Bais: Disadvantaged young people find it very difficult to make a successful transition from school to training to work. This is confirmed by various studies (Berlin Institute for Population and Development). The problem is intensified in remote rural regions where young people often do not have the full opportunities to develop their abilities. The young people involved themselves live in regions where parties that are decidedly national and against diversity, integration and inclusion are gaining in popularity. We addressed these problems in the project "Coffee for Happiness 2021". Here, disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged young people from Germany and Poland jointly ran a café on the grounds of the educational institution. In this way, we were able to realise, among other things, the concerns of the EU Youth Strategy as well as the Erasmus programme, such as above all as empowerment, participation, social integration, inclusion, appreciation, diversity, cross-border mobility, rural development and successful transitions to work, essential aspects of the Paris Declaration of Education Ministers of 2015 as well as the diversity and inclusion strategy of Erasmus plus, where diversity is seen as an opportunity and enrichment. Erasmus Programme Dimension The combination of economic action skills, intercultural learning opportunities, democratic learning experiences and inclusion integration efforts made the project special. In the face of increasing national tendencies, xenophobia, radicalisation and climate crisis, we set a sign for tolerance, respect, diversity and sustainability with the junior company. We have consolidated social cohesion and strengthened resilience among young people. Resilient young people are better able to cope with problematic situations. Instead of resigning, they act (pro)actively to shape and improve their life situation. Our aim was to give young people the opportunity to recognise, develop and use their potential - despite the difficult conditions in the rural area close to the border. In this way, a protective wall against radicalisation and extremism, against violence and the exclusion of those who are perceived to be weaker, was practically erected. Empowerment The project pursued several goals. On the one hand, inclusion and diversity could be lived here in a very practical way. Many pupils come from special schools and children's homes, some of them have significant learning deficits or come from precarious family and social backgrounds. Through targeted empowerment, the disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged young people could be given more equal opportunities and social integration. In the structurally weak German-Polish border region, the café offers those involved the chance to gain experience in everyday working life in service and gastronomy and to acquire practical skills that they can use in their later transition to the "real" working world. Methods The junior company is a pedagogical project form that is associated with a high degree of motivation and interest on the part of all participants. It is an adequate method to bring economic mechanisms closer in an experience-oriented way and to improve chances of entering professional life. In order to facilitate good and low-conflict cooperation between the different "exclusion groups", topics such as diversity, intercultural learning, inclusion/exclusion as well as language animation played an important role. We did justice to the special situation of the disadvantaged young people by implementing an appreciative approach, securing reliable support and understanding the diversity of young people as an opportunity with a diversity-conscious attitude. With the Youthpass certificate, we have made the learning process conscious, transparent and comprehensible for everyone. "Happiness Concept The name "Coffee for Happiness" naturally has several levels of meaning. On the one hand, the visitors became "happy" by enjoying the offers, they practically perceived themselves as part of happiness. On the other hand, the name offered the opportunity to reflect on the concept of "happiness" (e.g. by living in a sustainable and healthy world). What makes us happy? We therefore made the idea of happiness visible in the café itself through quotes and pictures. In addition, the café owners did everything possible to make the visitors "happy" - through decoration, music, atmosphere. Because if the visitor is happy, if the offer and the product are good and convincing, then the feedback towards the staff will certainly be positive. And of course the project participants also felt happy in the project, through recognition, responsibility, community, respect, success and inclusion.