24 March, 2026

The Kaleidoscope LTTA, which was hosted by our Cypriot partner Visual Voices was very positively received by participants, and clearly strengthened the development of our ABEE Training Programme by testing the new training materials “in action” with experienced youth workers. Feedback highlights that the programme is relevant, feasible and inspiring, while also offering concrete suggestions to refine the tools before broader rollout.

A three‑day lab for the ABEE Training Programme

From 3 to 5 March 2026, partners of the Kaleidoscope project gathered in Nicosia, Cyprus, for a three‑day Learning, Teaching and Training Activity (LTTA) dedicated to our Art‑Based Engagement Ethnography (ABEE) training programme for youth workers. Over these days, participants piloted all six modules of the training, moving from very short theoretical inputs to hands-on activities and joint reflection, with the aim of checking how clear, realistic and transferable the materials are in real youth work settings.

The LTTA thus acted as a living laboratory: some exercises were experienced “as a participant”, and some “as a facilitator”, allowing the consortium to connect the theoretical handbook with the practical session plans and cultural probes that will later be used with young people across Europe.

Strong engagement, relevance and sense of community

Overall feedback from the participants rated the training environment as very welcoming and inclusive, and the balance between more introspective exercises and social, energising activities was praised. Many highlighted that the topics covered, from trauma‑sensitive practice to conflict resolution, inclusion and digital storytelling, are directly relevant to their everyday work with young people, including those with lived experience of migration and discrimination.

Participants also emphasised that they were leaving Nicosia with new ideas, tools and perspectives. Several respondents reported that the LTTA strengthened their skills and confidence in using arts‑based and creative methods, and that they intend to implement at least one of the activities in their local work. The opportunity to meet, co‑facilitate and reflect together was frequently described as one of the most enjoyable aspects of the experience, helping to build a strong sense of community and collaboration within the partnership.

Nicosia as a meeting point

Hosting the LTTA in Nicosia added an important layer of meaning to the experience. As a city with a complex history of division, migration and cultural diversity, Nicosia provided a powerful backdrop for a training focused on inclusion, dialogue and trauma‑sensitive practice. Between sessions, shared meals and informal walks offered additional opportunities for partners to connect, exchange experiences and observe how the themes of the Kaleidoscope project resonate in a context where borders and crossings are part of daily life.

These moments beyond the formal agenda helped to deepen relationships within the partnership and to build a shared language around creative, ethical and inclusive youth work. The LTTA thus strengthened not only the content of the training programme, but also the community of practitioners who will carry the ABEE approach forward in their own countries.

Looking ahead: from Nicosia to local youth work

The LTTA in Cyprus has given the Kaleidoscope consortium both confidence and clarity as the ABEE Training Programme moves towards its finalisation. Partners left the training feeling inspired by the creativity, passion and expertise within the group, and committed to using the ABEE approach to deepen inclusion, cultural sensitivity and dialogue in their work with young people. At the same time, the concrete feedback gathered during the LTTA will now inform refinements to the handbook and session plans, ensuring that the training remains realistic, culturally sensitive and truly supportive of youth workers on the ground.

By testing the programme together, the partnership has taken an important step towards its ultimate goal: equipping youth workers across Europe with creative, arts‑based tools that make space for young people’s stories, emotions and perspectives – especially where migration, conflict and exclusion have shaped their lives.