Learning, Sharing, Advancing: COOPOWER Partners Gather in Bratislava

While each pilot reflects the specific needs and realities of its local context, several common themes emerged from the discussions. Partners highlighted the importance of engaging vulnerable young people through accessible communication and outreach methods, strengthening cooperation between employers and education providers, and developing practical pathways that combine skills development with real-world work experience and mentoring.

 The workshop also featured an interactive peer-review session, during which partners exchanged feedback on pilot implementation, discussed challenges encountered during the first phase of activities, and explored solutions that could be adapted across different territories. The session provided a valuable opportunity to identify transferable practices and strengthen cooperation within the partnership.

 An important component of the meeting was the presentation of good practice examples from Slovakia. Representatives of Junior Achievement Slovakia, DASATO, and SPACE shared experiences in entrepreneurship education, financial literacy, mentoring programmes, and community-based youth support services. The discussions highlighted the value of integrated approaches that combine skills development, personal guidance, and community engagement to improve opportunities for vulnerable young people.

These discussions were complemented by a study visit to the Community Centre and Clubroom in Plavecký Štvrtok, hosted by People in Peril (Človek v ohrození). The visitors from the project gained first-hand insight into community-based approaches that support vulnerable groups through educational, social, and youth-focused services. The visit demonstrated how local organisations can build trust within communities and provide tailored support that helps young people overcome barriers to social and economic inclusion.

Alongside the peer-learning activities, the meeting also provided an opportunity for partners to reflect on the progress achieved during the first year of implementation and to coordinate the next phase of project activities. Discussions focused on lessons learned so far, opportunities for further cooperation, and ways to maximize the impact of pilot actions across the Danube region.

The Bratislava meeting reaffirmed the partnership's shared commitment to improving opportunities for vulnerable young people across the Danube Region. As pilot activities continue to expand, partners will build on the lessons learned through peer exchange, good practice sharing, and transnational cooperation to develop more effective pathways to employment and social inclusion.