It all began with a simple concern: in late 2023, we noticed many local youth were disconnected, unsure about their future, and lacking basic digital skills. These weren’t isolated cases. After reaching out to trusted Erasmus+ partners—Belen (Turkey) and Tavo Europa (Lithuania)—they confirmed that similar issues affected youth in their areas too. So they decided to build something bigger, involving: – Botev Varbovo (BG), brought in by Romiscare – Teatr Krzywy (PL) and Viesmilibas Projekti (LV), long-time partners of Tavo Europa Community Mapping & Needs Analysis (Nov 2023 – Feb 2024) All partners engaged in two steps to shape the project: – SWOT Analyses helped identify local strengths, barriers, and shared challenges—especially digital exclusion, low employability, and lack of mobility opportunities. – Youth Surveys collected input from 125 young people, revealing a need for better digital tools, job-seeking support, and stronger confidence in expressing themselves online. This process shaped three clear Specific Objectives, guiding the design of the entire exchange. SO1 – Improve Digital and Soft Skills of 32 Young People Preparation Phase Each partner selected 5 participants (2 general, 2 with fewer opportunities, 1 team leader) and supported them with travel planning and 3 prep sessions: – Language & Culture (Donatas, LT): Basic Romanian, intercultural tips – Risk & Safety (Andrei, RO): Health measures, emergency contacts, local context – Group Building (Agita, LV): Ice-breaking activities and expectation sharing Mobility Activities (Vatra Dornei, Romania) Participants spent 7 days in themed, hands-on workshops using digital tools and creative methods, for example: – Social Media Skills: Debates on digital identity, meme storytelling, and a digital scavenger hunt Alexsander – Team-building & Inclusion: Group games, trust circles, and collaborative energizers Agita – Photo & Video Production: Framing, storytelling, and mobile editing tools Donatas – Short Films: Scriptwriting, filming, and editing youth-led stories Natalia – Graphic Design: Poster, meme, and reel creation with Canva Andrei – Employability & Branding: “All 4 Skills” workshop, mock interviews, digital presence Yeliz + Agita – Europass & Portfolio Building: Creating CVs and organizing all media into digital portfolios Yeliz + Donatas Evenings featured intercultural sharing, informal discussions, and reflection circles. Monitoring Tools – Daily anonymous feedback forms – Observation checklists by team leaders – Initial, Mid-term and Final evaluation Results – All 32 improved their communication, teamwork, and digital production skills – 12 completed creative digital portfolios (photos, videos, infographics) – Participants gained confidence, especially those with fewer opportunities SO2 – Support Full Participation of 12 Youth with Fewer Opportunities How We Did It Each partner conducted individual calls with their participants to identify needs, provide reassurance, and offer tailored preparation. During the exchange, we hosted inclusion-focused workshops (e.g. “Fear–Motivation–Expectation”) to support emotional safety and self-expression. Small group bonding, energizers, and informal check-ins ensured all participants felt included and respected, regardless of background. Monitoring Tools – Daily well-being check-ins – Participant reflection diaries – Final inclusion feedback sessions Results – All 12 participants were fully engaged throughout the week – Many shared their stories creatively and increased their confidence – 4 completed portfolios focused on their personal experiences SO3 – Strengthen Erasmus+ Project Skills of 6 NGOs Pre-Mobility Each organization conducted a local SWOT analysis and participated in 3 online calls to co-design content and align logistics, roles, and safety protocols. During Mobility Every NGO led specific sessions aligned with their expertise (e.g. graphic design, inclusion, media literacy, employability), contributing to a strong learning environment. Post-Mobility We held 2 follow-up partner meetings (3/25 - 7/25) and planned a final one for 10/25. Each organization supported dissemination, reporting, and shared results Monitoring Tools – 6 Internal debriefs – 6 Post-activity facilitator reports – Report in Beneficiary Module Results – All 6 partners improved their capacities in Erasmus+ design, management, and reporting – Strengthened their public visibility and built new cross-border connections What We Achieved All three specific objectives fully achieved digital portfolios were more creative and complete than expected Youth participants became local Erasmus+ ambassadors, sharing their stories in schools, youth centers, and online Local stakeholders got more involved than anticipated (e.g. youth workers, NGOs, schools)