Digital Skills and Wellbeing: Young Adults from Three Countries Meet in France

From 26 to 31 October, 20 young participants and six team leaders came together at YMCA Centre Azur in Sanary-sur-Mer for “Respire, avance”, a six-day international exchange focused on digital skills, mental wellbeing and intercultural learning.

All participants and team leaders were under 30. The exchange connected young people through YMCA NOVA (France), YMCA Malta and CVJM München (Germany). While the partner organisations were based in France, Malta and Germany, the group itself reflected a much wider range of nationalities and life experiences, including young people from Ukraine, Italy and Hungary, as well as students and refugees.

The exchange was co-funded by OFAJ, the Franco-German Youth Office, while its digital skilling component was implemented within YMCA’s partnership framework with HP.

At the heart of the exchange was a simple idea: young people need space not only to build skills, but also to pause, reflect, share experiences and strengthen their confidence. Participants helped shape the programme themselves, ensuring that their voices, questions and aspirations remained central throughout the week.

Understanding AI, information and the future of work

A central part of the programme focused on digital skills through HP learning resources and practical sessions.

Participants explored critical thinking in the age of AI, including how to assess AI-generated content, identify misleading information and use emerging technologies responsibly.

Career-focused sessions addressed another immediate need: preparing young people for an increasingly digital labour market. Participants worked on building a professional digital presence, developing stronger CVs and preparing for job interviews.

The programme also connected digital literacy with active citizenship. During a round-table discussion in Toulon, young people explored how algorithms and social media influence the information they receive and discussed how to remain informed, engaged and critical online.

The session was hosted at the premises of Mission Locale de Toulon, a state-funded organisation supporting young people across different areas of their lives, including employment, housing and transport, and involved additional local partners including the Melting Pot Association.

The objective was not simply to teach young people how to use digital tools, but to strengthen their ability to make informed decisions about technology, information and their own professional development.

Digital skills and mental wellbeing belong together

Wellbeing was not treated as a separate topic, but as an integral part of the programme.

Under the theme “Breathe. Move forward.”, participants explored digital overload, screen time and constant connectivity, alongside practical approaches to stress management and healthier technology habits.

Through Mindful Bytes, an interactive card-based activity, participants reflected on their own relationship with digital technology and discussed ways to create more balanced habits.

The WE MIND workshops focused on stress management, positive thinking and moving beyond personal comfort zones, while the daily Hummingbird Minute created space for participants to share personal stories, experiences and messages with the group.

These activities supported one of the wider objectives of the exchange: helping young people build confidence, connect across cultures and support one another while navigating the pressures of an increasingly digital environment.

Turning ideas into projects

Participants were also challenged to move from discussion to practical action.

Using the SMART methodology, international teams developed project ideas with clear objectives, realistic actions and measurable outcomes. At the end of the week, teams presented their concepts during a pitch session.

This practical component allowed participants to apply skills in teamwork, planning, communication and problem-solving while working across different cultural and personal backgrounds.

Intercultural learning beyond the workshops

The programme extended well beyond formal sessions. With participants bringing different nationalities, cultures and life experiences into the same space, intercultural learning became part of everyday life during the exchange.

A dedicated intercultural evening was one of the highlights of the week. Participants shared food from their countries, as well as songs, games and dances, creating an informal space to discover each other’s cultures and strengthen relationships across the group.

Participants also explored Sanary-sur-Mer and Toulon and took part in activities designed to strengthen their connection with the local community.

A beach clean-up at Portissol Beach, organised with Surfrider Var Ouest, combined environmental action with citizen science and gave participants an opportunity to contribute directly to the local area.

Other activities included visits to the Diving Museum in Sanary-sur-Mer, Mont Faron and the port of Toulon.

Building skills and confidence for the next step

The Sanary-sur-Mer exchange reflects a broader YMCA approach to youth development: combining practical skills with wellbeing, participation, inclusion and international learning.

Young people need digital and AI skills to navigate education and employment, but technical knowledge alone is not enough. Critical thinking, communication, confidence, teamwork and the ability to manage technology responsibly are increasingly part of the same skills landscape.

The diversity of the group was an important part of that learning. Bringing together young people with different nationalities, circumstances and experiences, including students and refugees, created opportunities to learn from perspectives that participants may not encounter in their everyday lives.

The digital skilling component was implemented within YMCA’s partnership framework with HP, connecting digital learning resources with community-based youth work. The wider international exchange was co-funded by OFAJ, the Franco-German Youth Office, supporting mobility, intercultural learning and cooperation between young people.

After six days in Sanary-sur-Mer, participants returned home with practical digital and career skills, new approaches to wellbeing, experience in project development and relationships built across countries and cultures.

YMCA thanks YMCA NOVA, YMCA Malta, CVJM München, HP, OFAJ, Mission Locale de Toulon, Surfrider Var Ouest, the Melting Pot Association and the other local partners who contributed to the programme.

The post Digital Skills and Wellbeing: Young Adults from Three Countries Meet in France appeared first on YMCA Europe.

Fonte: YMCA EUROPE
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