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Social Empowering Radio – Job Shadowing

An Erasmus+ project connecting youth media organizations in Finland, Italy, and Germany to strengthen inclusive radio work with young adults. Through international job shadowing, the project promotes peer learning, professional growth, and the empowerment of marginalized youth through community storytelling and media engagement.

Social Empowering Radio – Job Shadowing

Co-learning and Empowerment Through Youth Media Work in Europe

Social Empowering Radio – Job Shadowing is a European cooperation project between three organizations committed to strengthening youth participation through community radio. The project focuses on peer learning, media empowerment, and social inclusion of young adults in vulnerable positions. It is funded by the European Union and carried out independently by the project partners.

Goals of the Project

The project supports:

  • Professional development through job shadowing: Staff members gain new skills by observing and exchanging working methods across countries and organizations.
  • Inclusive community media: Encouraging more young people to engage in radio and media work as a form of participation and self-expression.
  • Empowerment through storytelling: Community radio offers youth in marginalized positions a voice and a platform, helping reduce stigma and build a sense of belonging.

Why Community Radio?

Community radio provides a unique space where young people can:

  • Share their stories and experiences
  • Produce meaningful content on their own terms
  • Strengthen their communication, teamwork, and media skills
  • Experience a sense of agency in shaping public dialogue

Radio work can reduce stigmatization by challenging stereotypes and increasing visibility of underrepresented voices. It also develops practical working life skills and supports participants in imagining new pathways for the future.

International Collaboration

The project brings together three experienced organizations:

  • Finland: Epic Light – Sosped Foundation
  • Italy: Radio Stella 180 Young – Associazione 180 Amici L’Aquila
  • Germany: Radio Corax – Corax e.V. Initiative für Freies Radio

Through job shadowing and mutual exchange, the project partners explore and develop best practices for using radio as a tool for youth engagement, mental well-being, and social empowerment.

Outcomes and Impact

The project:

  • Builds staff capacity in working with vulnerable youth
  • Promotes international co-learning in community media settings
  • Demonstrates the transformative power of youth-led radio and storytelling
  • Lays the groundwork for long-term cooperation in inclusive media-based youth work