The aim of The Greek Getaway was to support young people with fewer opportunities by providing them with an educational and meaningful travel experience through the DiscoverEU Inclusion Action. The project responded to key challenges faced by young people in Greece, including limited mobility opportunities, lack of European identity awareness, and financial barriers to travel. To address these challenges, the project set out three main objectives: - Facilitate the travel of 25 young people aged 18 across Europe, prioritizing environmentally friendly transport where possible. - Engage participants in non-formal learning, strengthening their knowledge of the EU, its values, and the practical skills needed for travel planning. - Increase awareness of the DiscoverEU Inclusion Action, reaching at least 500 young people to promote future participation in European mobility programs. The project was designed based on interviews and research highlighting how many young people felt disconnected from the EU, lacked knowledge about its opportunities, and were unable to travel due to financial constraints. For many, traveling abroad seemed unrealistic, either due to cost or fear of managing logistics independently. Furthermore, with Greece’s limited rail connections to the rest of Europe, sustainable travel options were harder to access. The project sought to expose participants to green travel alternatives, encouraging future use of trains, buses, and other eco-friendly transport over air travel. All objectives were successfully met, and some were even exceeded. All five planned trips took place as designed, with every participant completing their journey. Throughout their travels, participants were fully engaged in decision-making, learning how to manage budgets, accommodation, itineraries, and transport logistics. Efforts were made to prioritize green travel, despite some unexpected challenges. In Activity A5, for example, a full train prevented participants from boarding, as seat reservations were only available on arrival. This caused last-minute changes and increased stress, but the team adapted well. Air travel was strictly limited to Greece and the first or final destination, while all intra-European travel was done via train, bus, metro, e-bike, or walking. Participants actively engaged in non-formal learning throughout the project. They developed financial literacy, teamwork, problem-solving, and travel management skills by making joint decisions on budgeting and scheduling. The "Time to Move: Adventures in Europe" floor game, provided by Eurodesk Greece, was a particularly successful learning tool, helping participants understand EU institutions, countries, and values in an interactive way. Structured reflection sessions played a key role in helping participants process their experiences. These sessions took various forms, allowing participants to express their learning outcomes, emotions, and feedback. They gained confidence, adaptability, and decision-making skills, making them more prepared for independent travel in the future. The project also provided opportunities for real-world crisis management. Unexpected travel issues required participants to think on their feet, work as a team, and handle challenges responsibly—valuable competences that extend beyond travel into everyday life and professional settings. The project’s outreach exceeded expectations. While the initial goal was to reach 500 young people, the actual impact was significantly higher due to diverse dissemination strategies, including: - Social media posts and storytelling, where participants shared their travel experiences. - Word-of-mouth promotion, where participants introduced the project to friends, classmates, and family members. - Direct engagement with youth organizations, leading to more than 10 NGOs becoming aware of DiscoverEU Inclusion Action and encouraging future applications. - The success of these efforts means that more young people—including those who had never considered traveling—are now aware of their opportunities under Erasmus+ and DiscoverEU. The Greek Getaway successfully achieved its objectives, providing young people with a unique, transformative learning experience. Participants developed essential skills, gained confidence, and built a stronger connection to Europe. The project also enhanced LevelUP Greece’s capacity to manage international youth mobility projects and strengthened networks for future collaboration. Its long-term impact is evident, as participants are now more likely to engage in European opportunities and inspire their peers to do the same. By fostering inclusion, mobility, and sustainable travel, the project made a lasting difference in the lives of participants and the broader youth community.