adult Education in Léargas, one of Ireland’s National Agencies. She is a graduate of the Community and Youth Work programme at Maynooth University and holds a Masters in Social Science. Her career has spanned the community & voluntary sector with particular interests in non-formal education and training, volunteer management, and promoting gender equality. Jemma’s time as a volunteer with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts has given her a love of the outdoors and a passion for protecting the world we live in.

Zsófia has been working on Erasmus+ and LLP projects for more than 10 years. From the beginning of her time at the Hungarian National Agency, she joined the voluntary Green working group, where she achieved many sustainability improvements in the NA environment and even created a green strategy for the institution. Having realised hermy deep interest in the topic, she studied to become a Sustainability Manager. Zsófia is the Green Contact Point at the Hungarian NA for the SALTO Green Resource Center.

Alexander has worked at the Danish National Agency for more than four years. Primarily, he worked with the school education sector, supporting beneficiaries in the application process and during implementation. In 2020, during the TCA officers’ week, he suggested with Anke Werkele from the German National Agency BiBB (DE02) to focus the coming LTAs on Sustainability. Alexander in the Green Contact Point at the Danish National Agency for the SALTO Green Resource Centre.

Daniel is a social educator with a specialisation in youth information services. He has 25 years of experience in the youth sector as a volunteer, youth leader and youth worker for different organisations and administrations. During these years, Daniel has worked extensively on inclusion and diversity. Focusing on non-formal education, he has been a trainer and facilitator at national and European levels for youth organisations, local and regional administrations, and National Agencies. Daniel has coordinated more than 50 European projects of different natures, having a great experience in their management and implementation.

Petra is a pedagogist who has been working with children and youth with fewer opportunities in different institutions and NGOs since 2016. Through her work, she supported children and young people in their daily, school and extracurricular activities and mentored national and international volunteers. Before joining the SALTO Inclusion & Diversity (Education & Training) team, Petra worked at the Croatian National Agency for Erasmus+ as a Programme Officer for Learning Mobility of Individuals in the fields of School Education and Vocational Education and Training.

Petar has been working on international projects focused on minorities, mental health, personal development, and inclusion & diversity for the past ten years. He has been working with Léargas as an Inclusion & Diversity Advisor and sitting on several European Commission working groups on I&D. Petar is implementing several projects aiming at affirmative or inclusive mental health, and monitoring cases of violence and discrimination against LGBTIQ people, as well as providing individual and group psychosocial support for LGBTIQ people. Finally, Petar is a trainer in the pool of trainers for AMPEU – Croatian NA.

Tine is currently a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Social Sciences. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Masters’s degree in Economics. His bachelor thesis on the participation of citizens in policy-making process at local level was recognised as the best bachelor thesis in the field of youth in 2019 by the National Youth Council of Slovenia. Between 2014 and 2018, Tine served as the youngest elected municipal councilor in Slovenia. He participated in various international educational and humanitarian activities abroad, also in the framework of Erasmus+.

Gvantsa is a Youth Worker passionate about supporting and empowering young people. She graduated in Sociology and Social Anthropology with a specialisation in NGOs and cross-sectoral cooperation, as well as a teachers training programme for teaching Civic Education and Active Citizenship. Since 2016, she has worked as a Trainer, Community Leader, Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps projects coordinator locally and internationally. She founded the Martkopi Youth Centre in 2020, changing the lives of local youth. She coordinated the SALTO Awards 2022 winning project Our Space – For Our Better Future.

Marlene works at the German National Agency “JUGEND für Europa” as an Advisor on European Youth Policy and is one of the coordinators of the Youth Advisory Board. She worked previously at the NA as a Programme Officer, contributing to Youth Participation Activities and Strategic Partnerships. She has a background in the formal and non-formal education sector, working as an English and History teacher and as a youth worker for a municipality where she, among other things, coordinated the development of a Child-Friendly Cities (UNICEF) action plan along with young people.

Andreea has been working in community development for more than 15 years, managing a foundation, developing and implementing projects on volunteering, designing and implementing training modules, and facilitating participatory processes for various communities’ stakeholders. As a freelance consultant and trainer, she designs and delivers training modules for UN entities, private companies, public authorities, NGOs and community members on various topics such as leadership, organisational development, strategic planning, diversity management, conflict management, community development, community organising, etc. Andreea currently works as a consultant with the United Nations Volunteers Programme, developing and delivering training programmes for volunteers and staff.

Ten years ago, Emma’s journey as an EVS volunteer strengthened her interest in the field of interculturality and multilingualism and inspired her to work as a French language teacher in different European countries and very diverse publics. After managing international school projects, her enthusiasm for non-formal learning increased. Emma is currently responsible for European Solidarity Corps volunteering projects at the Austrian National Agency, after having been in charge of solidarity projects.

Julia is a pediatrician in training from Gdańsk, Poland. She is also a research assistant at the Department of Paediatrics, Gastroenterology, Allergology & Paediatric Nutrition of the Medical University of Gdańsk, where her volunteering adventure started. Julia commenced cyclical workshops for little patients while she was still a student. In 2022/23, she coordinated the SALTO Awards 2022 winning project Getting Healthy Through Fun, organising fun yet practical and engaging activities for young patients and their parents at the clinic.

Joaquim worked for the Erasmus+ Portuguese National Agency for 9 years, and for 5 years as national coordinator of the Eurodesk Portuguese network, focusing, among other priorities, on competence-development and competence development frameworks in the field of youth information work. He has a strong record of volunteering work in the field of Youth, developing several projects, nationally and internationally, focused on designing competence-development frameworks for youngsters and/or youth workers, both in formal and non-formal realities. He is a member of the Youthpass Advisory Group, steered by SALTO Training and Cooperation Resource Centre.
Karmen has been active in the field of nonformal learning since 2005 as a youth worker, trainer, and social researcher. Running her own NGO, she found her passion in mentoring and supporting young people and young youth workers. She has coordinated several European projects, most of them about project management, nonformal learning, sustainability and emotional intelligence. She is also one of the members of the Youthpass Advisory Group steered by SALTO Training and Cooperation Resource Centre.
Dick has been for many years active in the community of practice for youth as a trainer and consultant on youth work and youth policy. He has been working as a practitioner and trainer for some 40 years on local and national level and since 2012, involved in European projects and training programmes. He’s recent focus lies on competence based youth work, partly on behalf of the Dutch National Association of Professional Youth Workers, and on delivering competence-based training programmes and -assessments. He is a member of the Advisory Group for the European Training Strategy, steered by SALTO Training and Cooperation Resource Centre.

Ready to submit your project?

 
Applications are open from 1 June until 16 August 2023 (23:59 CEST). 

Only applications received via this form will be considered.

The application period is now closed.

 

Q&A

Yes. You will have category-specific questions on the form. Only apply on categories that are strongly connected to your project.

You should have at least received additional funding from the Erasmus+ or European Solidarity Corps Programme. If your project was not funded by the mentioned programmes, we recommend contacting your National Agency to learn more about funding for your next project.
Yes, we are looking for projects on all levels.
Yes, all projects from the fields of youth, education and training are accepted.

In order to apply please note that your project should be actively progressing this year with the main activities finishing by the end of September 2023. Initiation and finishing stages can be outside of the 2023 timeframe.

Organisers

© SALTO Participation and Information Resource Centre