In this context, an educational tool referred to any approach, activity, or method that meaningfully engaged learners—whether through simulations, role-plays, creative workshops, outdoor learning activities, or other participatory techniques.

The ITF provided an open space to exchange, refine, and reimagine these tools with a strong focus on practical transferability.

With sport as a driver for inclusion, wellbeing, empowerment, and community cohesion, the 2025 edition of the Tool Fair highlighted sport as a powerful pedagogical and social tool. Participants examined how both formal and informal sport practices can promote equity, resilience, safe learning environments, and meaningful social transformation.

The structure of the event connected participants in an organic way in a multitude of activities like:

• Tools Workshops – hands-on sessions where selected participants facilitated their own learning activities;
• Tools to Explore – thematic deep dives dedicated to developing or improving specific approaches;
• Tool Coaching – supported presenters before, during, and after their sessions;
• Tools Market – an open and dynamic space showcased a wide range of tools, publications, digital resources, methodologies, and initiatives;
• TF Talks – inspirational presentations inviting reflection, and challenged participants to think differently about education, sport, and social impact.
• Hot Spot of EU Youth Programmes – guidance and insights from National Agencies (NAs) and SALTO Resource Centres into opportunities within the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programmes.

During the “Tool to explore” we examined how sport can foster inclusion, break down social barriers, and strengthen communities. Through practical strategies and hands-on tools, the sessions highlighted the power of physical activity to promote diversity and equity, use sport as a platform for connection, and create meaningful relationships beyond the basketball playing field. These moments offered not just learning, but trasformative experience-showing how sport can catalyse social change in our local context.

Among the TF Talks, the testimony of Lama HATTAB from Lebanon was particularly powerful: “Twenty-five years ago, I ran 240 kilometers across the Sahara Desert with my twin sister, carrying a message of peace. I didn’t know then that this journey would shape the rest of my life — leading me to discover how sport can heal, connect, and transform. In this talk, I share what I’ve learned along the way — from breaking stereotypes as a woman athlete to witnessing the power of sport through the lives of young people at Generations For Peace. It’s a story about endurance, learning, and how every step can become a step toward peace. » 

The XIX International Tool Fair created an energising, multicultural, and collaborative environment where sport became more than a game—it became a tool for learning, transformation, and social impact. Held in Marrakech, a city known for its hospitality and cultural richness, the event left everyone inspired, connected, and equipped with innovative tools to bring meaningful change to our communities.

Account by Anca David

Hello again! Long-time readers may remember me from my volunteer days at VIEWS International. I’m back to share a new adventure. I attended the International Computers and Communication Camp (ICC) 2025 for the very first time. What made it even more special was that I wasn’t there as a participant, but already as an instructor to share and inspire with my experiences. I went in curious and a little skeptical, and came back convinced of its value.

So to start, what exactly is ICC? It’s a summer camp for blind and visually impaired young people between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one, and it offers a 9-day period packed with learning, exchange, and fun. Participants can attend workshops that cover a wide range of topics such as technology and programming, daily living skills like cooking, educational and career-related issues such as studying abroad or finding a profession, and even disability or just personal advocacy.

A Truly International Experience

Every year it takes place in a different country, and this year’s edition was in Aveiro, Portugal. I guess at this point, I don’t even need to mention that I tried pasteis de nata and other delicious pastries that Portugal offers extensively.

But ICC is not just about the workshops, or learning, or pastries in my case. It is also a truly international meeting point. Young people come from across Europe and sometimes from much further away, this year, for example, even as far as from Japan. That means it is as much a cultural exchange as it is a learning camp, also with good practices in accessibility and disability rights being shared across borders.

And of course, there was plenty of time for fun too. The evenings were filled with activities like dancing classes, painting sessions, treasure hunts, and even making local sweets. Learning and growth were at the center of the program, but joy and friendship took the front seat just as much.

Discovering ICC

As for my own role, I represented the European Blind Union and co-led a workshop on studying abroad together with Paraskevi, another travel and study-abroad enthusiast. We shared our personal experiences of studying abroad, talked about how to plan a semester or two in a different country, and gave practical tips on everything from mobility and accommodation to funding and accessibility.

Later, I also joined Paraskevi’s workshop on languages and language-related professions, where I introduced participants to computational linguistics, human machine interaction, and artificial intelligence. The curiosity in the room was palpable, and the conversations were so passionate that we barely stopped it from spilling beyond the official workshop time. Beyond my purpose to be there, I loved meeting people from so many different places, exchanging stories, and getting a sense of the vibrant community that ICC aims to foster.

