Compass Project – community, approach, practical knowledge for professionals working with young people
In June 2025, the joint Compass vol.2 (Iránytű vol.2) project, implemented by the foundation Játszótér Közhasznú Alapítvány ("Playground Public Benefit Foundation") from Hungary, TANDEM n.o., and Harghita Business Center from Romania, with the support of the European Union, came to a close.
The aim of the initiative was to create long-term, practical, and professionally grounded tools for teachers, youth workers, trainers, and civil sector professionals. The development focused on three main areas: career planning, career orientation, and supporting entrepreneurship – with special attention to making these topics more accessible, playful, and engaging for young people.
What made the Compass project special was that it not only offered a new set of teaching materials but also laid the foundations for a professional community – a safe and supportive space where participants could share their dilemmas, methods, and experiences. The joint work resulted in three practice-oriented training programmes, along with methodological collections and preparatory video materials, all freely available through the project’s website. The teaching resources include various types of supporting materials: self-awareness workbooks, experiential games, goal-setting exercises, as well as simulations and planning tools to foster entrepreneurial thinking. In addition, the Compass team created numerous supplementary digital tools, including an online escape room, motivational cards, quizzes, and video content, all of which are also freely accessible.
Nearly seventy professionals took part in the trainings, workshops, and professional activities, while an active online community also emerged. The Compass website features more than ten professional articles and recommendations, which not only help in applying the materials but also broaden professional perspectives. Feedback showed that the Compass project did more than transfer knowledge – it also had a transformative effect on attitudes: many participants reported feeling more confident and structured in supporting young people on their career paths, while the materials encouraged independent thinking, self-awareness, and exploring internal motivation. The modules aimed at developing entrepreneurial skills also helped strengthen initiative and independence.
The importance of community learning remained central throughout the project. The Compass project series did not end with the closure of this phase – the materials remain available on the Compass website and can be integrated into individual or institutional practices. The the foundation Játszótér Közhasznú Alapítvány (HU) will continue to share knowledge within the community and welcomes all professionals who wish to support youth work in a conscious and transformative way.
Members of the Compass community meet regularly at professional events, which are announced on the project’s website as well as on the foundation Játszótér Közhasznú Alapítvány (HU) Facebook and Instagram pages. Anyone wishing to join a supportive and inspiring professional network is welcome. The project team gladly welcomes any feedback, experience, or ideas, as these help ensure that the results of the Compass projects remain truly usable, living, and evolving tools.
