Summary
On June 11 and 12, 2026, the National Erasmus+ Office in Georgia organized a series of events named "Erasmus+ Opportunities for Sport and Youth Sectors & Panel Discussions". The events gathered representatives from Youth, Sport and private sectors operating around the country, the EU Delegation in Georgia and the National Erasmus+ Office in Georgia.
The sessions were planned to ensure dissemination of both theoretical and practical knowledge about the Erasmus+ program among the participants, as well as much needed networking between organizations with similar profiles and interests to build future partnerships.
The agenda featured informative sessions on capacity building, cooperation partnerships, virtual exchanges, youth exchanges, and mobility for youth workers. To maximize impact, the National Erasmus+ Office in Georgia incorporated peer-learning formats and panel discussions, giving attendees firsthand insights from successful Erasmus+ project winners.
June 11 – Erasmus+ Opportunities for Youth Sector & Panel Discussions
The first day of the event covered organizations from the youth sector. The participants represented more than 20 organizations, including Schools, NGOs, Universities, International organizations and Associations.
The informational sessions, conducted by the Director of the National Erasmus+ Office in Georgia, Ms. Mariam Sulashvili, covered the following topics:
- General overview of the Erasmus program and sectors;
- Geographical scope&funding structure;
- Erasmus+ Program horizontal priorities;
- Capacity Building in Youth: objectives, thematic areas, activities, eligibility criteria, consortium composition details, application dates and platforms.
- Virtual Exchanges: objectives, geographical scope, funding structure and procedures, eligibility & award criteria, funding rules.
- Youth Exchanges: objectives, funding structure, description of the activities, project stages, eligibility criteria & minimum requirements.
- Youth Workers: objectives of the mobility projects for youth workers, description of the activities, eligibility criteria and requirements for PDAs, award criteria & funding rules.
The theoretical framework provided by the National Erasmus+ Office in Georgia, improved the awareness and general understanding of the Erasmus+ program specifically targeted for the youth sector. The participants received all the necessary information about the rules of the program, eligibility criteria, funding procedures and so on. The agenda was planned in a way that ensured that after the theoretical information, the participants got familiar with specific winner projects of the program.
See the NEO presentations used during the events using the following links:
Youth: Peer Learning – Practical Experience from the Winner Projects
The event incorporated peer learning sessions, where presenters from youth sector organizations shared their experiences in project planning, partner search, proposal writing, budget drafting and concept development. The first panel was dedicated to capacity-building projects in the youth sector. The presented projects were the following:
(Click on the name of the project to see the presentation)
The PACE project aims to build the capacity of youth NGOs in Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia through training, mentoring, and digital resources. The project's objective is to empower conflict-affected and vulnerable young people with the skills, confidence, and networks needed to rebuild their lives through education, employability, and civic engagement.
The project provides the following tools to reach the above-mentioned objectives.
- Digital Learning Portal: An open-access, centralized hub of educational resources designed for remote or challenging conditions.
- Capacity Building & Training: Structured training for youth workers/NGOs in trauma-informed care, digital inclusion, financial literacy, and social entrepreneurship.
- Cross-Border Collaboration: Regional networking between Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia to share best practices and peer learning.
- Youth Support Programs: Direct support delivered via partner NGOs focusing on non-formal education, career pathways, and civic engagement.
The project is expected to strengthen the capacity of NGOs and youth workers while significantly expanding support for young people. It will contribute to improved skills, knowledge, and resilience among youth, especially in crisis-affected contexts, by ensuring broader access to quality training and
development opportunities. Overall, the project aims to create a more sustainable and effective youth support ecosystem with long-term positive effects on communities. The expected results in numbers are the following:
- 100+ NGOs supported.
- 200+ youth workers trained.
- 2,000+ young Ukrainians reached.
The project aims to establish an enabling environment that supports young individuals in building skills essential for creating and developing their technology start-ups, which is achieved through the following objectives:
- NGO & Worker Development: Supporting youth organizations and developing key competencies for youth workers.
- Entrepreneurial Skills: Enhancing the skills of young entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners within partner actions.
- Community & Network Building: Creating a supportive ecosystem of youth organizations, labor market institutions, and educational actors.
The project aims to empower young people to become active peacebuilders and contribute to the creation of a better future together. The mentioned goal will be reached through the following objectives:
- Promotion of peacebuilding and conflict transformation.
- Development of intercultural understanding and empathy.
- Improvement of communication and teamwork skills.
- Providing youth workers with innovative and practical educational tools.
- Encourage active participation of young people in social processes.
The project is expected to deliver the following results:
- Development of an E-learning platform with 6 educational modules.
- Development of Peace&Empathy cards for learning and reflection.
- Development of an Escape room methodology guidebook with practical tools.
- Creation of GenZPeaceLabs in all partner countries.
Dinara Welwet – Young Researchers and Analytics Union. Speaker: Mr. Soso Mezvrishvili
The project aims to empower young people in Georgia and Ukraine with modern skills and practical experience in wildlife conservation and One Health, bridging education, policy, and employment through innovative digital tools. The mentioned aim will be reached through the following objectives:
- Modernize Training: Integrate VR, AI tools, and practical biosecurity fieldwork into youth conservation, veterinary, and One Health programs.
- Boost Employability: Provide digital skills, field experience, and policy opportunities to prepare youth for the environmental sector.
