Why this report looks a bit different As we’re preparing for the handover of Rock Solid in the coming years, we decided to write this final report together. That means the tone may feel a little different from what you’re used to—and this time we chose to write in our mother tongue first. Our core question Our project revolved around one key question: how can we make Erasmus+ more inclusive, so that young people with fewer opportunities and those with physical or mental disabilities can truly take part? Many young people face social, physical, or other barriers. As a result, they drop out more quickly—or don’t dare to join at all. We wanted to equip youth workers and organisations with the right ideas, tools and methods so no one is left out and projects gain in quality. Learning and exchanging—together We brought NGOs and youth workers from different countries together to meet, train and exchange ideas. Participants came from 13 countries, each with their own background and experience—fuel for creativity and fresh angles. That diversity made the project lively and very instructive. The kick-off training gave us a strong foundation. Using practical examples and techniques, we explored the following “big” questions together: How do you spot young people at risk of dropping out? How do you reach the ones who stay “behind closed doors”? Why is participation so low in some groups? What can a youth worker do to make a real difference? How do you translate the new Erasmus+ accreditation into practical steps? And above all: how do you make projects inclusive while keeping them energetic and engaging? By debating these questions and exchanging good practices, a clear direction emerged. Our objectives We aimed to: Train youth workers and give them practical tools to improve inclusion and quality; Spread existing tools among teachers, social workers and youth workers; Raise awareness of exclusion—sometimes direct, sometimes indirect—and develop methods to prevent it; Build an informal network of organisations and people who keep supporting one another; Involve more young people with fewer opportunities in exchanges, because organisations are better equipped to guide them. How we worked We focused on non-formal learning: not just theory, but learning by doing—workshops, interactive activities and collaborative projects. This gave participants an immediate chance to apply new insights. A concrete result was that we co-created the content for two youth exchanges with active input from everyone. Intercultural learning was central, too. Young people shared their cultural backgrounds and learned to understand one another better. This built mutual respect and strengthened their ability to bridge cultural differences. We also invested in personal and social skills. Young people and youth workers practised empathy, resilience and conflict management; they learned to manage time, collaborate effectively and reflect critically on their own learning. That made them better prepared to handle uncertainty and challenges. What we achieved By the end, we could say we met our goals: Youth workers went home with new tools and insights. An informal network emerged; participants continue to share experiences and methods. More young people were actively involved and felt a stronger sense of belonging. Organisations developed skills and attitudes that make them readier for inclusive projects. Thanks to a clear structure, we start the new year with confidence. In the kick-off training we wrote the two exchange programmes; during the evaluation we reflected on them and planned next steps for the coming year. Of course there were challenges. Some partners didn’t have the capacity to appoint a continuity lead (“red-thread” person) for the whole cycle. Together—during the June evaluation—we decided to continue with a revised, better-fitting group. This happened amicably, with the shared aim of making the network stronger every year. Why this matters Our project directly supports the core values of the EU and the aims of Erasmus+. It enabled the mobility of youth workers, gave them the chance to learn in another country and strengthened European cooperation. More importantly, we showed that inclusion is not a side issue—it is the heart of a strong project. By involving young people with fewer opportunities, Erasmus+ becomes not only fairer, but also richer and more creative.