What is Erasmus+?
Erasmus+ is the EU Programme in the fields of education, training, youth and sport for the period 2014-2020. 
Education, training, youth and sport can make a major contribution to help tackle socio-economic changes, the key challenges that Europe will be facing until the end of the decade and to support the implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy for growth, jobs, social equity and inclusion.
Why Erasmus+?
Europe must equip its citizens with the education, skills and creativity that they need in a knowledge society. The world is changing fast, and education systems need to modernise and adapt to new ways of teaching and learning and embrace the new opportunities that exist. Education, training and non-formal youth learning are key to creating jobs and improving Europe’s competitiveness. That’s why Erasmus+ will make a key contribution to addressing these challenges.
Objectives of Erasmus+ Programme
The Erasmus+ Programme shall contribute to the achievement of:
- the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy, including the headline education target;
- the objectives of the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training (ET 2020), including the corresponding benchmarks;
- the sustainable development of Partner Countries in the field of higher education;
- the overall objectives of the renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (2010-2018);
- the objective of developing the European dimension in sport, in particular grassroots sport, in line with the EU work plan for sport;
- the promotion of European values in accordance with Article 2 of the Treaty on the European Union.
More information about Erasmus+ Programme
What is the mobility project?
Organisations active in the fields of education, training and youth will receive support from the Erasmus+ Programme to carry out projects promoting different types of mobility.
A mobility project will consist of the following stages:
- Preparation (including practical arrangements, selection of participants, set up of agreements with partners and participants, linguistic/intercultural/task-related preparation of participants before departure);
- Implementation of the mobility activities;
- Follow-up (including the evaluation of the activities, the formal recognition – where applicable – of the learning outcomes of participants during the activity, as well as the dissemination and use of the project’s outcomes).
What are the aims of a mobility project?
- support learners in the acquisition of competences (knowledge, skills and attitudes) with a view to improving their personal development and employability in the European labour market and beyond;
- support the professional development of those who work in education, training and youth with a view to innovating and improving the quality of teaching, training and youth work across Europe;
- enhance notably the participants’ foreign languages competence;
- raise participants’ awareness and understanding of other cultures and countries, offering them the opportunity to build networks of international contacts, to actively participate in society and develop a sense of European citizenship and identity;
- increase the capacities, attractiveness and international dimension of organisations active in the education, training and youth fields so that they are able to offer activities and programmes that better respond to the needs of individuals, within and outside Europe;
- reinforce synergies and transitions between formal, non-formal education, vocational training, employment and entrepreneurship;
- ensure a better recognition of competences gained through the learning periods abroad.
Mobility projects for young people and youth workers
Youth Exchanges
The EU funds youth exchanges which give young people the chance to experience another 
country and work together in a team. It’s an opportunity to gain skills in areas such as project management and to improve your foreign language proficiency. Youth exchanges take place outside the school environment and offer a structured programme (eg with a mix of workshops, exercises, debates and role play).
The exchanges are open to young people aged 13-30 and last from 5 to 21 days. They can be in another Member State or outside the EU.
Youth exchanges enable young people to discover new cultures and friends, develop new competences, and better appreciate values like solidarity and democracy.
The learning process is based on non-formal education and involves at least two organisations (sending and receiving) from different countries within or outside the EU.
To participate in a youth exchange project you need to link-up with a participating organisation. It can be a non-profit organisation, association, NGO, public body at local, regional or national level or a social enterprise. It applies for youth exchange funding via the Erasmus+ National Agency in the country in which it is established. The agency can help you find an organisation to sponsor your exchange.
Informal groups of young people active in youth work, but not necessarily in the context of a youth organisation, can also apply for a grant.
Opportunities for Youth Workers
Opportunities abroad allow youth workers to learn about cultural diversity and 
different practices in youth work in other countries. This experience helps youth workers to acquire new skills and to enhance their professional development.
The organisations involved develop new learning methods, as well as long-term cooperation with their counterparts abroad.
The following mobility opportunities are available across the EU, and to/from non-EU countries:
- Training and networking abroad;
- Job shadowing or periods in a youth organisation abroad.
Funding is available for youth worker mobility from 2 days to 8 weeks.
How to look for projects and other possiblities?
- Stay in touch with NGO from your area – follow their fanpage, webpage, activities.
- Search for projects in unofficial way – search for projects on Facebook – it’s easy!
- Use one of official tools of European Union for searching for NGOs or directly for projects. Salto-Youth is a multitask platform where you can do both: