Our main objective was to provide young people and youth workers with competencies, skills, and digital tools to better understand the European Youth Strategy and to benefit from Erasmus+ opportunities. We aimed to promote EYS, Erasmus+, and digital learning through local and international activities, empowering youth and producing media content such as videos, infographics, and animations on active participation. We wanted participants to discover available opportunities, improve their technological skills, and become more active citizens by sharing knowledge and using digital tools effectively. At the same time, we sought to increase the quality, innovation, and recognition of youth work by creating new tools that respected diversity and by developing accessible catalogues of non-formal methods supported by audio-visuals. Although we were new in Erasmus+, we believed that when young people learned new methods, they could practice them, lead them, and involve their peers, thus fostering active citizenship, initiative, and social entrepreneurship.
We applied for this project because, except for our Latvian partner, we were not very experienced in Erasmus+ but we had skilled members and volunteers with knowledge in non-formal education, digital tools, and youth participation. Our Turkish partner, founded after the devastating earthquakes, was supporting local youth and children through cultural and educational activities, and with this cooperation, we wanted to give them more tools and motivation. The Latvian partner, with strong Erasmus+ experience and its 3D printing workshop, shared innovative methods and they were a reference point for the partnership. The other partners, who had only a few experienced people, gained valuable knowledge and confidence to lead projects, workshops, and activities. All partners had big ideas but needed this small scale partnership to put them into practice. During the project, we believe that we have managed to create this snowball effect and laid the foundations for sustainable activities that will continue beyond the project.