The main goal of our Erasmus+ youth exchange project, Ready.Set.Volunteer+, was to foster a culture of volunteering among young people, especially in countries and communities where volunteerism is still emerging, underdeveloped, or not widely recognized as a valuable tool for social engagement. We believe that volunteering is the way to more inclusive, resilient, and participatory societies, as well as to the personal development of young people. Designed to address the gap in awareness and engagement with European mobility opportunities among young people. Despite the array of opportunities available through Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps, and other initiatives, many youths remain unaware of these possibilities or unsure how to access them. This project aimed to bridge this gap, fostering a deeper understanding of these programs, encouraging active citizenship, and promoting the values of volunteering. Ready to Help Viseu was established in 2022, because as young people from Viseu we felt we did not have enough outlets to be active members in our community besides our activities as students in civil society. Our organization was the fastest growing youth association, not only in our city of Viseu, but in the region, now working with over 200 local young volunteers and dinamizing tens of activities a year in our community. Working on the field with our local youth we realized they often don’t engage in local organizations because these entities and projects don’t reach them effectively and most didn’t even know of the existence of youth exchanges and the European Solidarity Corps, we also found statistics that corroborate this finding not only in PT but in Bulgaria,Turkey, Italy, Romania and Spain: Through this project, we aimed to: - Increase awareness among 35 young participants about youth organizations, the Erasmus+ Programme, European Solidarity Corps, and other European opportunities, emphasizing their benefits for personal and professional development. - Teach 35 participants about volunteering, it’s place in society and how participants can partake in different volunteering opportunities locally, nationally and on the international level. - Encourage the active citizenship and youth participation of 35 participants showcasing impact on community development, personal growth and how youth can be a part of it. - Equip 35 participants participants with essential soft skills through team workshops on project management, communication, and cultural competence, leveraging non-formal education methods. - Implement 4 volunteering actions in Viseu made possible by the work of 35 young people that include plogging in the city center, visiting the residents and staff of the Lar Viscondessa São Caetano, implementing traditional games with the children of the Cáritas Diocesana de Viseu and creating and assembling an upcycled VoluntArt piece to promote sustainability and raise awareness of climate change in the city. - Encourage young people from other nations and backgrounds to listen to and value each other's opinions and experiences while promoting tolerance and values of EU citizenship. Throughout the project, participants engaged in a wide range of activities—such as city explorations with sustainability actions, intercultural learning sessions, and volunteering with local NGOs—each designed to emphasize the diversity and importance of volunteering. We also created spaces for critical reflection, dialogue, and creativity, encouraging young people to think about the role of youth in shaping a better future.