DELEPO 3.0 in Urnieta 2026

In January 2026, an eight-day international course, DELEPO 3.0 – Leadership Training Course, took place in the rainy Basque town of Urnieta in northern Spain. Youth workers, trainers, and representatives of organisations from across Europe came together to share experiences, generate new ideas, and discover how similar, yet sometimes surprisingly different, the challenges they face in their own countries are.

The programme was highly practical and based on collaboration in international teams. Participants worked on project proposals, discussed their purpose and potential impact, and explored ways these ideas could function in real-life contexts. A large number of ideas emerged, sometimes enough to fill several future projects. Beyond the work itself, an important part of the experience was understanding how people from different countries think, plan, and communicate.

It was interesting to observe how very different approaches can lead to similar goals. What is standard practice in one country may seem innovative elsewhere, and vice versa. This exchange of experience was one of the most valuable aspects of the entire meeting.

However, a significant part of the course also took place outside the official programme. Each evening, dinner was prepared by a different trio of nationalities, who jointly bought ingredients, cooked, and presented something typical from their cuisine. The result was a colourful mix of flavours, cooking styles, and improvisation, especially when it turned out that a “typical ingredient” from home was not easily available in a Spanish supermarket. Czech potato pancakes may have been served without sauerkraut, but the garlic spread was an undeniable international success.

These international dinners quickly became one of the liveliest parts of the stay. Each evening, the kitchen turned into a small cultural hub where conversations ranged from work experience and differences in education systems to debates about whose country has the strangest traditional food.

DELEPO 3.0 was therefore not only about formal activities, but also about bringing together people working on similar topics across different parts of Europe. It provided new contacts, inspiration, and a broader perspective on how organisations can cooperate across borders. Some of the ideas developed during the course have already grown into actual project applications, and now it is a matter of keeping fingers crossed for their success. If approved, this Spanish chapter may soon continue in the form of new joint projects — and most importantly, international opportunities for young people. It is quite possible that the participants will meet again, this time not as trainees but as project partners.