Europe at the borders

The context

Linked to its UN ECOSOC Special Consultative Status, GEYC is making efforts in building bridges across Europe's borders, by strengthening cross-regional cooperation and fostering meaningful connections between diverse communities situated at Europe's borders across the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean region, and in the Special Territories of the EU member states.

Through various initiatives across all four portfolios, GEYC embodies the fundamental European values of inclusivity, intercultural dialogue, and democratic participation while addressing pressing challenges facing today's youth. By creating platforms for knowledge exchange and capacity building, GEYC empowers young people and civil society organizations to become agents of positive change in their communities. The organization's commitment to bridging geographical and cultural divides manifests through innovative methodologies that combine digital tools with hands-on learning experiences, enabling participants to develop critical thinking skills and counter harmful narratives.

We noticed that the young people living at the Europe’s borders share similar challenges and concerns:

• They feel disconnected from the European discussions, Brussels is seen as too far away from them and they feel that their voice doesn’t matter to European decision making. According to the 2022 Flash Eurobarometer on Youth, 58% of young people across Europe feel that their concerns are not adequately addressed by EU policies. This sentiment of exclusion is even more pronounced in rural and border regions, where civic engagement opportunities remain limited. Furthermore, only 46% of young people believe their opinions are taken into account in EU decision-making, highlighting a gap in youth inclusion at the European level.
• Most of the regions are facing economic development challenges, unemployment, their economy is dependent mostly on one sector: industry, agriculture or tourism, making them vulnerable to economic shocks. According to Eurostat, GDP per capita in the EU’s border regions was 86% of the EU average in 2021. Youth unemployment in these areas remains a pressing issue; as of February 2025, the youth unemployment rate in the EU was 14.5%, but in some border regions, it exceeds 20%. This economic fragility is compounded by limited diversification and cross-border administrative barriers, which further hinder economic growth and job creation.
• Most young people’s educational prospects often lead young people to migrate to larger educational hubs. Those who remain may find themselves limited to gigs and precarious jobs at the regional level, reflecting a lack of diverse employment opportunities and career advancement prospects. The European Commission’s 2023 report on "Brain Drain and Population Decline" highlights that rural and border regions are disproportionately affected by youth emigration, with some regions losing up to 10% of their youth population annually. Additionally, Europuls data shows that approximately 30% of young people in disadvantaged regions are engaged in temporary or part-time work, reflecting a lack of diverse employment opportunities and career advancement prospects.

Recognizing these challenges, young people have actively participated in shaping the future of territorial cooperation. During the “Youth for Future Cooperation – On the road to Interreg GO!” event held in Brussels in November 2024, 100 young participants formulated a declaration containing seven recommendations aimed at enhancing cross-border collaboration. These recommendations address issues such as improving educational opportunities, mental health support, and economic development in border regions.

These insights were also collected through direct interactions with youth, educators and youth workers from Romanian peripheral communities, during GEYC Caravan initiative, focusing on one different region each time, covering 4 cities in 5 days to reach out youngsters and promote European opportunities: Caravana Mureșului, Caravana Banatului, Caravana Maramureșului și Crișanei, Caravana Dobrogei, Caravana Olteniei, Caravana Moldovei

GEYC's work transcends traditional boundaries by nurturing sustainable partnerships between organizations from different regions, creating a robust network that amplifies youth voices and promotes shared solutions to common challenges. Through these collaborative efforts, GEYC contributes significantly to advancing regional stability, fostering mutual understanding, and cultivating a new generation of engaged citizens who uphold the principles of tolerance, sustainability, and civic participation that lie at the heart of a united and peaceful Europe.

SDGs on focus

Our efforts in numbers

Region	Where we have been active	# of mobilities since 2016	# of volunteers hosted since 2022
Western Balkans	Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia	25	0
Eastern Europe	Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia	10	12
Mediterranean region	Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey	115	10
Special Territories of EU member states	Azores (Portugal), Canary Islands (Spain), French Polynesia, Guadeloupe, Réunion (France)	14	3

Eastern Neighbourhood

Fostering resilient democracies and youth-led innovation across Eastern Europe, where GEYC builds capacity for digital citizenship and strengthens civil society as vital partners in the region's European journey.