Reflections and Takeaways

At first, I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure whether such a concentrated week of workshops could really make a difference in the long run. But seeing the participants engage, hearing their thoughtful questions, and watching their confidence grow day by day quickly changed my mind. It seems like ICC creates an environment where young people don’t just absorb knowledge, they also meet role models, discover concrete opportunities, and realize that paths which once seemed distant or impossible or unimaginable are actually possible.

The social side of the camp only strengthens this effect. Friendships formed at mealtimes or during evening activities often become just as valuable as the lessons learned in the workshops.

Looking back, I can say that ICC 2025 was a unique experience. For me, it was both rewarding and inspiring to contribute as an instructor, and for the participants it was clearly a chance to grow in ways that will continue to matter long after the camp ends. If you’re blind or visually impaired, between sixteen and twenty-one, and curious about technology, independence, study or career opportunities, or simply the chance to connect with peers from all over the world, I can definitely recommend applying to ICC next year. It’s a week that can open doors, expand horizons, and leave you with friendships and memories you’ll carry for a long time.

The Cluj Days this year were a very special experience for me. I was invited by Asociatia Babilon Travel to take part in their stand, located in Central Park (the Grand Park), where I worked for two days and had the opportunity to represent the organisation VIEWS International from Belgium, the country where I currently live, in Liège.

I shared my personal experience with visitors at the stand: how I came to Belgium, what motivated me to leave, the volunteer internship I did there, and how, after all of that, I decided to stay. It was an open and honest exchange, and I felt that people were really listening and connecting with what I was sharing.

We also offered a few interactive activities. One of them involved a 3D puzzle, which was very popular with the public. Another activity was a demonstration on how to use a white cane, especially at night: I wanted to share a small lesson on orientation and perception. People were curious, engaged, and above all, open-minded. It gave me an incredible boost of energy.

In addition to the activities at the stand, we handed out flyers and programmes, chatted with people, smiled a lot, and felt a real connection with those around us. We also attended three concerts, explored the city, and, most importantly, enjoyed every moment. We had personal conversations, shared memories, and all of it made me feel grounded in the present while being grateful for my journey.

It was an experience full of positive energy. I realised that some things which seemed insignificant at the beginning have now taken on immense value. And perhaps the most beautiful lesson I took from it: true friendships can be felt, even from a distance.

At a time when youth work is asked to meet increasingly complex social realities, this training responded to a growing need for more sensitive, intersectional approaches.
The gender-based framework adopted during the course recognised that experiences of inequity are not uniform. Gender interacts dynamically with other factors such as disability, socio-economic status, religion, and sexual orientation and identity.
This understanding highlighted the ways multiple layers can overlap, exposing individuals to compounded forms of discrimination or marginalisation. By integrating intersectionality into youth mobility projects, participants worked towards building environments that did not merely promote diversity but actively celebrated it.

Throughout the week, the training moved beyond theoretical discussion and invited attendees to examine how gender inequalities materialise in real-world settings. Gender-based approaches were not treated as abstract concepts but as essential perspectives informing daily practices, project planning, communication, and conflict resolution. Recognising that discrimination and hate speech often stem from unexamined biases and systemic inequities, the course placed a strong emphasis on critical self-reflection. Participants were encouraged to explore their own assumptions and to consider how personal beliefs and cultural norms could unconsciously influence their professional roles.

One of the defining features of the event was its commitment to the principles of non-formal education. Rejecting rigid, top-down teaching methods, the course fostered an atmosphere of self-directed learning where participants’ experiences were valued as resources for collective growth.
Through interactive workshops and peer-to-peer exchanges, attendees engaged in a living learning process, reflecting both the diversity of their backgrounds and the inclusive values the training sought to encourage. This approach ensured that learning was not only informative but transformative, equipping youth workers to foster similar spaces of openness and empowerment within their own organisations.

Crucially, the training course created and upheld a safer space where everyone could express themselves. Special attention was paid to safeguarding LGBTQIA+ communities, too often expose to heightened risks of exclusion, hate speech, and violence. Workshops addressed how to recognise, prevent, and respond to gender-based violence, providing participants with tools and resources.

Attendees delved deeper into understanding how gender and other intersecting identities could influence young people’s experiences within mobility projects. They learnt to identify and mitigate risks, create gender-sensitive communication practices – even when navigating linguistic and cultural differences – and design educational activities that fostered inclusivity. The group discussions highlighted that a genuinely inclusive space was not merely one that welcomed different identities but one that transformed itself in response to their needs and voices.

