Equip youth workers
Help at least six youth workers, two from each partner, apply and reflect on nine or more facilitation techniques for AI-rich learning environments.
RISE AUSTRIA PROJECT
Mind Over
Machine
The human element in the AI era.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
AI can support learning without replacing young people’s own ideas.
Mind Over Machine is a 24-month partnership led by Asociatia Comunitati Pentru Tineret (ACT) in Romania with RISE Austria and Sustech Ability in Portugal. It aims to strengthen youth work and digital resilience by finding practical ways to use AI while protecting critical thinking, creativity and real dialogue.
The partners will adapt familiar non-formal learning activities—such as debates, brainstorming, storytelling and reflection—for settings where AI tools are available. The emphasis is on helping young people decide when technology supports their learning and when it gets in the way.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
Adapt familiar methods
Test and refine at least nine non-formal education methods with clear guidance on when and how AI can support a session.
Learn from young people
Run 12 local workshops across the three countries with at least 60 young people aged 18–30, using their feedback to improve the methods.
Build AI awareness
Support young participants in recognising when AI helps or hinders their thinking and participation, with a target of at least 70% reporting improved awareness in project assessments.
PLANNED RESULTS
Tested facilitation methods
At least nine practical techniques, refined through workshops and facilitator reflection in Romania, Austria and Portugal.
A facilitator’s toolkit
An open resource with adapted activities, “human-in-the-loop” guidance, reflection tools and tips for inclusion and ethical AI use.
Evidence and wider sharing
An impact assessment of the pilots and local launch events in all three countries to share the methods with other youth organisations and educators.
THE PARTNERS
Coordinator · Romania
ACT
Asociatia Comunitati Pentru Tineret coordinates the project, leads the needs assessment and method selection, and brings the partners’ findings together in the final toolkit and evaluation.
Project partner · Austria
RISE Austria
Contributes inclusion, digital storytelling and safeguarding expertise, tests the methods with young people in Vienna, and shares the results through a local event.
Project partner · Portugal
Sustech Ability
Brings rural youth work and reflective learning experience, tests the methods with young people in Portugal, and helps adapt them for different communities.
FOLLOW THE PROJECT
Updates & stories
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