In May 2025, the partners of the European youth project That’s Clear! gathered in Paris for their first transnational project meeting.
On this occasion, Les Apprimeurs, project coordinator, proposed an extended programme: partners were invited to stay an extra day and take part in a joint conference day organised together with the partners of Text it Easy, a European project focusing on plain language in adult education, which was approaching its final phase.
This initiative created a unique opportunity for cross-project learning, allowing That’s Clear! partners to benefit from the experience, tools and resources developed by a project already well advanced, including tested methodologies and e-learning training modules on plain language.
Two projects, one shared ambition
Although Text it Easy and That’s Clear! address different target groups — adults and professionals on the one hand, young people and youth workers on the other — both projects share the same core ambition:
to promote plain language as a lever for inclusion, empowerment and active participation.
The joint conference day was designed as a bridge between sectors, enabling youth organisations to:
- gain a clearer overview of the state of play of plain language across Europe,
- learn from concrete practices and tested approaches,
- and reflect on how these experiences can be adapted to youth work contexts.
A full day of conferences and exchanges
Throughout the day, partners of That’s Clear! attended a series of conferences led by organisations and experts working on plain language, accessibility, literacy and inclusive communication.
Topics included:
- Plain language and access to employment, with examples from vocational training and job coaching for young people with disabilities;
- Teaching clearly in formal education, particularly in STEM subjects and for remigrant students;
- Literacy beyond reading and writing, highlighting social, cognitive and linguistic barriers to understanding;
- Accessible pedagogical resources and inclusive design principles;
- Creative and non-formal approaches, such as theatre, storytelling and debate, to foster understanding and engagement;
- Plain language and leadership, showing how clear communication empowers young people to express themselves and take part in public life;
- Clarity and digital tools, questioning how technology can support learning without overwhelming users;
- Assessing text clarity, from readability indicators to human evaluation.
For That’s Clear! partners, this diversity of perspectives reinforced a key message:
plain language is not a technical add-on, but a cross-cutting competence relevant to all youth work activities.
Capitalising on Text it Easy’s experience
As Text it Easy was nearing completion, the conference also offered valuable insights into:
- what works in training professionals on plain language,
- how to structure clear, engaging and accessible learning pathways,
- and how to translate theory into practical tools and resources.
Particular attention was given to the e-learning modules developed within Text it Easy, which served as concrete examples of how plain language principles can be integrated into digital training environments — an inspiration for future activities within That’s Clear!.
Strengthening the foundations of That’s Clear!
By participating in this joint conference day, That’s Clear! partners were able to:
- build a shared understanding of plain language concepts and challenges,
- align their approaches before the start of project activities,
- and identify ideas and methods that can be transferred to youth-focused tools, trainings and resources.
This extended meeting fully embodied the spirit of European cooperation: learning from one another, building on existing achievements, and ensuring that no project starts from scratch.
Looking ahead
This experience confirmed the relevance of connecting youth work with adult education, research and innovation.
For That’s Clear!, it marked a strong starting point, grounded in existing expertise while opening new perspectives tailored to young people and youth workers across Europe.
As the project moves forward, the lessons learned in Paris will continue to inform the development of inclusive, clear and empowering communication practices — ensuring that information is not only accessible, but also meaningful and actionable for all.