Awero team
Exploring Virtual Reality in Youth Work: A Journey Begins
18 Jun, 22:26
Reflections of Buzz Bury – Think Forward C.I.C.
In the second week of April, an enthusiastic and diverse group of youth workers, artists, and youth leaders from across Europe came together to fuel their curiosity and passion for virtual reality. This international training course was part of the co-funded Erasmus+ project Virtual Reality in Cities of Learning, supported by Agenzia Italiana per la Gioventù (AIG).
The training marked the beginning of an exciting learning journey under the broader Cities of Learning partnership - bringing together organisations from Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Belgium, Cyprus, and the UK.
Equipped with VR headsets, participants dived into the world of immersive technology, exploring how VR can be meaningfully integrated into youth work and non-formal education. We began to imagine how VR could be used within the Cities of Learning platform to engage young people in creative and inspiring ways.
The training was designed as a foundational step in this long-term project. Together, we explored the potential of VR by grounding it in our own interests and experimenting with a variety of creative applications - ranging from DJing and digital spray painting to 3D design, immersive games, and collaborative virtual spaces. These tools offered not only a hands-on introduction to the technology but training in Lithuania also gave us an insight into how VR is being adopted and utilised by communities and organisations across Vilnius.
We’re still in the early stages of this journey - learning through exploration, experimentation, and play. There’s still much to discover about how VR can support non-formal learning, foster international collaboration, and create safe, inclusive spaces for young people.
In the coming months, we’ll continue building our knowledge and experience with VR, identifying new ways it can support youth work, education, and intercultural exchange.
The in-person training was both inspiring and thought-provoking. It left us with many important questions:
- How can we ensure VR spaces are safe, inclusive, and youth-friendly?
- What tools and platforms can help us manage devices and support group use of VR effectively?
We’re committed to finding answers - and sharing them as we go.
Want to find out more?
Keep an eye out for updates, resources, and opportunities from the project. Or reach out to one of our international partners or stay tuned for more insights as the project unfolds.
Project Partners:
Madiba Cooperativa Sociale, Awero, Breakthrough, CODEC, SIRA IMPACT HUB, Think Forward C.I.C.
#ErasmusPlus #CitiesOfLearning #OpenBadges #VR #VirtualReality #Training #YouthWork
Quotes from participants:
“The training was an inspiring and practical journey that expanded my vision on how to implement VR in digital youth work, offering hands-on experience and meaningful exchanges on creating safe, interactive virtual spaces for young people.”
Joey continues by quoting Martin Luther King “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
Joey de Deken - Dutch Cities of Learning
Deli:
Badgecraft vodi spletno infrastrukturo za mesta in regije učenja in jo razvija skupaj z vodilnimi izobraževalnimi organizacijami. Evropski konzorcij razvija to platformo s pomočjo sofinanciranja programa Evropske unije Erasmus+. Kontaktirajte support@badgecraft.eu.
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