Our main objectives were to familiarise (young) professionals with EYWA and the Bonn Process and to develop and test a methodological approach for different target groups. We also wanted to reach professionals who are the first in their families to pursue an academic career. We were able to reach the target groups as well as Masters students and those in their practical year who are already working for us. Through the workshops with young people/our target groups, we aimed to introduce them to EYWA, European issues and participation in European programmes. This was particularly relevant in the context of this year's European elections. Inclusion was a key consideration throughout. The workshops with young people were conducted with very diverse groups: recently arrived young migrants, young people with lower educational backgrounds, young people in education programmes, etc. Overall, we reached a very diverse target group. While the workshops in Germany were exclusively for young migrants, the participants from Austria came from classes of the 'Ausbildungs-Fit' programme, a preparatory measure for vocational training. The participants from our Dutch partner were involved in their field of outpatient youth care and counselling.
In our daily work, we often find that both young professionals and the young people we work with on a daily basis (our target group are mainly socio-economically disadvantaged) have little connection with Europe and the EU in particular. Overall, the EU is too far away for many people, especially young people. Politics as such, but political participation, is often far removed from the reality of our target groups' lives, and this is especially true for Europe. Young professionals lack knowledge about the programmes available to them and the EU's contribution to youth work in general. The EYWA is a very theoretical construct, even for professionals experienced in European project work, which makes it difficult to grasp. If professionals can hardly explain what it means, it is almost impossible to communicate it to young people. We also know that young people need role models for their own development, role models who do not necessarily have a smooth or academic educational background. It was important for us to fill knowledge gaps and explore approaches to translating this into youth work. To do this, we worked locally with young professionals and young people in a variety of workshop settings.