On March 13 and 14, 2025, ALDA hosted two online focus groups for the STAR 2.0 project, actively involving Ukrainian youth workers. These insightful sessions, facilitated by Matilde Ferrari, had a total of eight participants (three participants in the first session and five in the second). Participants provided essential feedback and valuable insights aimed at enhancing the upcoming training programme of STAR 2.0, which seeks to promote social inclusion and youth engagement through street art. By empowering youth workers to integrate street art into their practice, STAR 2.0 harnesses its potential for creative involvement and public dialogue, helping youth express themselves and strengthen their communities.
STAR 2.0 Training Programme
The STAR 2.0 training programme consists of ten modules intended to equip youth workers with essential competencies and practical skills to effectively integrate street art into non-formal education. Street art is envisioned as a powerful tool for youth engagement, facilitation and inclusion. Each module aims to develop specific skills, employing various tools that enable youth workers to actively initiate and implement creative projects in their local communities. Participants will engage in online training to learn how to organise street art activities, such as workshops with local artists, mural creation for social expression, video documentation of the creative process, and community events celebrating the art and to build stronger communities.
Key Insights from the Focus Groups
Throughout the focus groups, participants actively contributed to the discussion of each structured module, offering valuable suggestions for enhancing the effectiveness and practicality of the training content. Insights emerged regarding the necessity of interactive learning tools, comprehensive tutorials and detailed resource materials.
One participant said,
“having a space for exchanging experiences and learning from others is essential”
Specific highlights included the need for practical, hands-on videos, clarity on legal aspects, and effective strategies for collaborating with street artists,
“direct exchanges with artists are invaluable to understand their vision and goals”.
The discussions also revealed significant interest in inclusive and participatory methodologies, emphasising the importance of resources available in Ukrainian, practical toolkits and accessible video explanations. Modules addressing the logistics of street art production, public space management, and sustainable community engagement practices also received positive feedback, with recommendations for clearly structured materials and case-study approaches.
Looking Ahead
The feedback received from these Ukrainian youth workers will significantly help the development of STAR 2.0’s future training modules and activities, ensuring relevance and practicality.
More focus groups will be conducted by other STAR 2.0 partners, further enriching the programme with diverse perspectives and best practices. These collective efforts aim to create a comprehensive and adaptable training programme.
To stay updated on STAR 2.0 activities and learn more about our mission, visit the official STAR 2.0 website and follow all the updates on our activities.
