The project was developed on the basis of the experience gained by the FILMFORUM Association during the pilot edition of the initiative and the research conducted, as well as on the extensive knowledge of the association’s members in the field of non-formal youth education, accumulated, among other things, through the implementation of projects under the ERASMUS+ programme and through online educational activities carried out during the Covid-19 pandemic. The aim of the project was to conduct a series of non-formal educational activities enabling young people to acquire leadership competences and to develop them into active citizens of the European Union who are aware of European values. These competences are highly desirable on the labour market, especially in managerial positions. Investment in the education of this group will bring long-term benefits – social leaders who nurture European values will contribute to the dissemination of the ideas and good practices gained from their participation in the project. The objectives of the “A35 Atelier” project closely corresponded with the goals of the Erasmus+ programme, under the Youth Participation Activities and the European Dialogue with Youth action, contributing to social change in the areas of: - providing young people with opportunities to engage and learn to participate in civil society; - increasing young people’s awareness of common European values and fundamental rights, and contributing to the process of European integration; - developing young people’s digital competences and their media literacy; - bringing together young people and decision-makers; - strengthening outreach to marginalised young people to ensure they are aware of the spaces, opportunities and experiences available to them; - ensuring equal access to non-formal learning for young people from marginalised backgrounds; - providing spaces, opportunities, resources and programmes that support dialogue and social cohesion and combat discrimination and segregation; - ensuring the participation of marginalised young people in decision-making processes, especially those concerning their own rights, welfare and interests; - strengthening the capacity of educators to work with marginalised youth; - ensuring that young people understand the impact of their actions on the environment. The project aimed to educate and train young social leaders by providing them with the necessary knowledge, tools and skills enabling them to initiate and implement their own initiatives. The project allowed young people to acquire basic knowledge and initial experience in project management; project financing and fundraising; organisation and logistics; marketing, advertising and PR; the programming of cultural initiatives; and international cooperation. The project assumed the creation of a multiplication effect – by shaping youth leaders, it aimed to increase young people’s participation in civic, economic, social and cultural life. The project effectively harnessed the potential of diverse communities with fewer opportunities as a source of inspiration and civic capital for initiating positive social change that takes into account non-obvious perspectives. The project programme also included activities aimed at building connections with youth workers and organising debates involving decision-makers and social leaders. One of the project’s assumptions was to tailor the planned activities to individuals facing a difficult start – those who lack the resources to independently initiate their own non-formal education initiatives – by enabling them to join the planned activities through open recruitment. Online components made it possible to reach individuals for whom participation in in-person activities was inaccessible. Strong engagement and motivation of representatives of marginalised groups to participate in the activities enabled them to acquire the skills needed to initiate their own projects. The project’s free-of-charge nature allowed the participation of young people at risk of exclusion due to financial status. Joint work among young people from different backgrounds helped reduce social barriers. The project included a strong component focused on involving young people from disadvantaged groups in cultural activities, as well as disseminating the methods developed for working with this group within educational practices. The active involvement of youth workers and decision-makers in the project, along with dissemination activities targeted at them, made it possible to achieve a snowball effect and influence the spread of European ideas and values among those who have a direct impact on youth education and the implementation of educational programmes. The project was implemented in line with green standards, and knowledge about these standards was also passed on to participants taking part in the initiative, which helped foster environmentally friendly habits among young people.