The NEEDLES Train-the-Trainer Workshop, held in Paris under the Erasmus+ KA210-YOU project, marked a significant milestone in shaping an inclusive, creative, and mental health–oriented methodology for youth empowerment. Hosted at 25 rue de Longchamp, the 5-day workshop brought together facilitators, mental health professionals, volunteers, and experts to co-create a replicable framework for national workshops across partner countries.

From our organization, Ms. Helena Kyratzi, psychologist, took part in this key training. Alongside the workshop’s experts in youth mental health and sociability, she contributed actively to the design and finalization of the NEEDLES methodology, which blends handcrafting—especially knitting—with techniques to support emotional resilience, social bonding, and well-being among young people, particularly those from vulnerable or marginalized backgrounds.

A major highlight of the week was the hands-on session held at a special needs organisation for adults in Paris. This real-world workshop allowed participants to apply facilitation techniques directly with students and receive valuable feedback from both learners and school staff. It proved to be a powerful learning moment—bridging theory and practice while showcasing the real impact of creative expression on self-confidence, focus, and interpersonal connection.

The NEEDLES workshop not only empowered facilitators with tools and confidence but also strengthened transnational collaboration and volunteer engagement, laying the groundwork for impactful local actions that support youth through care, creativity, and community.

 Workshop Takeaways

●       Resource Kits and validated training modules are now ready for roll-out in national workshops.

●       Facilitators left not only certified but empowered, prepared to support youth with practical and emotional tools.

●       Volunteers became integral contributors—active in evaluation, feedback, and community outreach plans.

●       Most importantly, a community was stitched together—resilient, inclusive, and ready to grow.

As one participant put it: “We came for the knitting. We left with a deeper understanding of care.”

The NEEDLES workshop in Paris was more than an event—it was the beginning of a movement where creativity meets compassion, and every stitch tells a story.