Key Initiatives:

Overview The "Regional Workshop on Developing the Capacity of the CSOs from the Black Sea Region in Implementing the Development Effectiveness Principles/ODA Transparency and Effectiveness" was developed by GEYC at the request of the Romanian NGDO Platform – FOND, with funding from the CPDE-SIDA Programme. The workshop emerged as organizations were recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing their need to enhance capacity for planning and assessing engagement in International Development Cooperation with focus on transparency and accountability. Programme details Conducted between May-June 2021, the workshop featured five learning modules delivered through online training and coaching/mentoring. Content focused on innovative approaches in development assistance, mapping practices, effectiveness principles, impact and accountability automation, digital transformation, and building sustainable partnerships. The complementary Project Management Academy was part of the "Building CSO Capacity for Regional Cooperation within the Black Sea Region" project, supported by the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation. This component operated through a Facebook-based social learning group, an online platform, eight comprehensive learning modules, and optional coaching sessions during December 2020-January 2021. Target groups The initiative primarily served CSO representatives from the Black Sea NGO Forum, especially those from the Sustainability & Resilience Working Group. Participants came from both EU and non-EU countries including Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus, Romania, and Russia. The Project Management Academy specifically targeted professionals responsible for project implementation who sought to strengthen their organizations' resilience during challenging times. Results & impact The workshop successfully equipped participants with practical tools and methods while creating space for idea exchange and relationship building. The comprehensive learning structure provided theoretical knowledge, practical application opportunities, and individualized support through optional coaching sessions, creating a well-rounded capacity building experience for participating organizations from across the Black Sea region. The final session focused on establishing foundations for future partnerships, with participant feedback highlighting the value of peer-to-peer support and targeted coaching addressing organization-specific challenges. A notable outcome was participants' expressed interest in developing more open collaboration with donors and support institutions. A key deliverable was the development of a specialized Toolkit on ODA Transparency and Effectiveness, created within the framework of the CPDE-SIDA Programme "Promoting the Universal Application of EDC for The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)." This Toolkit serves as a lasting resource for CSOs in the region to implement development effectiveness principles in their work.

pma.geyc.ro

Overview The "Support Moldova" programme (2016-2018) was initiated by GEYC to strengthen Moldova's European integration by developing skills among youth, NGOs, and public authorities. This strategic initiative aligned with the EU-Moldova Association Agreement, preceded Romania's 2019 EU Council Presidency, supported Romania's Cooperation Programme for Development objectives, and integrated with the PRISMA European Network strategy. The programme demonstrated a systematic approach to supporting Moldova's European integration through capacity building, knowledge exchange, and strategic partnerships across multiple sectors. Programme details The programme launched on August 31, 2016 (Romanian Language Day) and ran until December 31, 2018. It used the social media hashtag #SupportMoldova to increase visibility and engagement. The programme showed consistent progress over its implementation period. In 2018, it conducted the Cultural Mapping of Chișinău project. 2017 saw an official Moldova visit, SMARTER Academy training, and the "Promoters for European Democracy" program. In 2016, activities included SMARTER Academy Moldova, EQYP project participation, GEYC Community Moldova founding, exchange of good practices, official visits, and cooperation agreements. Earlier groundwork in 2015 included training participation, PRISMA European Network launch, and digital skills development initiatives Target groups The initiative focused on young people (18-25 years) from Romania and Moldova, particularly those with fewer opportunities. It also targeted NGOs in both countries, especially youth organizations and those focused on strengthening the rule of law. Objectives The programme had two main objectives. First, it aimed to empower youth in Romania and Moldova by enhancing their competencies for better competitiveness in the European labor market and increasing their community participation. Second, it sought to strengthen NGOs as crucial factors in upholding the rule of law. Activities The programme implemented various activities including training programs, NGO empowerment initiatives, mobility programs, and exchange of good practices and expertise transfer between the two countries. Results & impact The initiative set ambitious targets including informing 1,000 Moldovan youth about development opportunities through GEYC Community, training 200 young Moldovans for improved labor market competitiveness, implementing 10 youth-focused events in Moldova, empowering 50 Moldovan NGOs through assistance and best practice exchange, involving 100 young people, NGO and public authority representatives in EU mobility programs, and engaging 5 Moldovan public authorities in structured dialogue processes.

geyc.ro/moldova

Western Balkans

Bridging historical divides through youth engagement and democratic participation in the Western Balkans, where GEYC nurtures the next generation of changemakers committed to regional cooperation and European integration.

