Inclusive Youth Information Award category

EUth Voices for Social Change

Organisation

Youthmakers Hub

Country

Greece

WEBSITE

https://youthmakershub.com/

Project link

https://euthvoicesforsocialchange.eu/

General Overview

“EUth Voices for Social Change” is an initiative dedicated to bridging the information gap for marginalised and underrepresented youth, ensuring they gain access to European opportunities in education, mobility, and career development.

Our impact has been recognised at the European Charlemagne Youth Prize 2024, where we were honoured as the National Winner for Greece among 516 initiatives. This recognition highlights the project’s contribution to fostering European unity, cross-cultural understanding, and youth empowerment.

Main Objectives:

  • Increase awareness of EU mobility opportunities among young people with fewer opportunities (those from rural areas, economically disadvantaged backgrounds, or with disabilities).
  • Equip youth with practical skills to engage in EU programmes like Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps, and the Blue Book Internship.
  • Empower youth voices through digital storytelling and podcasting, enabling them to share their experiences and advocate for change.

Target Audience:

  • Young people (aged 18 to 30) from marginalised communities who had little or no prior knowledge of EU opportunities.
  • Youth from Greece, Italy, and Spain, particularly those facing geographical or socio-economic barriers.

Key Activities:

  • 3 Capacity Building for EU Webinars focusing on Skills Development, ESC Project Writing, and Career Opportunities in the EU.
  • 11 Podcast Training & Storytelling Workshops, where youth created digital content to amplify their voices.
  • Infographics & Videos simplifying EU opportunities for accessibility.

Methods & Eurodesk Visibility:

  • The youth-centred project ensured young people were active participants, not just recipients.
  • Eurodesk branding was widely integrated, including in infographics, promotional materials, and the “EU-nique Opportunities” video.
  • Eurodesk Greece actively participated, with Kaliopi Dalla, who is the Eurodesk National Coordinator for Greece, presenting Eurodesk services in the first webinar “Skills Development for EUth”. Her presentation in the webinar can be found on YouTube.

Thematic Category Correspondence

(50 points max)

How does this initiative (project, event, material) correspond to the thematic category

“EUth Voices for Social Change” embodies inclusivity by ensuring that marginalised and underrepresented young people gain equal access to European opportunities. Through digital and in-person activities, the project empowered youth to develop skills, express their voices, and engage with EU programmes in an accessible way. A key element was the Podcast Training Kit, providing 11 workshops in Greece, Italy, and Spain where 154 young participants, many of whom had never engaged with EU opportunities, gained digital storytelling skills. These sessions enabled them to share their perspectives on social issues, ensuring youth-led and inclusive information dissemination.

Beyond digital tools, the project incorporated physical training events to enhance accessibility. In Las Palmas, Spain, a two-day workshop focused on storytelling, digital ethics, and media production, equipping young people with practical skills to navigate the digital landscape. In Raches, Greece (October 2023), the “Greening the Digital Revolution” workshop connected young people to sustainability and digital responsibility, ensuring inclusion of those interested in ethical technology use. The Turin, Italy (February 2024) event, “An Inclusive and Sustainable Future,” tackled accessibility challenges, particularly for youth with disabilities, reinforcing the project’s mission to engage diverse youth groups.

Eurodesk played a crucial role in promoting inclusion. Eurodesk Greece actively participated in webinars, providing young people with direct access to EU mobility opportunities. The project also ensured Eurodesk visibility through branding in infographics, training materials, and the “EU-nique Opportunities” video.

By breaking down barriers through youth-led, accessible, and inclusive methodologies, EUth Voices for Social Change serves as a model for ensuring no young person is left uninformed or excluded from European opportunities.

Impact

(30 points max)

How did your project impact young people / your community?

The EUth Voices for Social Change project had a deep and lasting impact on the young participants by enhancing their skills, increasing their engagement, and fostering a sense of belonging within European opportunities.

  1. 154 young people gained digital and storytelling skills. Through the Podcast Training Kit and workshops, participants learned how to plan, script, record, and produce podcasts, equipping them with practical communication and digital media skills. Many expressed that this experience boosted their confidence in using digital tools for storytelling, allowing them to share their perspectives on social issues.
  2. 208 young people developed a greater sense of belonging and empowerment. By engaging in peer-to-peer storytelling, youth from diverse backgrounds, including those from rural areas, marginalised communities, and those facing socio-economic barriers, felt more connected to European opportunities. Testimonials highlighted that the project helped them see themselves as active citizens in the EU, strengthening their self-confidence and motivation to participate in society.
  3. 54 young people understood better how to access EU opportunities. Through Capacity Building Webinars and Eurodesk engagement, participants gained clear knowledge of Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps, and other EU initiatives. For many, this was their first exposure to such programmes, and it eliminated barriers to participation by providing step-by-step guidance.
  4. 86 young people were more engaged in social and environmental issues. The physical workshops in Spain, Greece, and Italy encouraged discussions on storytelling, digital responsibility, sustainability, and accessibility. Activities such as the “Greening the Digital Revolution” workshop helped participants recognise their role in shaping a more inclusive and sustainable digital world.

Through these experiences, youth were not just informed; they were transformed into active, engaged, and confident individuals ready to embrace EU opportunities and advocate for inclusivity in their communities.

 

Green Focus

(10 points max)

Did your project have any green focus and/or did you implement any eco-friendly measures when organising it?

The project integrated eco-conscious practices to promote sustainability in both its content and implementation. A key initiative was the “Greening the Digital Revolution” workshop in Raches, Greece, which explored the environmental impact of digital technology, an often-overlooked issue. Participants discussed the carbon footprint of digital activities, electronic waste, and sustainable digital habits, emphasising how digital presence impacts the environment. Beyond discussions, the project took practical steps towards sustainability. Participants engaged in a beach clean-up, reinforcing the connection between awareness and action. To minimise emissions, a single bus transported all participants from Athens to Raches and back. Additionally, throughout the webinars and physical events, a paper and plastic reduction policy was implemented to limit waste. By combining education, action, and responsible event planning, the project helped young people recognise sustainability as an essential part of both digital and physical engagement.

Media

Additional material

Additional information

Have you applied before?

Yes

Did you win an award before?

No

Did you receive EU funding?

Yes

Source of funding

KA2 - Erasmus+: Small-scale partnerships in youth