Over the course of three days, participants explored how to strengthen their existing youth work practices within diverse Asian contexts. Through hands-on workshops and facilitated peer learning, partners exchanged insights on inclusive methodologies and discussed how newly developed StreetSmart tools on trauma-informed care, financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills can be meaningfully embedded in their local realities. A session with the mobile school methodology in Mazdurpara brought the learning to life, allowing participants to get more insight in the reality of the work of our Indian partner Ek Tara.

The exchange also had a clear ripple effect. Sixteen participants were directly trained, who will now support and train the local street work teams within their own organisations. Following the exchange, the collaboration with Ek Tara continued through two additional days of follow-up training for their local team. This training focused on reinforcing team capacities and translating the exchange learnings into daily practice. The newly acquired insights and methods were immediately applied during a mobile school session in Audhi Baghan, ensuring that reflection and learning were directly linked to concrete action in the community.

Beyond knowledge and tools, the exchange strengthened relationships across the network. Partners from India, Nepal, the Philippines, Jordan, Türkiye, Mauritius, Belgium and the Netherlands shared challenges, successes and ambitions, laying the foundation for deeper collaboration and a growing network of StreetSmart ambassadors on the Asian continent. The Kolkata exchange marked an important step in building a connected, learning-driven community committed to long-term, sustainable impact for children and youth in vulnerable situations.

We warmly thank our friends at the Forvia Foundation for making this Asian StreetSmart exchange possible.

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