Looking back on the Erasmus+ Mobility of the Engagement Department to Utrecht (Netherlands)
From 9 to 11 June, the Engagement Department of the Ligue de l’enseignement took part in an Erasmus+ mobility visit to Utrecht, in the Netherlands. This mobility project is part of the department’s ongoing effort to deepen its reflection on how to support young people in civic engagement schemes and help reinforce their voices and ideas within society.
On this occasion, the seven participants were welcomed at the headquarters of the Nationale Jeugdraad (NJR), the Dutch National Youth Council. The NJR works to ensure that young people’s voices are heard by advocating for their needs and empowering them to take action. Its activities include international exchanges, language courses, and involvement in the implementation of the MDT (Maatschappelijke Diensttijd), a civic engagement program for young people aged 12 to 30 that shares several similarities with the French Civic Service.
The group also had the opportunity to meet and exchange with young people involved in the organisation, learning more about what motivates them and how they recognize the value of their engagement. Their commitment goes beyond simply carrying out projects: they also develop personal skills while making an active contribution to their communities.
This mobility successfully achieved its objectives by enabling participants to:
- Compare the Dutch and French civic engagement schemes, particularly the French Civic Service and the Dutch MDT program;
- Gain a better understanding of the various mechanisms used to represent and support young people;
- Build connections with new partners specialising in youth engagement and participation.
Looking Back on the “Inclusion and Disability” National Working Group’s Mobility to Örebro (Sweden)
From 8 to 12 June, the national “Inclusion and Disability” Working Group of La Ligue de l’enseignement travelled to Örebro, Sweden, as part of an Erasmus+ mobility. Co-led by Sandrine Firpo, Board Member Delegate for Vocational Training and Social Action, Sarah Garrido, Head of the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE), Solidarity and Social Action Department, and Nelson Bernardo, National Officer for Inclusion and Disability, the group promotes inclusion and disability-related issues across all areas of the Ligue de l’enseignement’s activities, including education, leisure activities, holidays, culture, sport, professional training, digital inclusion and citizenship.
The 15 participants were welcomed by ABF (Workers’ Educational Association), a member of the European network SOLIDAR. ABF is committed to non-formal education through study circles, courses, lectures and cultural events. Through exchanges with ABF and its partners, this mobility enabled the delegation to discover how Swedish organisations approach accessibility and inclusion, providing inspiration and valuable insights for the group’s ongoing work.
The programme focused on three main themes:
- Disability Rights and Accessible Housing
- Meeting with the Municipal Council for Older People and People with Disabilities in the city of Kumla. This session provided valuable insight into how dialogue is organised between local elected representatives, civil society organisations and people with disabilities.
- Visits to accessible residential facilities.
- Discussions with municipal staff about Swedish inclusion regulations and the cultural activities organised within adapted housing facilities to encourage community participation.
- Inclusion in Education and Urban Planning
- Presentation of 3D urban modelling projects developed in Göteborg to make the city and its infrastructure more accessible to older people and people with disabilities.
- Visit to a school and discussion with a specialist educator, who shared the approaches and activities used to support children with specific educational needs.
- Inclusion and Disability in Tourism and Culture
- Guided tour of Örebro Castle and meeting with its Operations Manager. Participants learned about the castle’s accessibility policy, including both physical adaptations and the educational tools designed for visitors. Special tours for visually impaired and hearing-impaired visitors are organised on a regular basis.
- Visit to a renovated farm now operating as a restaurant and seminar venue. The manager explained how the site had been adapted to ensure accessibility for people with reduced mobility.
This mobility highlighted several differences between the Swedish and French approaches to inclusion. In Sweden, inclusion tends to be addressed through a more systemic and preventive approach, integrated from the outset into the design of policies, services and public spaces, resulting in highly accessible environments. In France, inclusion often relies more heavily on specific support measures and targeted measure. The delegation also observed that support for people with neurodevelopmental disorders appears less structured in the Swedish practices encountered, providing an interesting basis for comparison and reflection.
Finally, the visit provided an opportunity to exchange views with ABF on the current state of Swedish civil society. Discussions revealed a convergence of concerns shared by civil society organisations across Europe, especially the reduction of public funding and the rise of far-right political movements.
Looking back on the Erasmus+ Mobility of the Digital Affairs Department to Madrid
From 8 to 12 June 2026, a delegation composed of members of the Ligue de l’enseignement’s Digital Affairs Department and several local federations travelled to Madrid as part of an Erasmus+ mobility. The group brought together twelve motivated participants committed to exploring issues related to digital inclusion, media literacy, artificial intelligence and digital citizenship. The participants were welcomed by the Liga Española de la Educación y la Cultura Popular.
The program was structured around four main themes:
Digital Inclusion and European Citizenship
The first discussions provided an opportunity to compare French and Spanish approaches addressing the digital divide. A shared challenge emerged: moving beyond access to equipment alone in order to strengthen people’s autonomy, improve access to rights and services, and encourage active citizenship.
Digital Literacy
A presentation by Myriam Jiménez Lastra explored the different dimensions of digital literacy, including technical skills, information search and evaluation, critical thinking, communication, civic participation and ethical considerations.
Disinformation, Artificial Intelligence and Critical Thinking
The presentation of the European project REEDI opened up new reflections on media literacy, combating disinformation, the use of artificial intelligence and supporting young people in their digital practices.
Responsible Digital Practices and Ecological Transition
The final session focused on the environmental impact of digital technologies, the life cycle of digital devices, digital sobriety and ways to integrate these issues into educational and community-based initiatives.
The mobility project also resulted in a significant dissemination and reporting effort. Laetitia Tison, from the Ligue de l’enseignement of Hérault, produced two particularly valuable resources to value the experience: a richly detailed and engaging graphic report entitled “Digital Harvest” (Moisson numérique), and a video created using artificial intelligence tools. These two outputs make it possible to present, in an accessible way, the topics explored, the resources identified, the collective learning outcomes and the opportunities that emerged for the federations.
Beyond the thematic learning, this mobility project strengthened connections between participants and European partners. It paved the way for future cooperation on digital inclusion, media literacy, critical thinking, artificial intelligence and responsible digital practices.
From Turin to Rome : the final stretch of the Ways of Europe project
From 22 to 26 June, the partners of the Ways of Europe project gathered in Turin and Rome to prepare the project’s final phase. Coordinated by ARCI Solidarietà, Ways of Europe aims to bring together young people from across Europe to create a space for dialogue and reflection. Its overarching goal is to foster civic engagement and strengthen access to rights and democracy throughout the European Union.
Over the past two years, a series of meetings and activities have been organised around several key themes:
- Democracy
- Youth engagement
- Solidarity
- Migration issues
- Respect for human rights and the environment
- The rule of law
- Combating discrimination
Entering the Final Stage
The project has now entered its final phase, with a focus on reviewing the outcomes achieved so far and developing a dissemination campaign to share its results more widely.
Through group work, plenary discussions and contributions from practitioners and stakeholders working in the field, participants began designing this communication and outreach campaign.
What Comes Next?
The work carried out during these meetings will be used in upcoming local events organised by the partner. The project will then conclude with a presentation of its results at the European Parliament in October 2026.