Key Initiatives:

Overview "DEMPOD: Democratic Participation and Civic Engagement for young people in the Balkans through podcasts and vidcasts" is an Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange Project running from January 2024 to December 2026. The project is led by Action Synergy (Greece) in partnership with BRAVO (Bosnia Herzegovina), Prona (Montenegro), and Together for Life (Albania). DEMPOD specifically targets the Western Balkans region, addressing three key challenges: low levels of political participation, inadequate media literacy, and insufficient representation of youth perspectives in media. Programme details DEMPOD aims to empower disadvantaged youth to use podcasts as tools in their local contexts to increase civic engagement and participation in democratic life. The project has a particular focus on the Western Balkans, a region with unique historical, political, and social contexts where youth engagement in democratic processes is especially crucial for sustainable development and regional stability. The project places special emphasis on the Western Balkans, a region with a complex history of conflict and ongoing democratic transition. By focusing on this specific geographic area, DEMPOD addresses the unique challenges faced by young people in post-conflict societies and aims to strengthen democratic values and civic participation through innovative media tools. The cross-border nature of the project promotes regional cooperation and understanding among young people from different Western Balkan countries, contributing to peace-building and regional integration efforts. Through these activities, DEMPOD seeks to transform podcasting from a mere entertainment medium into a powerful tool for civic engagement, giving voice to disadvantaged youth in the Western Balkans and enabling them to actively participate in democratic processes that shape their communities and region. Project objectives Build the capacity of youth workers and youth organizations to use podcasts as tools for increasing civic engagement among their target groups Increase the participation of young people as agents of change in civil society through the creation and dissemination of podcasts Augment the use of podcast spaces for communicating the voices of young men and women as agents of change in civil society at community, regional, national, and international levels Target groups Trainers, facilitators, and youth workers working with young people with fewer opportunities and in post-conflict situations across the Western Balkans Young people affected by conflict in the region Local authorities, NGOs, and media organizations (for dissemination and sustainability purposes) Results & impact Needs Analysis: A comprehensive assessment of youth needs in Western Balkan partner countries Best Practices Collection: A compilation showcasing effective use of podcasts and other innovative methods for promoting democracy Educational Materials: Methodology, curriculum, and lesson plans about podcasts and vidcasts as educational tools to increase participation, translated into national languages of partner countries E-Learning Platform: Development of a digital learning environment to support the project activities Webinar Series: 12 webinars reaching 200 youths on podcasting techniques and civic engagement Podcast Festival: A 5-day online event gathering 1,000 participants, featuring podcast contests, live discussions between young podcasters, debates on podcast content, masterclasses, workshops, and opportunities to pitch podcast ideas to professionals

dempod.eu

Overview This project’s overall objective is to raise the standards of journalism and blogging, making them more gender sensitive and also to strengthen the human capacity of the NGO’s and their partnership with media in the partner countries. This is part of the process of enhancing democracy, good governance and human rights, while promoting professionalism and editorial independence.