Beyond the learning objectives, what remained with many participants was the experience of international solidarity: a diverse group of youth professionals coming together, sharing vulnerabilities, challenging each other, and collectively imagining more inclusive futures.

Participants left Lyon not only with new skills and tools but also with a renewed sense of purpose, ready to lead the next generation of mobility projects with a stronger, intersectional, and gender-sensitive approach.

The event opened with a welcome speech from Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen, Director-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture. This was followed by insightful speeches from Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights, Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, and Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport. Both highlighted the significant impact of the Erasmus+ and ESC programmes on both direct and indirect beneficiaries, while underscoring the importance of enhancing inclusivity across all Programmes’ activities.

The first panel discussion focused on the importance of accessibility as a cornerstone for fostering equal access to Erasmus+ and ESC opportunities.

All panelists agreed on the need to simplify procedures, strengthen inclusive measures as well as ensuring that digitalisation enhances rather than hinders accessibility.

Loredana Dicsi, Membership, Internal Communication & Youth Coordinator at the European Disability Forum and ESC Mentor at VIEWS International, stressed the need for consistent monitoring of accessible and inclusive approaches to ensure their effective implementation by stakeholders.
Furthermore, Dicsi emphasised that raising awareness, providing targeted training for staff, and developing skills to address inclusion and diversity are essential steps in supporting all beneficiaries. She also advocated for embedding accessible practices at all stages of programme delivery to ensure that inclusion is not merely a goal but a fundamental principle.
Gabriella Civico, Project Manager at the Centre of European Volunteering, highlighted the essential role of volunteering in strengthening democracy and promoting European values. She called for a shift in the narrative surrounding ESC projects towards their recognition as meaningful intercultural and life-changing experiences for both in-country and cross-border volunteers.
Lorraine Gilligan, representing the Irish National Agency Léargas, highlighted the need to make Programmes’ priorities more complementary and cross-sectoral. She stressed the importance of adopting an intersectional approach to inclusion and diversity, noting that participants with fewer opportunities should not be compelled to label themselves solely based on perceived disadvantages.

In the afternoon, participants joined parallel workshops exploring various aspects of the Erasmus+ and ESC programmes. VIEWS International contributed to the session on Inclusion and Outreach to a Wider Audience, focusing on strategies to enhance programme accessibility for underrepresented groups, including those with visual impairments.

Key suggestions emerging from the workshop included:

• Rethinking the age limit for all participants with a specific focus on people with fewer opportunities who faced barriers which are impacting their early participation in European projects;
• Advocating for removing stigmas linked to health issues while providing adequate mental health support during and after E+ and ESC project, if needed;
• Significantly improving accessibility features on the official platforms to better support beneficiaries during their applications as well as individuals with disabilities in navigating the digital space.

In the concluding session, attendees identified five strategic priorities for the post-2027 programming period:

1. Put European values at the centre of E+ and ESC projects, while emphasising the added value of intercultural and intersectoral learning;
2. Simplify procedures to submit, manage and report projects;
3. Foster co-creation and participatory approaches when designing the new post-2027 Programmes;
4. Increase cross-sectoral support and cooperation not only by boosting capacity building activities at the local level but also via the existing European platforms which may be improved in their content and in their usage;
5. Invest more financial resources to support Programmes’ beneficiaries and increase the quality and quantity of meaningful co-funded initiatives and projects.

VIEWS International’s perspective

VIEWS International strongly advocates that inclusion cannot be separated from accessibility. Both elements must be integrated at every stage of Programmes’ design and implementation to ensure equal access and meaningful participation.

Inclusion should be considered a necessary investment in a more equitable and diverse society. This commitment should be reflected in dedicated funding for assistive technologies, personal support, and adaptation measures, ensuring that organisations have the resources to host young people with disabilities. At the same time, youth workers from organisations participating in Erasmus+ and ESC programmes should be trained and given the right tools to support volunteers with fewer opportunities effectively.

By incorporating lessons learned from past programming periods and embracing more inclusive and accessible practices, the post-2027 Erasmus+ and ESC programmes have the potential to empower young people from diverse backgrounds, foster meaningful intercultural exchange, and create a more equal and connected European society that goes beyond its geographical borders.

During the 6-day training, our colleague Sara Porta actively participated in several activities focusing on the importance of creating impactful European Solidarity Corps (ESC) projects both for volunteers and for the involved organisations.

