Cosmos Youth Participated in the Project Management Training Programme in Spain

Last month, Cosmos Youth took part in the Project Management Training Programme held in A Guarda, Spain, alongside our long-term partners Crooked House (Ireland) and FOCO (Spain). The training brought together staff members from the three organisations with the shared objective of strengthening organisational capacity and improving the quality of international youth projects.

The programme focused on the practical aspects of project management, providing participants with hands-on knowledge and tools that can be directly applied in the daily management of Erasmus+ and other international initiatives. Throughout the three-day training, participants explored effective project planning methods, workload management, timeline preparation, and strategies for organising multiple projects simultaneously without becoming overwhelmed.

A significant part of the programme was dedicated to financial management and budgeting. Participants learned how to prepare project budgets using Excel, organise financial documentation, categorise project expenditures and income correctly, archive receipts, and maintain transparent accounting systems that comply with Erasmus+ financial requirements. These sessions encouraged organisations to establish more efficient internal procedures and improve the sustainability of their financial management practices.

The training also covered the preparation and maintenance of standardised templates for international projects, including administrative documents, participant forms, reporting materials, and dissemination tools. Participants discussed how consistent documentation systems can improve organisational efficiency while reducing administrative workload during project implementation.

Another important component of the programme focused on reporting, dissemination, and project visibility. Participants exchanged good practices on preparing monthly reports, documenting project activities through photographs and short online updates, recording project results, and ensuring that dissemination activities accurately reflect the project's achievements. The trainers also highlighted the importance of producing authentic reports based on real project experiences and observations.

In addition, the programme provided practical guidance on the preparation of project applications. Participants explored how to collect and organise supporting documents such as CVs, organisational portfolios, previous project examples, service quotations, and financial information required for high-quality funding applications.

As part of the training programme, Furkan Hergül, President of Cosmos Youth, delivered a practical session focusing on Excel-based budget management and Google Drive project tracking systems. During the session, he presented the internal financial management and document organisation systems developed by Cosmos Youth through its experience in implementing Erasmus+ projects and other international partnerships. The session encouraged valuable discussions among participants about digital tools that increase efficiency, transparency, and collaboration within project teams.

Beyond the technical sessions, the programme served as an excellent opportunity to strengthen cooperation between the partner organisations. Staff members exchanged experiences, discussed common organisational challenges, and explored new ideas for future collaborations in the fields of youth work, non-formal education, and European projects.

At Cosmos Youth, we believe that investing in the professional development of our team is essential for delivering higher-quality opportunities to young people. Participating in capacity-building activities such as this training allows us to continuously improve our internal systems, enhance our project management standards, and strengthen our contribution to international cooperation.

We would like to sincerely thank FOCO for hosting this training programme and our partners Crooked House for their continued cooperation. We look forward to applying the knowledge and experience gained in Spain to our future projects and continuing to build impactful international partnerships that benefit young people across Europe.