geyc.ro/equality-journalism

Overview The Balkans without Hate Project was organized by 35mm NGO and co-financed by the European Commission through the Erasmus+ Program, Key Action 2 - Capacity building in the field of youth. GEYC partnered with six other NGOs from six Balkan countries to implement this initiative. The project explored how young people and youth work could benefit from creating genuine youth documentaries focused on multicultural societies. Programme details The project focused on exploring multicultural concepts in the Balkans and modern Europe while developing youth skills in non-violent communication, critical thinking, and media production. It aimed to highlight positive examples of multiculturalism and reduce nationality-based hate speech and violence among youth. As part of the dissemination activities, GEYC initiated four major programs: the 2nd edition of the Fellowship for Human Rights, the EQUALIS Campaign, the Hate Speech Survey in Europe (HaSpe), and the 2nd edition of the European Digital Youth Summit (EDYS 2016). The Fellowship for Human Rights (2nd edition) was a 5-month innovative program engaging four fellows in training, research, and creating opportunities to promote Human Rights. One of the fellows led a literature review essay on hate speech online titled "No Hate Speech and No Hate Speech Movements: Fighting Words – Between Hate Crime and Freedom of Speech." Project objectives Build the capacity of youth workers and youth organizations to use podcasts as tools for increasing civic engagement among their target groups Increase the participation of young people as agents of change in civil society through the creation and dissemination of podcasts Augment the use of podcast spaces for communicating the voices of young men and women as agents of change in civil society at community, regional, national, and international levels Target groups The project targeted young people across the Balkans, focusing on building understanding between different nationalities and cultures. The EQUALIS Campaign specifically involved teachers and students from Romania, while the European Digital Youth Summit brought together youngsters, educators, youth workers, and policy makers from five countries. The Hate Speech Survey in Europe aimed to gather perspectives from young people across the continent, with materials available in English, Romanian, and Montenegrin. Results & impact The EQUALIS Campaign (September 21 - December 10, 2016) successfully organized 70 events throughout Romania, involving 50 educational institutions. Activities ranged from workshops and flashmobs to artistic expression, debates, marches, and role plays, all aimed at combating bullying in schools and raising awareness about the no hate speech movement. The Hate Speech Survey in Europe (HaSpe) was completed by November 15, 2016, with final results released on December 10, 2016. This research initiative identified youngsters' perceptions about hate speech, particularly online hate speech, and their perceived role in addressing it. The European Digital Youth Summit (EDYS) 2nd edition was held on November 10, 2016, in Bucharest, under the High Patronage of the European Parliament and the Patronage of the Slovak Presidency at the Council of EU. The event focused on no hate speech and youth participation, bringing together over 80 participants from five countries. It received support from the European Parliament Information Office in Romania, No Hate Speech Movement, UNITED, PRISMA European Network, and the "Support Moldova" programme. Through these initiatives, the project successfully raised awareness about multicultural concepts, improved youth skills in non-violent communication, and contributed to decreasing nationality-based hate speech among young people in the Balkans region.

geyc.ro/bwh

Southern Neighbourhood

Cultivating sustainable development and intercultural dialogue across the Mediterranean, where GEYC creates platforms for youth-led solutions addressing shared challenges from climate change to economic opportunity.

Key Initiatives:

Overview The No-Hate Embassy is a 2-year KA2 cooperation partnership co-funded by the Erasmus+ program of the European Union. The project establishes collaboration between six organizations from both Mediterranean shores, focusing on youth as the main target group and working on intercultural dialogue and peace building. The consortium is led by the Center of Intercultural Understanding (France) in partnership with MIHI (Egypt), Euromed EVE (Tunisia), Masterpeace (Morocco), Coconut (Italy), and GEYC (Romania). This diverse partnership aims to create long-term benefits in each organization's local and national communities by leveraging different approaches and realities. Programme details Running from March 2024 to December 2025, the No-Hate Embassy project advances the values of tolerance, inclusion, and diversity, which are considered horizontal aspects for addressing youth radicalization and the spread of hate speech. The project incorporates a digital dimension by training participants and building the capacity of involved Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on digital tools to foster civic engagement while enhancing online digital skills. The project aims to consolidate bonds of solidarity to promote inclusion and intercultural dialogue in the Euro-Arab space while developing critical thinking among young people in approaching online information and preventing the proliferation of hate speech. Project objectives Build the capacity of youth workers and youth organizations to use podcasts as tools for increasing civic engagement among their target groups Increase the participation of young people as agents of change in civil society through the creation and dissemination of podcasts Augment the use of podcast spaces for communicating the voices of young men and women as agents of change in civil society at community, regional, national, and international levels Target groups The primary target groups for the No-Hate Embassy project are: Youth workers who will be trained to become no-hate ambassadors within their communities Young people aged 18-25 years who will benefit from tools for digital prevention and counter-narration Civil Society Organizations around the Mediterranean that can play an important role in limiting hate speech Results & impact The project will deliver several concrete results: Comparative Study on Hate Speech: A comprehensive assessment of hate-speech narratives and realities in the online space within the involved countries, outlining prevention measures. Training Course on Critical Thinking: Training youth workers on how to stimulate critical thinking among their target groups (18-25 year-olds) in approaching online information, detecting problematic narratives, and developing appropriate responses. Publication of Manual/Guidelines for CSOs: A comprehensive resource encompassing both findings from the comparative study and insights from the training course, designed to support CSOs in their work against hate speech. Fellowship on Deconstructing Hate Speech Narratives: An online communication campaign led by selected youth workers during a 6-month fellowship. The fellows will receive training and guidance from experts in hate speech. The fellowship will consist of a year-long learning process with three blended mobilities, strengthening the online campaign and empowering the CSOs responsible for it. Through these activities, the project will build bridges between different groups and communities, promote positive messages and narratives that emphasize shared values and common interests, engage in advocacy efforts, promote digital media literacy, and encourage ethical standards for reporting on sensitive issues.

