Creative Youth Information Award category

UP your voice in Europe

Title of the Project

UP your voice in Europe

Organisation

Locality NGO

WEBSITE

https://www.instagram.com/locality.ngo/

Project link

https://www.instagram.com/p/DPyjl4aDBGW/

https://www.instagram.com/p/DP3fF6OiHlg/

Project dates

2025-09-01

2025-10-31

What is it about?

Through “UP your voice in Europe,” Locality NGO wanted to tell the stories of young people who took part in EU opportunities, regardless of their type. Whether we were talking about the European Solidarity Corps, Erasmus+, or DiscoverEU, the young people interviewed showed how EU opportunities changed their lives.

Our main audience was represented by young people who had not yet taken part in European initiatives. We wanted to show that anyone can be a participant, community leader, or initiator of opportunities for other young people.

The activities organised consisted of: 

-identifying young people who took part in European opportunities,

-developing interview questions, focusing on: how young people gained access to European opportunities, how this changed their perception of the world, and what they learned from the opportunities they had.

-conducting interviews with the young people;

-preparing visual materials,

-cross-posting on multiple social media channels 

-reporting.

Methods used: 

Peer-to-peer storytelling (young participants shared their own Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps experiences through first-person narratives. We chose that form because it functions as an informal learning tool. In that way, the information is transmitted credibly and authentically by peers rather than institutions)

Visual storytelling and creative communication (The project used portraits, quotes, and documentary-style photographs to transform information into visual narratives. This creative approach increased emotional engagement and made complex topics more approachable)

Youth-friendly information design (Content was adapted to young people’s communication habits by using clear language, short formats, and visually structured materials. This ensured inclusivity, particularly for young people with fewer opportunities)

Experiential learning (Information was linked to lived experience, reflection, and personal outcomes. This method helped participants move beyond awareness towards motivation and action)

Role-modelling and inspiration (By showcasing diverse profiles, the initiative used identification and role-modelling as an indirect method of information) information into visual narratives. -This creative approach increased emotional engagement and made complex topics more approachable)

-Youth-friendly information design (Content was adapted to young people’s communication habits by using clear language, short formats, and visually structured materials. This ensured inclusivity, particularly for young people with fewer opportunities)

-Experiential learning (Information was linked to lived experience, reflection, and personal outcomes. This method helped participants move beyond awareness towards motivation and action)

-Role-modelling and inspiration (By showcasing diverse profiles, the initiative used identification and role-modelling as an indirect method of information)

How is this project relevant to the specific category?

Up Your Voice in Europe can be easily linked to the Creative Youth Information thematic category. It combines information about European opportunities for youth with creative, youth-led communication methods.

The central idea is that complex programmes such as Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps can be presented as accessible, relatable, and motivating information for young people.

We aimed to switch the institutional language to personal stories, quotes, and real-life experiences shared by young participants. This peer-to-peer approach increases credibility, emotional connection, and understanding—key principles of youth information.

Creativity is central to both the format and the process. Information is delivered through visual storytelling, combining portraits, testimonials, and a coherent graphic identity. The initiative was designed to be more attractive to youth followers, presenting information visually, quickly, and through social narratives. In this way, traditional information was transformed into engaging creative content.

The initiative is also participatory and youth-centred. Young people are not only recipients of information; they are active contributors who shape the messages, share their voices, and become information multipliers within their communities. This empowers them to see themselves as active agents in European programmes and democratic life.

Up Your Voice in Europe also promotes critical thinking, inclusion, and equal access to information, particularly for young people with fewer opportunities. By showcasing diverse profiles and experiences, it challenges stereotypes and encourages broader participation.

Overall, the initiative fully aligns with the Creative Youth Information category by ensuring that information is not only correct and relevant but also creative, engaging, peer-driven, and empowering, enabling young people to make informed choices and actively engage in European opportunities.

What was the impact of the project?

For young people, this campaign significantly reduced psychological and informational barriers related to European opportunities, especially Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps. 

Through peer testimonies and interactive sessions, European opportunities were no longer perceived as distant or inaccessible, but as realistic options for young people from diverse backgrounds. I talked to young people from different social backgrounds and young people with limited opportunities. The main focus was on young people from rural areas because there is a lack of accessible opportunities for them in Romania. 

Through this, participants reported increased motivation, self-confidence, and a stronger belief that their voices and experiences matter. 

The initiative also supported the development of key transversal competences, including communication skills, critical thinking, openness to diversity, and civic awareness. By engaging with real stories of mobility, inclusion, and learning, young people were encouraged to reflect on their own aspirations and role within the European Union. 

Importantly, participants were not passive recipients of information. They became active contributors and multipliers, sharing experiences and insights with peers through their own social media platforms. 

At the community level, the project contributed to stronger national awareness of European youth opportunities, particularly in contexts where access to non-formal education and international programmes is limited. 

The creative materials produced (visual stories and testimonials) continue to be used as information and inspiration tools beyond the initial activities, extending the project’s reach and sustainability.

By promoting diversity, inclusion, openness and participation, Up Your Voice in Europe helped foster a more informed, confident, and engaged youth community, one that views European programmes not only as opportunities for mobility, but as tools for personal development, social cohesion, and active citizenship.

In total, the materials were viewed by 8,000 young people across Romania, according to the Eurodesk Romania general report.

Did the project have any green focus?

Given that the activity was entirely digital, it can be considered eco-friendly. The young people interviewed were interviewed online. Thus, no raw materials were used and carbon emissions were zero.

How did you ensure Eurodesk's visibility in your project?

Eurodesk’s visibility was ensured consistently and strategically throughout all stages of the initiative, both offline and online. During the interviews, we pointed out to the young people that the interviews were part of a Eurodesk multiplier initiative. First, Eurodesk Romania’s visual identity was clearly integrated into all communication and promotional materials. The Eurodesk logo was displayed on visual storytelling materials, alongside partner logos, ensuring clear brand recognition and attribution. Second, the initiative promoted Eurodesk channels and tools. Young people were encouraged to use the Eurodesk Opportunity Finder website, and consult local Eurodesk multipliers for future opportunities.

Project highlights

https://www.instagram.com/p/DPyjl4aDBGW/

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