Through the project "In Our Community, Every Young Person Matters!" we aimed to enhance the inclusion and active participation of NEET youth from Balan and Jesi. Our objectives were to strengthen our organizational capacities to effectively engage this marginalized group and provide tailored support through innovative non-formal educational activities. Specifically, we sought to develop social, civic, communication, and digital competencies in 30 disadvantaged youths, empowering them to overcome social exclusion and economic challenges. Another key objective was to equip facilitators with improved skills to lead impactful workshops, ensuring sustainable outcomes beyond project completion. Additionally, given the importance of the 2024 European elections, we aimed to promote active citizenship and European values among participants, significantly increasing their civic involvement, democratic awareness, and participation in voting. Ultimately, we wanted these young people to feel recognized, confident, and actively engaged in shaping their communities.
We applied for the project “In Our Community, Every Young Person Matters!” to address the pressing needs of NEET youth (young people not in Education, Employment, or Training) in Balan (Romania) and Jesi (Italy). These young people face economic hardship and social exclusion—many are unemployed or out of school, leading to low self-esteem. In both towns, there were no local initiatives or support programs to help this marginalized group , leaving them feeling invisible and without opportunities. Our project aimed to fill this gap through inclusive non-formal education. We organized workshops to develop social, civic, communication, and digital skills helping participants build confidence and become active, valued members of the community . A key goal was to promote European values and active citizenship—encouraging these youth to raise their voices in civic life and vote in the 2024 European Parliament elections. Ultimately, we were driven by the belief that every young person deserves to be heard and valued, and this initiative gave marginalized youth a much-needed voice and visibility in their community.