geyc.ro/nhe

Overview The "Enhance Your Capacity Academy" digital programme was designed to provide middle-level staff from NGOs and civil society organizations in the EuroMed region with hands-on project management experience. The programme offered both a theoretical framework that participants could customize to their specific needs through coaching and networking opportunities, as well as platforms for expanding partnerships and exchanging good practices. The Academy was developed within the ALF Hands-On framework, a dynamic Capacity Enhancement Programme by the Anna Lindh Foundation, designed to empower Civil Society Organisations in the field of Intercultural Dialogue, within the framework of the Action Grant NDICI-GEO-NEAR/2022/434-371, in accordance with the Anna Lindh Foundation Multiannual Work Programme 2022-2025. Programme details The Academy delivered two rounds of training, each consisting of 18 hours, conducted in February and March. The curriculum covered nine essential topics: Organizational networking, Project planning and management (PMBOK approach), Staff management, Impact assessment, Budgeting, Fundraising, Risk management, Sustainability & follow-up, and Coaching. Project objectives The programme employed a blended learning approach, mixing asynchronous tasks and individual reflection on theoretical inputs with interactive live sessions. This e-learning methodology proved effective in reaching wider and more diverse participant profiles while transcending geographical barriers. The non-formal education methodology used throughout the training supported participants in connecting with each other, sharing ideas and best practices, collaborating, and experimenting with theoretical tools applicable to their work in an engaging environment. Target groups The programme specifically targeted middle-level staff from NGOs and civil society actors from the EuroMed region. Over 30 Intercultural Dialogue and civil society practitioners participated in the Academy, representing diverse organizations working in the Euro-Mediterranean region. Results & impact The Enhance Your Capacity Academy successfully evolved beyond a traditional training programme to become a platform for peer-to-peer collaboration, real-world application, and community building. The digital format enabled the participation of more than 30 civil society practitioners from across the EuroMed region, who gained valuable skills in project management and organizational development. The programme's effectiveness was demonstrated through the engagement of participants in both theoretical learning and practical application. By equipping these practitioners with essential skills, the Academy contributed to building capacity for driving positive change in the Euro-Mediterranean region. The combination of individual learning, interactive sessions, and collaborative opportunities created a comprehensive learning experience that addressed both theoretical knowledge and practical implementation challenges faced by civil society organizations in the region.

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Overview Capitalism and development brought many problems regarding the environment and pollution is all around the earth that is dying slowly. We focused our workshops on the following issues: Plastic Food & water waste Paper Recycling/upcycling Renewable energy Online campaign Plastic is a material which can be shaped or molded with heat and pressure. It is produced at high volume and low cost for the most common disposable items and durable goods. The main problem with plastic is that it can’t disappear from the earth and it has materials that are very unsafe for the planet, animals and for humans. It also contributes to global warming as it is primarily produced with petroleum products. Because of all the thrown away plastic, there was an 8th continent which was formed by trash: is a huge patch of rubbish evolving in the northern Pacific Ocean. It is 6x the size of France (3.4 million km2), while the mass of plastic is 6x than the one of plankton. Finally, not all plastic is recyclable, there are 7 families of plastic, separated by the origin of the materials they are made of and only families 1,2,4 and 5 are recyclable. Waste is also one of the main problems in our world : overconsumption is pollution, it’s useless and many people don’t have the same resources as we have like water or food. Food waste can be defined as the fact of throwing away food intended for human consumption. It occurs throughout the supply chain, from agricultural production through storage, processing, distribution and management to consumption. In the EU, approximately 88 million tonnes of food waste are generated each year with their associated costs. While 20% of all food produced is lost or wasted, 36.2 million people cannot afford a quality meal every other day. This also impacts the quantity of energy we need and how we can obtain it. Globally, about one third of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted. Food waste is not only an ethical and economic problem but also an environmental problem. Natural resources are used to produce food, including water. If food is wasted, these resources are also wasted unnecessarily. This is why today, it is necessary to be educated about sustainability, recycling. It is necessary to have information about pollution to think about solutions in order to save our planet. Programme details Our workshops led by the European Solidarity Corps volunteers are based on non-formal education. Non-formal education refers to any education received outside of traditional educational institutions. Therefore, everything we learn outside the classroom and school context is non-formal learning. Indeed, our aim is to help the students to open their minds by themselves. Most of the activities proposed involve the students discovering problems related to ecology and searching for solutions. This opens up dialogue, perspectives and points of view. All of our workshops start with an ice-breaker to get the students in a state of mind open to non-formal education. Indeed, as all workshops are based on non-formal education, volunteers need students to be open to play and discuss. The icebreakers also allow the volunteers to get to know their audience better and give them a clue about the energy of the class. Project objectives Raising awareness among young people regarding the sustainability challenges and empower them to take action and support relevant solutions. Target groups Young people 14-19 years old from the region of Larache, Morocco. Results & impact We reached over 500 beneficiaries. In the spirit of non-formal education, the workshops conclude with feedback from the students. During this time, the volunteers ask the students questions: what they liked, what they did not like, what can they improve? This allows the volunteers to adapt the workshops and also to measure the impact of their intervention. The feedback is also useful for the students: they feel listened to and understand that their opinion is useful. It also helps to develop their critical thinking skills and to use their voice.

