Trainings

The THRIVE Youth Workers Training and Capacity Building event brought together youth workers from Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Serbia in Sliven, Bulgaria. The seven-day programme, comprising five training days and two travel days, was designed to strengthen the capacity of youth workers who mentor and support Roma and Roma-origin youth in their communities.

The training focused on employment mentoring, soft-skills development, digital literacy, and community engagement. Participants explored practical ways to support young people with CV preparation, job-search strategies, interview readiness, professional communication, confidence building, and overcoming barriers that can limit access to education, training, and employment.

Interactive exercises, group discussions, role-playing, and practical teamwork enabled participants to review CVs, simulate job-interview situations, and examine the employment challenges faced by Roma youth. Digital-literacy sessions addressed the safe and effective use of online job platforms, professional networking, responsible social-media use, and digital resources that youth workers can integrate into their mentoring activities.

The international setting also encouraged participants to exchange experiences and compare approaches from the three partner countries. Collaborative activities supported the sharing of regional practices, strengthened cooperation among the partner organisations, and helped create a professional support network for youth workers engaged in Roma inclusion and employability.

Through reflection, daily feedback, and final evaluation, participants considered how the acquired methods could be applied in their own organisations and communities. The trained youth workers returned better prepared to deliver local workshops and mentoring activities, provide tailored employment and digital guidance, and support Roma and Roma-origin youth in developing greater confidence, career readiness, and social inclusion.