Our objective was to increase the participation of young people aged 13–17 in Erasmus+ activities through better preparation of youth workers. We aimed to strengthen their competences in youth engagement, communication, and working with young people with fewer opportunities. We wanted to develop practical tools that could be easily used in local work. Another important goal was to show that international mobility is accessible, safe, and beneficial, even for young people without prior experience. The project also aimed to strengthen international cooperation between organisations and improve the quality of promotional and informational activities. We sought to ensure that youth workers felt more confident in encouraging young people to step out of their comfort zones and take on new challenges.
We decided to implement the project because we observed a low level of participation of younger adolescents in educational activities and international mobility. Youth workers reported difficulties in reaching young people aged 13–17, especially those from smaller towns and from environments with limited opportunities. Young people often lacked knowledge about the Erasmus+ programme, did not believe in their language and social skills, and were afraid to take part in international activities. There was also a lack of simple tools and modern communication formats that matched the habits of this age group. The project responded to the need to strengthen the competences of youth workers, increase the attractiveness of communication, and create safe and understandable ways of encouraging young people to become active. We aimed to reduce informational, social, and emotional barriers that limited young people’s participation in mobility activities.