geyc.ro/eco-echo

Overview #GenderIDTalks was a series of four online panels organized by GEYC in partnership with Association la Voix de l'Enfant Rural (AVER / صوت الطفل الريفي) and ANKA Youth Association. The initiative was developed within the framework of the Anna Lindh Foundation Virtual Marathon for Dialogue in EuroMed. The primary aim of #GenderIDTalks was to promote gender equality by raising awareness about women and gender stereotypes through a cross-cultural and cross-sectorial approach, connecting these issues to other key topics and empowering meaningful civic, economic, social, and cultural participation. Programme details The initiative consists of four thematic panels designed to explore gender identity through various lenses while creating intercultural dialogue and cross-sectorial perspectives on women and gender stereotypes: Panel 1 - Sustainable Development Goals and Intercultural Dialogue (June 1, 2021): Focused on addressing women and gender stereotypes issues in relation to achieving the SDGs and their targets, as well as the relevance of Intercultural Dialogue in breaking down stereotypes. Panel 2 - Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship (June 8, 2021): Provided a platform to share challenges and success stories of women in the business sector, discuss the effects of COVID-19, and explore ways to break down gender stereotypes in entrepreneurship. Panel 3 - Media & Advertising (June 15, 2021): Explored challenges and opportunities in addressing gender stereotypes in media and advertising industries, and how these narratives influence perceptions of gender. Panel 4 - Youth and Digital (June 22, 2021): Focused on the importance of youth participation, especially using digital tools, to tackle women and gender stereotypes. All panels were broadcasted live on GEYC's Facebook page and PRISMA European Network's Facebook page, making the discussions accessible to a wide audience. Project objectives to explore gender identity through various lenses while creating intercultural dialogue and cross-sectorial perspectives on women and gender stereotypes Target groups The initiative targeted diverse stakeholders from Europe and the EuroMed region, bringing together youth and various sectoral representatives to exchange experiences and ideas. The panels aimed to give voice to participants and create a platform for meaningful dialogue on breaking down gender stereotypes and enhancing intercultural understanding. The initiative specifically sought to engage younger generations who hold increasingly progressive views on gender equality. Results & impact The #GenderIDTalks initiative addressed the urgent need for action highlighted in the Global Gender Gap Report 2020 by the World Economic Forum, which noted that at the current rate of change, achieving gender parity would take nearly a century. The panels successfully created a space for raising awareness, bringing new perspectives, strengthening international relationships and cooperation, facilitating brainstorming on solutions, and giving voice to youth's concerns, expectations, and proposals. The initiative effectively positioned intercultural dialogue as the core of effective cooperation, using the four thematic panels to explore gender identity through multiple angles. By connecting gender equality to sustainable development, entrepreneurship, media representation, and digital youth engagement, #GenderIDTalks provided a comprehensive approach to understanding and addressing gender stereotypes in diverse contexts. The recorded sessions remain available as resources for continued learning and dialogue on these critical issues.

