“Rainbow the Future!” Training Course & Seminar on LGBTQI+ Awareness

Training Course, Date: 26 May 2025 – 2 June 2025 (including travel days), Location: Munich, Germany

Seminar Date: 1 September 2025 – 8 September 2025 (including travel days), Location: Gdańsk, Poland

"Rainbow the Future!" is a project designed to equip youth workers with the tools and knowledge to create safer, more inclusive spaces for LGBTQI+ individuals while challenging discrimination and misinformation.

About the Project

In many parts of Europe, LGBTQI+ individuals continue to face systemic discrimination, social exclusion, and harmful media narratives that fuel misinformation and prejudice. Despite progress in some areas, challenges remain in ensuring that young LGBTQI+ people have access to safe spaces where they can express themselves freely and be supported.

This project is designed to empower participants to become advocates for LGBTQI+ rights by enhancing their abilities to foster inclusion through intercultural learning and non-formal education. Participants will engage in meaningful discussions, share experiences, and develop sustainable tools and practices to make youth work more inclusive.

"Rainbow the Future!" is not just about learning—it’s about taking action. By the end of the program, participants will be equipped with practical strategies to foster inclusive environments, develop educational tools, and lead local and international initiatives for LGBTQI+ empowerment.

Project Objectives - The project aims to:

• Explore intersectionality, inclusivity, nonviolence, peacebuilding, and human rights in the context of LGBTQI+ communities across Europe.
• Empower youth workers to actively challenge human rights violations and discrimination against LGBTQI+ individuals.
• Provide practical tools, methodologies, and strategies for integrating gender-inclusive perspectives into peace education.
• Foster a deeper understanding of LGBTQI+ awareness as a tool to combat hate speech and discrimination.
• Equip youth workers with tools to create safe and inclusive spaces in their local communities.

About the Training Course & Seminar - The project consists of two activities:

• Training Course (Munich, Germany) - This phase focuses on:
• Understanding key concepts related to LGBTQI+ rights and safe spaces.
• Developing competencies in active listening, inclusive language, trauma-informed youth work, and non-violent communication.
• Engaging in critical thinking exercises in a multicultural setting.

Seminar (Gdańsk, Poland) - In this phase, participants will:

• Apply the skills developed in the training course.
• Design and implement advocacy and educational tools addressing local LGBTQI+ challenges.
• Take on leadership roles in shaping the learning process.
• Develop strategies to create safe spaces and foster local and international communities.

Note: Participation in both the Training Course and Seminar is mandatory. Applicants must commit to attending both phases of the project.

Is This Project for You? You should apply if you:

• Reside in Germany, Poland, Kosovo, Greece, Italy, Spain, or Türkiye.
• Have a good command of English.
• Are a youth worker, youth leader, teacher, student, activist, or NGO worker engaged in educational or youth spaces.
• Want to enhance your understanding of LGBTQI+ rights and promote safe spaces.
• Are looking for new tools and methods to support LGBTQI+ communities in youth work.
• Are part of the LGBTQI+ community and willing to share your experiences and expertise.

How to Apply ? Deadline: 27 March 2025

Apply now: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfbqHrkSVj_B9aXQ9aw7GclZUXsWqZ07Mu3qive0UfJ2uY5bg/viewform

For full details, visit: https://medium.com/@planimpactgroup/rainbow-the-future-training-course-seminar-in-lgbtqi-awareness-in-youthwork-d3cccd39a892

If you have any questions, contact us at rtf-ypan@planimpact.de.

Organizers - This project is organized by planIMPACT e.V. and the Youth Peace Ambassadors Network (YPAN) with support from the German National Agency of the Erasmus+ Programme. PlanIMPACT e.V. is a Germany-based non-profit organization dedicated to promoting human rights, peace, and democracy. Our mission is to create a society free from discrimination by empowering young individuals and strengthening their capacities in different areas.  Youth Peace Ambassadors Network (YPAN) is an informal network of 125 young peacebuilders across Europe working with conflict-affected communities. Members of YPAN are trained in human rights, non-formal education, and conflict transformation by the Council of Europe.