- Strengthen Organizations: Equip institutions with advanced conservation tech, interdisciplinary training, and digital biosecurity curricula.
- Protect Ecosystems: Train young professionals in habitat management, restoration, and disease monitoring to support climate adaptation.
- Foster Collaboration: Connect youth groups, NGOs, and policymakers internationally to build sustainable career pathways.
- Drive Green & Digital Goals: Align with EU objectives by merging digital conservation tools, youth policy leadership, and eco-entrepreneurship (FAO, 2021).
The second panel was dedicated to Virtual Exchanges and Youth Mobility projects. The presented projects were the following:
Empower Youth – Association Athens. Speaker: Ms. Mariam Todua
The project aims to empower and engage young people in environmental and climate change-related issues, while fostering open dialogue with environmental institutions and stakeholders. The mentioned goal is expected to be reached through various project tasks that are divided in the following 5 phases:
- Resources & Tool Localization: Developing learning kits. Needs assessment and adaptation of the EcoVille board game for the local context.
- Capacity Building & Training: Selecting 10 local youth organizations and conducting virtual info sessions.
- Hybrid Capacity Building: International study visit to Bucharest combined with 5 virtual learning modules.
- Local Rollout & Implementation: Organizing national workshops and simulation activities in local communities.
- Advocacy & Monitoring: Youth-led policy tracking and international virtual best-practice exchanges.
The following outcomes are expected:
- 80 Youth NGOs trained and equipped with innovative tools.
- 200K citizens reached through digital campaigns.
- 10 local hubs selected in Georgia.
- 1 board game translated and distributed in Georgia.
VirtuallyEDU – IBSU. Speaker: Ms. Sopio Gelashvili
The project aims to empower young people from the EU and Neighborhood East with critical AI literacy, ethical awareness, and intercultural skills, enabling them to actively participate in democratic digital life and shape inclusive, human-centric technological futures.
The project has the following objectives:
- AI Literacy: Enhance young people's understanding of Artificial Intelligence by teaching how AI systems work, developing critical thinking, recognizing risks and opportunities, and promoting ethical AI use.
- Intercultural Dialogue & Virtual Exchanges: Foster cross-border dialogue and mutual understanding by encouraging intercultural learning, promoting respectful dialogue, building global connections, and strengthening international cooperation.
- Digital Citizenship: Promote safe, responsible, and active participation in digital environments by raising awareness of digital rights, encouraging responsible online behavior, combating misinformation, and supporting online inclusion.
- Youth Empowerment: Empower youth to become active changemakers in the digital era by developing digital and transversal skills, encouraging civic engagement, supporting creativity, and inspiring leadership.
The framework of the presentations was pre-defined by the National Erasmus+ Office in Georgia and responded to the following questions:
- How to search for partners in the Erasmus+ projects?
- How to define project mission and objectives?
- How to create work packages and distribute roles between organizations?
- How to draft the successful project budget?
The organizations that participated in the capacity building, virtual exchanges and youth mobility projects shared their knowledge, covering all the above-mentioned topics and answered questions that they received from the audience, resulting in fruitful discussions and successful peer-learning sessions.
June 12 – Erasmus+ Opportunities for Sport Sector & Panel Discussions
The second day of the event was dedicated to the sports sector organizations. The participants represented up to 25 organizations, including Universities, Federations, NGOs, International organizations and Associations.
The informational part of the sessions was conducted by the Director of the National Erasmus+ Office in Georgia, Ms. Mariam Sulashvili and incorporated the following topics:
- Seminar on Capacity Building in Sport: geographical scope, funding structure and platforms, objectives of capacity building in sport, thematic areas, activities, eligibility criteria and application rules, consortium composition, deadlines, expected impact.
- Seminar on Cooperation Partnerships: geographical scope, funding structure and platforms, objectives of cooperation partnerships, eligibility criteria and application rules, consortium composition, deadlines and budget.
Sport: Peer Learning – Practical Experience from the Winner Projects
The agenda of the event incorporated experience sharing from the winning projects of the Erasmus+ program. The peer learning panel was dedicated to capacity building projects in sport, where the presented projects were the following:
The ORIENTEERING-GEO project aims to develop the sport of orienteering in Georgia by delivering training, improving infrastructure, integrating it into school curricula, and fostering international cooperation.
The project aims to create:
- International Review Report: A review of international best practices in coach training.
- Methodological Manual: A comprehensive guidebook and reference manual for coaches.
- National Training Syllabus: A structured curriculum covering Levels 1–3 for national certification.
The project has the following expected impact: establishing orienteering as a recognized and sustainable sport in Georgia, with trained local coaches and an active participation base.
The presenters delivered comprehensive presentations about the project cycle, starting with the process of partner search, covering the narrative and financial parts of the projects. Answering to the pre-defined questions provided by the National Erasmus+ Office in Georgia (mentioned above).
In sum, the events gathered participants from a wide range of organizations active in the youth and sport sectors, providing a valuable platform for dialogue, peer learning, and networking. The discussions encouraged participants to exchange experiences, share practical knowledge and good practices, and reflect on common challenges and opportunities within the Erasmus+ Programme.
The interactive format fostered collaboration among organizations with varying levels of experience, strengthening connections between stakeholders and promoting future partnerships and engagement in Erasmus+ initiatives.