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Overview In 2017, GEYC (Romania) and AVER (Tunisia) collaborated through the Anna Lindh Foundation's Euromed Exchange Programme, with the aim of fostering intercultural dialogue, exchanging experiences in the youth and cultural sectors, and strengthening cooperation for future initiatives. The core of the program consisted of two mobilities: a GEYC representative hosted by AVER in Tunisia, and an AVER representative hosted by GEYC in Romania. Programme details The exchange program was structured around two key mobilities. Gabriel Brezoiu from GEYC spent time in Medenine, Tunisia, in September 2017, where he led non-formal education workshops for local youth, activists, youth workers, and young professionals. These workshops covered topics such as project management for both beginners and advanced practitioners, digital marketing and eSkills for volunteers, and gender equality. Additionally, he produced a short-video documentary about youth radicalization, incorporating interviews with specialists, to raise awareness at the European level about the situation in Tunisia. He also conducted research on youth participation in Tunisia, resulting in an online report that addressed the issue of low youth turnout in local elections. In October-November 2017, Lamia Ajala from AVER was hosted by GEYC in Bucharest, Romania. During her stay, she promoted Tunisian and Arabic culture through Arabic language workshops, video projections, cooking workshops, and a cultural night. She also organized social economy study visits to compare the social and solidarity economy in Romania and Tunisia, including visits to social economy startups and special schools. Project objectives Fostering the intercultural exchange between organisations from the both sides of the Mediterranean. Target groups The programme directly targeted youth, activists, youth workers, and young professionals in both Tunisia and Romania. Indirectly, it also aimed to reach a broader European audience through the dissemination of research findings and the screening of the documentary on youth radicalization. Results & impact The Euromed Exchange Programme between GEYC and AVER resulted in enhanced intercultural understanding and dialogue between Romanian and Tunisian participants. It provided valuable non-formal education and skills development opportunities for Tunisian youth in areas such as project management, digital marketing, and gender equality. The documentary and research contributed to raising awareness about youth radicalization and the challenges faced by young people in Tunisia, while also offering insights into youth participation in local governance. Furthermore, the program facilitated the promotion of Tunisian culture in Romania and fostered connections between the social economy sectors in both countries. Overall, the exchange contributed to the Anna Lindh Foundation's broader mission of promoting intercultural dialogue and cooperation across the Euro-Mediterranean region.

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Special Territories of the EU member states

Empowering youth in the EU's Special Territories as catalysts for sustainable innovation and inclusive growth, GEYC bridges geographical distances through digital connectivity and fosters local solutions that resonate across Europe.

Key Initiatives:

Overview From March 10th to March 21st 2023, a job shadowing event organized by GEYC took place in Bucharest, Romania, aimed at providing youth organizations with hands-on experience and understanding of the day-to-day tasks and responsibilities involved in working with local events and volunteers. The event was organized to help participants gain insight into the challenges and opportunities faced by youth work organizations in the context of local events and volunteer management, and how they are addressed. It took part the representatives of Association RESOPA (PrismaEU member, France) and Association Puna Reo (French Polynesia).

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Overview MAP MO’REAL YOUth was a training course designed to enhance the project management skills of youth workers, with a specific focus on decision-making and the inclusion of youth from isolated communities. The training aimed to improve youth participation in the development of their communities. Programme details The project consisted of two training courses involving 24 participants from eight organizations across seven countries, including GEYC from Romania and two organizations from France and French Polynesia. The main objectives were to introduce the Erasmus+ Youth in Action Programme, critically reflect on past international experiences, equip youth workers with decision-making knowledge for planning and developing initiatives with young people, and improve their project management competencies. The training courses were held in Gerzat (France) and Moorea-Maiao (French Polynesia) to facilitate the creation of partnerships among participating organizations and support participants in applying their new knowledge. MAP MO'REAL YOUth was the first Erasmus+ project to take place in this part of the world. Project objectives Provide youth workers with know-how in planning and developing projects that encourage local youth to participate in community building and development. Increase the understanding of different quality aspects of youth mobility projects such as project design connecting topics, objectives and activities, cooperation with partners, intercultural learning, learning assessment, impact and results; Provide an introduction to Erasmus+, focusing on main features and priorities (mainly for newcomers to the programme who have little idea of the programme Support participants in putting in practice the learnings gained, submitting quality application forms to their NAs (through planning project ideas in partnership during one TC session and offering mentoring support after the TC); Target groups The primary target group was youth workers and project leaders from isolated territories. The training aimed to equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to include and encourage young people to actively participate in community development. Results & impact MAP MO’REAL YOUth successfully trained project leaders from isolated territories on how to include and encourage young people to act in community development. The project contributed to territorial resilience through youth-led initiatives centered on ecological protection, community development, and the socio-economic well-being of the territory. By providing an introduction to the Erasmus+ Youth in Action Programme and improving project management competencies, the training courses empowered youth workers to develop and implement impactful projects in their communities. The project also facilitated the creation of partnerships among the participating organizations, fostering future collaboration and knowledge sharing, being the first Erasmus+ youth project in the French Polynesia (Project ID: 2021-1-FR02-KA153-YOU-000021035).

