The project had several important objectives from the beginning. First, it aimed to empower young people across Europe to become more engaged in democratic processes through active participation, using art as a mean to amplify their voices and bring attention to issues that mattered to them. The project also sought to enhance the skills of youth workers and youth organizations by organizing meetings and training activities focused on the exchange of best practices in non-formal education. This helped participants develop valuable competencies in storytelling, filmmaking, and graphic design. A key aspect of the project was its ability to reach out to young people who might otherwise be disengaged from civic life, especially those who tend to express their discontent with social issues in negative rather than constructive ways. Additionally, the project launched campaigns that raised awareness of challenges faced by European youth, such as discrimination and inequality. It also aimed to improve the quality and innovation of youth work beyond the participating organizations, drawing attention to youth-related issues and promoting values of non-discrimination and equality.
The Youth-R.E.C. (Recordings for Educational Campaigns) project arose from the main need to give young Europeans a voice, counteracting their lack of involvement in democratic processes in the various countries of Europe. Based on a series of studies conducted between the end of the last century and 2021, it was observed that youth engagement in traditional politics and democracy is declining, since young adults are the least likely demographic to vote in national elections, membership in political organizations among youth is decreasing, and overall interest in politics is low. Moreover, young people's trust in politics is notably low, posing a risk to the integrity of European democracy. Many youth feel powerless and believe their voices go unheard. Particularly alarming is that marginalized young people often perceive society as external to them, feel disillusioned with social structures and institutions, and are less likely to feel empowered or engage with society. The project, in this sense, aimed to restore a sense of trust and belonging to young people within civic life, raising awareness among institutions, policymakers, and stakeholders, about the importance of making youth active participants in society.