With the UNITY project, our goal was to respond to some of the most pressing challenges youth workers face today, such as increasing levels of discrimination, intolerance, and inequality that young people encounter in their daily lives. We wanted to create a space where youth workers from across Europe could come together, reflect, and grow both professionally and personally. We aimed to equip them with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to challenge discrimination and promote inclusion through the power of non-formal education (NFE). Throughout the project, we worked toward the following key objectives: 1. To ensure that 24 youth workers gain a deep understanding of both the issue of discrimination and the value of non-formal education, with a focus on how the two can be effectively connected in their daily work with youth. We believed that before youth workers can inspire others, they must first reflect on their own understanding and attitudes. That’s why the project encouraged participants to explore the roots and consequences of discrimination while discovering how NFE methods can serve as powerful tools for awareness and change. 2. To give participants the opportunity to explore and practice different educational approaches, both formal and non-formal, and to better understand how they can be combined to enrich youth work. This project didn’t aim to replace traditional education but rather to complement and enhance it. We emphasized creativity, adaptability, and inclusivity in learning, encouraging youth workers to step outside of their comfort zones and reimagine how they teach and engage with young people. 3. To support the development and implementation of at least 7 non-formal educational methods related to the topic of discrimination. These methods were not just theoretical exercises — participants were encouraged to tailor them to real-life situations, test them in practice, and take them back to their local communities as concrete tools for social change. 4. To build the participants’ self-confidence and competence in using non-formal education to foster tolerance and inclusion. One of our strongest beliefs is that empowered youth workers become agents of change in their communities. Through experiential learning, shared experiences, and honest dialogue, we aimed to help participants see themselves as role models and multipliers, people who don’t just work with youth but also inspire them to think critically, act inclusively, and challenge injustice. We also wanted to stress the importance of raising awareness about inequality of opportunities in society, discrimination in all its forms, and the often-unseen social roles people adopt in different environments. A key focus was encouraging youth workers to examine these dynamics critically and develop a deeper understanding of how discrimination is embedded in everyday life, from cultural norms to systemic barriers. Through learning and applying non-formal education methods, participants were able to build the competencies needed not only to recognize discriminatory behavior but also to respond constructively, prevent future incidents, and help resolve difficult situations. These tools are especially valuable when working with young people from marginalized backgrounds or those with fewer opportunities. We believe strongly in the role of youth work as a vehicle for inclusion, and non-formal education allows youth workers to reach and empower individuals who are often overlooked in traditional systems. That’s why we placed such emphasis on professional development for those working in education, nonprofits, or youth-focused organizations. By giving them an innovative and hands-on approach to youth work, rooted in empathy and inclusion, we aimed to strengthen the overall quality of support they can provide in their local communities. The impact doesn’t stop with the 24 participants, it extends to the young people they mentor, the teams they collaborate with, and the organizations they help shape. Many of them will go on to become ambassadors for non-formal education, spreading what they’ve learned and helping others grow in the process. Ultimately, our deeper ambition was to challenge and shift the narratives around discrimination, the myths that are deeply rooted in culture and passed down unquestioned. By opening space for critical reflection and personal growth, we hoped to trigger real change, not just in the participants’ professional skills, but in their perspectives and values. This change, we believe, will ripple outward, influencing others in their networks and communities. Our shared experience as a diverse group of youth workers from across Europe reinforced the belief that even one inspired person can spark meaningful transformation, starting locally, but reaching much further.