The main objective of the HYPE project was to enhance the capacity of youth workers to support young people, particularly those with fewer opportunities, by strengthening their emotional intelligence and social skills. Through this initiative, we aimed to create a positive impact on the professional and personal development of both youth professionals and the young people they support. Focusing on key elements of emotional intelligence such as self-awareness, emotional regulation, empathy, and relationship management, the project sought to provide youth workers with practical tools and methodologies rooted in non-formal education. Our goal was to promote social inclusion and well-being among young people who are at risk of social and educational exclusion, including NEETs and early school leavers. At the same time, we aimed to increase the recognition and quality of youth work by offering structured training resources, a methodological guide, and a digital platform, ensuring that the outcomes of the project would be accessible, sustainable, and widely disseminated across Europe.
We initiated the “Handle Your Emotions! Promoting Emotional Intelligence Learning for Youth” (HYPE) project in response to the pressing need to equip youth workers with the tools and skills to support young people facing socio-educational challenges, particularly those who are low school performers, early school leavers, or classified as NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). Our motivation stemmed from the clear gap in formal education systems, which often prioritize knowledge acquisition over the development of emotional and social competencies crucial for inclusion, well-being, and employability. Through our daily work with youth across Europe and our analysis of EU-level data, we recognized a consistent need to enhance emotional intelligence (EQ) as a core element of youth development. Many young people today struggle with low self-esteem, limited social support, and minimal coping strategies for managing emotional stress, factors contributing significantly to disengagement from education and society. Promoting non-formal education methods, the project helped youth workers better support young people in building self-awareness, emotional regulation, empathy, and social skills.