Participants had the opportunity to listen and discuss with topic experts on how to implement successful volunteering experiences.
Bureau International Jeunesse provided a valuable Q&A session on the ESC and Erasmus+ Youth Programmes to clarify potential doubts and suggest how to design innovative projects.
At the same time, our Director of the Executive Office and Project Manager, Anca David, was invited to talk about adapted projects for volunteers with visual impairments.
It was an enriching opportunity not only for VIEWS but also for our ESC volunteer Kinga, who explained her volunteering experience in Liège.
Great attention was also given to create safe(r) spaces in youth projects, emphasising the importance of inclusivity and safety for volunteers. Concretely, Dàtà Mgeladzé, Project Coordinator at Qommunity, shared valuable insights and a useful checklist to promote open–minded, equal and respectful volunteering and working environments for all.
Finally, Sophie Chielens, International Exchanges Coordinator at Compagnons Bâtisseurs, presented the CLIC project, based on how to increase support mechanisms for ESC volunteers.

The following days were enriched by different individual and group sessions to focus on how we perceive “solidarity”, “quality”, “volunteering”, “impact on local communities” and mostly how we address Programme’s priorities within our organisations.
Thanks to supportive attendees and interactive modules, we exchanged best practices as well as daily challenges faced when working in different countries and with diverse backgrounds.

On the last day of activities, SALTO ESC showcased interesting upcoming opportunities for those active in the European Solidarity Corps and Erasmus+ sector where our ESC volunteer Patricia was also attending with Sara.

The latter led an alternative presentation about VIEWS, focusing on our “Terms and Commitment”.

Starting from the ambiguity of the team “inclusion”, Sara proposed alternative ways to reduce the discomfort that such words can cause for and in some communities.
As a result, she referred to Italian writers and activists such as Vera Gheno and Fabrizio Acanfora who have reflected on the same term. On one hand, they focused on the discrepancies of “inclusion” and, on the other hand, they provided interesting alternatives (e.g. “Coexistence of Differences”) that might be considered a first step to a more tangible equal world for all.
Finally, inspired by the speech shared by the Italian performer, Drusilla Foer, Sara invented a neologism “Coexistence of Uniqueness(es)” that, hopefully, will let everyone feel heard and unique.The latter led an alternative presentation about VIEWS, focusing on our “Terms and Commitment”.

To conclude the day, other participants shared their presentations from Belgium, Italy, Spain, Romania and Poland. It was an enriching opportunity to openly talk about our work with other motivated and committed organisations in the youth field.

A huge thank you to the organisers, SALTO ESC and Bureau International Jeunesse, as well as to the supportive TOSCA trainers and kind participants from:
– Asociación Europa 2020 (Spain)
– The Social Circle (Spain)
– Asociatia Go Romania (Romania)
– Associazione Nur (Italy)
– Europe4Youth (Poland)
– Orfeo Art (Belgium)

One of the highlights of this exciting activity was the visit to the Escola Profissional da Ribeira Grande, which gathers young people and young adults with fewer opportunities. During the event, we also had the opportunity to learn more about the work done by organisations like the Sao Miguel section of ACAPO – the Portuguese organisation of blind and partially sighted persons – and ASISM, the organisation of deaf and hard of hearing persons of San Miguel. These inspiring visits motivated us to open useful conversations about future youth projects dedicated to young persons with fewer opportunities.

The visit included the discovery of landmarks like: Furnas area, Seven cities Lake, or the tea plantation from Ribeira Grande and taste typical foods like tuna steak just completed a nice stay and gave us ideas on how to create activities around the discovery of the rich cultural and gastronomic heritage of the beautiful Azores archipelago.

During the event, experts and organisations shared experiences, opinions and knowledge with over 1300 young Europeans who are working to bring positive change on causes that hold a particular importance for young people. Participants were empowered to learn and exchange ideas and best practices in various skill categories, such as communication, advocacy and event organising, to gain skills and experience and take their activism to their next level.

Patricia believes the event is a great learning experience for her and all the European youth involved in social causes. She shared with us some of its highlights: “we have participated to discussions with leaders and representatives, and shared our ideas with them and the other participants on the importance of the European policies and on what the European Union can do to better support the full inclusion of persons with disabilities. We have also discussed inclusion and accessibility at the local level, for instance increasing the number of ramps outside public and private buildings to make them accessible for wheelchair users, accessible pedestrian signals for persons with visual impairments, and devices facilitating access for deaf or visually impaired people”.  

“I really enjoyed the opportunity to share views and ideas for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the political life, and to meet great activists for the rights of persons with disabilities and LGBTQI+ rights from all over Europe!”