Throughout the project proposal development phase, we realized today’s youth, or even Europe itself faces many unprecedented challenges. On the one hand, it has already been a decade since the financial crisis of 2008 erupted, with its legacy still being present & its catastrophic consequences still affecting young or older Europeans’ prosperity (i.e. rising inequalities, youth unemployment, high in-work poverty risk levels etc). On the other hand, the EU-wide unfolding refugee crisis, alongside the inadequacy of measures taken to alleviate refugee populations’ hardships & help them integrate into the European community gradually & smoothly , has led to sociopolitical phenomena, such as radicalization, stigmatization of minority groups, the rise of Euroscepticism, & the increased popularity of far-right parties. As if all these weren’t enough, the coronavirus pandemic has further aggravated the situation, in that it induced the adoption of social distancing measures and resulted in dramatic changes in our way of living. This, in turn, had an adverse effect on the psychological well-being of the world population, especially on that of young people, while it triggered a new economic downturn which was, and still is detrimental to social welfare & balance. Main Aim Hence, after having identified the above mentioned challenges for Europe and its youth community, we sought through the project at hand to enhance European youth’s knowledge on current burning social issues, strengthen their skills & competences needed to firstly comprehend in depth & then overcome the socioeconomic difficulties, as well as bridge any cultural divides that exist among European countries with the ultimate objective to shed light on the interconnectedness of our struggles and move forward together. Only by capacitating young people to reflect on the dense connections & common values European national cultures carry amid their diversity, they would then be eager to strive to preserve & further unity & harmonious coexistence among different nations, as well as actively participate in the democratic procedures, & shape their future. Specific Objectives The concrete objectives of YES! project were to: - increase participants’ knowledge and promote their reflection on modern-day social issues affecting their lives & future, such as the high unemployment rates, the rise of far-right movements, the unsustainable economic growth model, climate change, Euroscepticism, as well as on pandemic’s impact on all these phenomena - sharpen young people’s skills & competences so that they are better able to tackle all these challenges & pave the way for a more inclusive & healthier society - reinforce youth’s engagement to propel European solidarity, stability, & European values, such as democracy, human dignity, & respect for diversity - bring together youngsters with different cultural backgrounds, & raise awareness of their commonality when it comes to their respective countries’ historical origins, cultural heritage & contemporary challenges with a view to solidify their sense of unity & solidarity - create & boost participants’ sense of belonging to a broader community where multiculturalism & unity within diversity are its central traits, & where socially or economically disadvantaged groups feel welcome & unconditionally accepted - put European solidarity, together with Europe’s response to the ongoing health crisis at the heart of participants’ preoccupations inviting them to propose ways to protect & reinvigorate “union” in Europe - enhance cooperation among organizations & stakeholders active in the field of youth empowerment, facilitating the capacity building of them through networking, methodological know-how transfer & experience exchange - establish a stable & fruitful partnership with a view to strengthen the dialogue among civil society actors who seek to empower youngsters & reinforce their commitment to & trust towards European values