Youth Participation and Democracy Award category

Diversity + Erasmus+ – European Opportunities and Values

Title of the Project

Diversity + Erasmus+ – European Opportunities and Values

Organisation

Locality NGO

WEBSITE

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

Project link

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

https://www.instagram.com/p/DP0o4vcjNvS/

Project dates

2025-08-01

2025-10-31

What is it about?

The main objective of the project “Diversity + Erasmus+ – European Opportunities and Values” was to increase the level of information among young people about the opportunities offered by Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps, with a special focus on diversity, inclusion, and democratic participation. 

The project aimed to reduce inequalities in access to information, combat stereotypes related to international mobility, and encourage the active involvement of young people in civic and community life at the local and European level.

The target audience consisted of young people with fewer opportunities, mainly high school students from rural areas studying in Curtea de Argeș, Argeș county and young people of Roma ethnicity from Bucharest, beneficiaries of the “Împreună” Agency. Participants were initially sceptical about European opportunities, with some expressing anti-European or xenophobic attitudes, but remained open to engagement. Their interests varied between the travel dimension of DiscoverEU and learning about participation and solidarity projects, depending on the session.

The session was designed to be accessible and relevant even to young people who are just starting out in terms of European involvement.

The project included 8 events and the steps were: 

-preparation of materials;

-information sessions and interactive presentations on Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps, and the Eurodesk network and platforms;

-thematic discussions on diversity, inclusion, European values, and democratic participation;

-presentations of concrete examples of mobility, solidarity projects, and participatory activities;

-question and answer sessions tailored to the needs and interests of participants;

-reflection and open dialogue activities on the role of young people in the community and in Europe.

-creating the social media posts;

-reporting.

Methods used:

-interactive facilitation and open dialogue;

-reflection exercises;

-learning through real examples and personal experiences;

-adapting content based on direct feedback from young people.

How is this project relevant to the specific category?

The project fits directly into the Youth Participation and Democracy category, as it promoted:

– the active involvement of young people in democratic processes through information and civic education;

– understanding of European values such as solidarity, inclusion, human rights, and diversity;

– the participation of young people in Erasmus+ projects such as Youth Participation Activities, solidarity projects, and local civic initiatives;

– open dialogue about the role of young people as active citizens of the European Union.

Through these sessions, young people were encouraged not only to consume information but to become active actors in their communities. Activities during the sessions included identifying local issues and connecting them with funding opportunities offered through Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps, such as Participation Projects or Solidarity Projects.

Young people were also encouraged to participate actively, express their opinions, and propose ideas for civic engagement or European projects, becoming co-creators of the learning process.

The sessions were very diverse in terms of the questions and stories that young people shared. From direct discussions, it emerged that:

– some participants are unable to identify the right organisations when they want to apply;

– teachers do not accept young people going on Erasmus+ projects during school;

– young Roma people are discriminated against in the selection process for Erasmus school programmes.

What was the impact of the project?

The project had a significant impact on the young participants, contributing to:

-increasing awareness of Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps opportunities;

-reducing perceived barriers to participating in European programmes;

-increasing young people’s confidence in their own skills and ability to participate in international mobility;

-stimulating interest in volunteering, civic engagement, and community projects;

-strengthening the sense of European belonging.

At the community level, the project supported the development of a culture of participation and dialogue, facilitating the connection of young people with European networks and relevant resources.

Another important component consisted of open questions posted via Slido platform, through which young people could answer questions about their access to European opportunities or ask anonymous questions so as not to create pressure in front of other participants.

According to the anonymous responses provided by the young people:

  1. The most common words that come to mind when young people hear “diversity” are: variety, acceptance, and unity.
  2. When referring to “opportunity,” most young people gave the synonym “chance.”
  3. When asked “How many European opportunities (Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps, Participation Projects, etc.) have you taken part in so far?”, young people responded:

-77% have never taken part in a European opportunity;

-19% have taken part in 1-3 opportunities;

-2% in 4-5 opportunities;

-3% in more than 5 European opportunities.

Did the project have any green focus?

Yes, the project integrated a sustainability component by:

-predominantly using digital materials instead of printed ones;

-promoting the principles of green mobility and environmental priorities in Erasmus+, DiscoverEU and the European Solidarity Corps;

-choosing locations accessible by public transport;

-encouraging participants to adopt environmentally responsible practices.

In addition, young people were informed about European opportunities that directly address issues such as environmental protection, climate change, and sustainable development.

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

Eurodesk visibility was ensured throughout the project by: explicitly integrating the Eurodesk network into the content of the sessions (role, mission, free services for young people); presenting Eurodesk tools such as the Opportunity Finder and the European Youth Portal; using Eurodesk visual and informational materials in presentations; promoting the official Eurodesk Romania channels; positioning Eurodesk as the main point of access to reliable, verified, and up-to-date information about European opportunities. The events were organised in October in the spirit of the Eurodesk campaign “Time to Move”, and were added to the Time to Move map.

Project highlights

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

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