EMPASY – Emotional Literacy and participatory approaches to support youth mental health

WHAT IS THE PROJECT ABOUT?

EMPASY is a two-year Erasmus+ funded capacity building action in the field of youth implemented by a consortium that spans across the EU (Italy, Belgium) and the MENA region (Lebanon, Morocco, Jordan). The projects runs from November 2024 until end of October 2026.

It responds to the growing needs among youth practitioners, youth leaders and other professionals to address the increasingly complex challenges of youth in Lebanon, Morocco and Jordan. EMPASY aims to promote youth wellbeing by building the capacity of youth workers, youth leaders and other professionals who provide non-formal learning opportunities to foster emotional literacy and participatory approaches as drivers of mental health. It will do that by developing new knowledge and skills, raising awareness and creating multi-stakeholder exchanges.

The project will be developed by a Consortium of six partners: Fondazione ISMU ETS (ISMU), Insieme per Mano (IPM), Chabibeh Sporting Club (CSC), The Mediterranean Forum for Youth (FOMEJE), Support Youth Leaders Jordan (SYLJO) and SOLIDAR Foundation (SOLIDAR), that uniquely combines the strongest expertise on capacity building and youth empowerment.

WHY?

The EMPASY project was developed in response to the significant challenges faced by youth in Jordan, Lebanon, and Morocco, where the youth population is large, but they experience high unemployment rates, exclusion from decision-making, and a lack of opportunities. These issues are compounded by socio-economic challenges, such as poverty, inequality, and migration, which disproportionately affect vulnerable groups, including refugees and marginalized youth. Despite the implementation of national youth policies, gaps in mental health support and emotional literacy among youth workers hinder effective empowerment of young people. Additionally, the lack of collaboration between key actors working with youth leads to fragmented support systems.

That is the reason why the project seeks to improve the capacity of youth workers and professionals by enhancing their knowledge and skills in addressing youth mental health challenges, fostering emotional literacy, and employing participatory approaches in their work. It aims to create an inclusive cross-sector network that facilitates collaboration among different actors, promotes the exchange of best practices, and empowers youth by involving them in decision-making processes. By focusing on mental health and wellbeing, the project aims to provide holistic support that helps youth navigate their personal, social, and economic challenges, ultimately contributing to their overall empowerment and positive societal engagement.

HOW?

EMPASY will achieve its objectives by providing comprehensive capacity-building initiatives for youth workers, leaders, and other key actors in Jordan, Lebanon, and Morocco. This will include need-based training on emotional literacy and participatory approaches, designed to help these professionals better support youth, particularly those from underrepresented or marginalized groups such as refugees, women, and individuals with disabilities. The training will be tailored to local contexts and will focus on promoting youth mental health and wellbeing.

Additionally, the project will raise awareness about the importance of emotional literacy and participatory processes through both online and offline campaigns, reaching a broad audience. National roundtables, local outreach events, and transnational workshops will facilitate dialogue between policy makers and practitioners, fostering collaboration and the sharing of best practices. These events will connect key actors and create a platform for collective reflection and learning.

The project will also develop and distribute new tools and resources, such as infographics, videos, and handbooks, to promote emotional literacy and participatory approaches in youth work. These materials will be disseminated through webinars and a final conference, ensuring widespread knowledge transfer. Through these strategies, the project aims to enhance the quality, inclusiveness, and recognition of youth work, ultimately empowering youth and improving their mental health and societal participation.