Learning by creating

Throughout the day, participants moved through six interactive modules exploring Arts-Based Engagement Ethnography (ABEE), cultural competence, digital arts and technology, trauma-sensitive approaches, inclusion and social integration, and conflict resolution. Each activity invited youth workers to engage creatively through music, poetry, visual arts, theatre and storytelling, encouraging conversations about identity, belonging, participation and community.

The atmosphere was intentionally informal and participatory. Every activity became an opportunity not only to experience the methodology but also to imagine how it could be adapted to their own organisations and the young people they work alongside.

Different perspectives, shared learning

One of the strengths of the National Pilot was the diversity of the group. Participants represented organisations collaborating with ALO Ísland, including the Icelandic Red Cross, Reykjavík Fringe Festival, Community for All and organisations supporting people with disabilities, each bringing different experiences of working with young people and local communities.

That diversity quickly became one of the day’s greatest assets. Conversations naturally moved between different cultural perspectives, professional experiences and creative approaches, demonstrating that there is no single pathway to meaningful youth participation.