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Overview Environmental challenges are growing daily, triggering social and economic issues in local and regional communities worldwide. The youth exchange “Enviropreneurs Generation” represented a close call to build new intеgratеd approaches for cultural, еconomic and еcological innovative projects. Youth is the center as they play a vital role, and more than before, they are the catalysts for a bеttеr planеt throughout their endeavors. Implementing this project in Azores, Flores, on the most remote island of the Portuguese archipelago, represented a first valuable insight into authentic rural life, showcasing real environmental challenges that the people of the island were facing and connecting them with similar issues in many parts of the world, particularly in the participating countries. Inspiring youth from disadvantaged backgrounds and equipping them with the necessary entrepreneurial skills to address such issues were essential points to address for this youth exchange. The project also pushes for sustainable development and the possibility of sustainably using the environment as a resource for youth enterprises in rural areas. NEETs in rural areas will be able to understand how to use the environment as a source of birth for professional opportunities that lead to innovation.

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Overview We spent the last 8 days of March in a Youth Exchange that took place in paradise, surrounded by amazing people coming from many different backgrounds. Le Moule, in Guadeloupe was our home and our space to learn, to practice, to grow and to connect. 'Youth Eco-preneurs lab' was the place for us to learn new methods that can help us put in practice our ecological solutions for today's issues. We were 5 people representing the Romanian team, and together with people coming from Bulgaria, Greece, France, Latvia, Poland and Guadelopue we had the chance to work and to learn together, to brainstorm, to understand each other's reality and the issues our local communities are facing, especially in terms of ecology, to finally come up with new ideas of how we could help our communities in a sustainable way.

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Overview The 'Gwadapreneuriat+' project addressed five specific objectives: Provide a space for creativity and an innovation laboratory for participants, enabling them to identify local challenges and develop appropriate solutions to meet the needs of their communities. This will result in seven business plans, ready to be implemented. Bring together seven youth educators, seven young entrepreneurs, and 21 JAMOs to foster an exchange of practices and knowledge that fosters the development of young people's entrepreneurial spirit. Review and analyze trends in social entrepreneurship with high environmental, artisanal, and rural added value. Link entrepreneurial education with young people's civic engagement in society, strengthening their digital skills by focusing on the use of two digital tools (OPIN and CitizenLab). Promote the integration of young Guadeloupeans, and bring them together with other young Europeans sharing the same needs and aspirations, by organizing local workshops accessible to the public.

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Overview "EUthWORK" is a TC arising from the cooperation among 12 partners for improving the professional competences of Youth Workers and Organisations on developing Youthwork skills, methods and tools. The project aims also to strenghten the International cooperation, exchange of knowledges, experiences and learnings and the setting up of quality workshops meeting the learning needs of the target youth learners. We will have 2 main activities linked: 1 training course that will be held in France, with the topic of providing skills to the participants to act as Youth Workers and a second activity, a training course, that will be held in Reunion, France. For both activities we will have 24 participants in each (including organization team and trainers) from 11 countries: France, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Romania, Poland and Bulgaria. The participants should be the same in both activities, since they will need to develop local activities after the first training course and bring the outcomes to the second training course to evaluate the dificulties encountered and improve their facilitators skills. What does a Youth Worker do? Who is a Youth Worker? Which competences and skills should he/she have? Starting from these questions we started a reflection with our 11 partners on the skills and key-role of the Youth Worker in field of Youthwork.

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