International Mobility for All Youth: Insights from Youth Workers – 24/04/2026

🌍 Access. Inclusion. Reality.

This analysis note brings together the voices of 50 youth workers from across Europe (Belgium, France, North Macedonia and partners) who shared their experiences through focus groups.

The aim?
To better understand how international mobility works in practice for young people with fewer opportunities — and what needs to change.

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🔎 What is this analysis about?

The report focuses on three key areas:

• How youth workers understand and support young people with fewer opportunities
• What practices and mobility programmes are currently used
• What tools exist — and what is missing

It highlights real experiences from the field and translates them into practical insights and recommendations.

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🚧 What are the main challenges?

Youth workers consistently identified barriers that prevent young people from accessing mobility opportunities:

• Complex administrative procedures
• Financial difficulties and upfront costs
• Fear, anxiety, and low confidence
• Cultural and family resistance
• Limited access in rural or isolated areas

For many young people, mobility is still perceived as something “not for them”.

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🤝 What do youth workers actually do?

The analysis clearly shows that youth workers are not just facilitators — they are key support systems.

Their role includes:

• Building trust and safe spaces
• Providing personalised, long-term guidance
• Supporting before, during, and after mobility
• Working closely with families and communities

In many cases, this support is what makes participation possible.

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🚀 What practices are working?

Across Europe, organisations are developing creative and inclusive approaches:

• Step-by-step mobility pathways (local → national → international)
• Peer mentoring through former participants
• Strong partnerships between organisations and host countries
• Use of digital tools to prepare young people

These methods help reduce fear and make mobility more accessible.

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📱 What needs to improve?

A key finding of the analysis:
the problem is not the lack of tools — but how they are designed.

Youth workers highlighted the need for:

• Simple, visual, and multilingual communication
• Mobile-first and interactive tools
• Formats that reflect youth culture (videos, storytelling, gamification)
• Outreach approaches that bring information directly to young people

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💡 Why this matters

International mobility can be a life-changing experience — but only if it is truly accessible.

This analysis helps us understand what works, what doesn’t, and how we can improve support for young people who need it the most.

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💬 Because inclusion means more than offering opportunities —
it means making sure everyone feels they belong in them.

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📥 Download the analysis note here 🔗 https://connectbrussels.eu/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ENG-VF-Analysis-Note-–-Focus-Groups-on-International-Mobility-for-Young-People-with-Few-Opportunities.pdf

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