Peer-to-Peer Learning Visits in Kilkenny, Ireland, and Umeå, Sweden

In September 2025, School to Work participated in a learning visit in Kilkenny, Ireland. We were invited by Martin Rafter and Grainne Burke, County Kilkenny Leader Partnership, CKLP. Later we visited Umeå, Sweden.

The ESF+ Support Center is an organization within the EU that encourages Peer-to-Peer learning and expert visits. The main purpose of the visits are to provide an opportunity for organizations to share expertise and learn from each other's experiences.

The challenges that this Peer-to-Peer learning visit aimed to address were

• youth not in Education, Employment, or Training, NEET:s.
• what challenges do our organizations meet and how do we work with this group of young people
• what can we learn from each other and what are the differences to take into account

Visit to Kilkenny

During our visit to Kilkenny we had the opportunity to learn about the work, with young people, from several different organizations. We visited the following places.

Ossory Youth

A voluntary, non-profit youth work organisation working with and for young people. Established in 1985 and operating at Desart Hall in Kilkenny. Supporting young people to connect, experience, learn and grow.

Key – Kilkenny Employment for Youth

The Centre aims to build bridges between the learners and employment placements in the Kilkenny region. By meeting potential employers and experiencing new work environments, learners can open doors and build a confidence and a CV that they can take with them as they advance to new opportunities, following on from their time in the Centre.

The Involvement Centre

A place where people with mental health difficulties can go to socialise, relax and simply have fun. Their vision is to have a base where people who have, or have had, mental health difficulties, can drop in at specified times to meet other people who are on their recovery journey. The philosophy is recovery focused, they hope to create a positive environment, where people can support each other in an informal setting.

Foróige - Drum Youth Centre

A youth project in Kilkenny, Ireland, run by the non-profit organization Foróige. It offers services primarily to young people aged 12-18 and is a community-based initiative that is supported by local and national funding. The project includes a drop-in service and a health cafe, and aims to engage young people in their own development and the wider community.

It was interesting and rewarding days with many new thoughts and ideas to bring back home.

The organizations that visited Kilkenny were

• Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Region, SALAR – Gunnar Anderzon, Johanna Kreicbergs and Anna-Lena Hed
• Services‘ organization department in Vilnius – Brigita Blavaščiũnienè and Aiste Augustaitiené
• Umeå municipality – Lina Westerlund and Peter Lundberg
• Gemeinsam selber machen, gsm, Hamburg – Susanne von Bonin and Isabel Falkenberg Mendes

Visit to Umeå

During our visit to Umeå we had the opportunity to learn about the work, with young people, from several different organizations. We visited the following places.

Hamnmagasinet (The old Harbor Warehouse)

A youth recreation center for those between 16 and 23 years old. Here they have the opportunity to bring ideas to life. Here theu will find everything from a café, stages, exhibition walls, and meeting rooms to sewing machines, bead plates, jewelry parts, rehearsal spaces, and a DJ room. There are also dedicated activities for LGBTQ+ individuals.

Framtidsverkstaden (The future workshop)

For those aged16-20 years old (within the KAA target group) who are residents in the municipality of Umeå, and does not study or work (NEETs) The goal is that the participants move on to studies, work or another meaningful and suitable activity within three month

Hikikomori (Japanese for ”the one who pulls away”)

For those aged 16-25 years old who are residents in the municipality of Umeå, Vännäs, Nordmaling, Robertsfors, Vindeln or Bjurholm, and does not study or work, has no economic support, and has no contact with other authorities. The mission is to get 80% of the participants towards a self-validated positive outcome.

Våga växa (Dare to grow)

For those aged 16-29 years old who are residents in the municipality of Umeå, Vännäs, Nordmaling, Robertsfors, Vindeln or Bjurholm and in need of support from more than one part within public sector and also in need of time and support to prepare themselves before their next step. The mission is that 25% go back to studies and that 60% go back to work or another positive individual solution.

KAA (Municipalities responsibility)

Offers meaningful activities for youths who are 16-19 years old, who have completed compulsory schooling and who are not enrolled in school or have not completed the secondary school diploma. Their mission is to try to get the youths motivated to go back to school, offering a variety of ways to get there.

The organizations that visited Umeå

• Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Region, SALAR – Gunnar Anderzon, Hanna Åkesson and Anna-Lena Hed
• Services‘ organization department in Vilnius – Brigita Blavaščiũnienè and Aiste Augustaitiené
• County Kilkenny Leader Partnership, CKLP – Grainne Burke and Lawrence Howey
• Gemeinsam selber machen, gsm, Hamburg – Susanne von Bonin and Isabel Falkenberg Mendes

The learning visits in both Kilkenny and Umeå have been very interesting and rewarding. We have all gained new insights and ideas that we will bring back to our own organizations.