"Rapid, sweeping, and long-lasting change is altering our planet’s environment in an unprecedented manner, while societies are undergoing profound shifts in their demographic makeup and social and economic fabrics (...). It will require a wholesale change in the way we think and the way we act – a rethink of how we relate to one another and how we interact with the ecosystems that support our lives (...). All individuals and societies must be equipped and empowered by knowledge, skills and values as well as be instilled with a heightened awareness to drive such change." (UNESCO 2014, 8). With this dynamics in mind, our projects aims at building capacities of youth workers with fewer opportunities for sustainable & meaningful work in favor of youth at risk. We will research on and promote the benefits of up-to-date outdoor-education approaches combined with other non-formal learning areas, to make use of neglected resources for the professional development of youth workers, their target groups and local communities in rural, structurally disadvantaged regions. With this project we want to contrast the lack of perspective in rural areas with a culture of openness, mutual understanding and hospitality. This is (among many other benefits) connecting youngsters at risk to their natural surroundings, strengthen resilience against prejudices and xenophobia, help them to realize the importance of an intact natural environment and also offers perspectives for fulfilling and meaningful work in the outdoor or sustainability sector or in other green jobs. Thus, the project aims at strengthening the sense of European citizenship in troubled youth and youth workers with fewer opportunities, contribute to a more cohesive society and advance & combine an awareness for the urgently needed protection of our planet with an increased ability to take part in the sustainable labor market. We want to utilize the area of outdoor education, using non-formal learning tools, as a chance to intensely and directly experience the international dimensions of education and training and increase intercultural awareness and understanding as well as language competencies. In a cross-sectoral research we want to combine the expertise & needs of the partner organizations to develop and co-create new tools and increase the quality of existing tools for this purpose. We want to pass on essential tools that enable participants to plan, create and debrief non-formal learning sessions in natural environments and also make it possible for them to participate in co-designing working environments regarding ecological, social, ethical and economical aspects. With youth workers and partner organizations from different backgrounds (experience, methods used, culture etc.) and the same need of further education (in the topics of the training) we can effectively exchange examples of best practice and explore points of contact for future collaboration and international partnerships in education and training - and thereby strengthening and expanding international networks and collaboration in the field of youth work. In this TC we also want to pass on methods and funding possibilities for future projects within and without EU funding scemes. Another focus is to increase media literacy of youth workers and youth at risk through education on: - media to plan implement and debrief activities and learning sessions in the outdoors - tools to document, disseminate and spread results and material - uses of online workspaces for project planing and implementation Also another important focus is to increase the recognition of non-formal education and life-long learning through our (and our partners) dissemination activities and use of the Youth Pass.