The project DESIGN - Developing Educational Strategies for Inclusion and Growth through Non-formal Education was implemented with the aim of strengthening the capacity of youth workers, particularly newcomers, to design and deliver effective non-formal education activities for marginalized young people, especially NEETs and those facing social and economic barriers to participation in education and training. From a youth work practice perspective, the project sought to address several concrete challenges that had been previously identified through surveys and focus groups within the partnership. These included the lack of structured approaches for designing educational activities, the need for more participatory and creative methodologies, and the increasing importance of integrating digital tools into non-formal learning environments. In response to these needs, the project pursued a set of interconnected objectives. Firstly, it aimed to equip youth workers with practical methodologies based on design thinking and competency-based learning, enabling them to create inclusive and needs-based educational strategies tailored to diverse groups of young people. Secondly, it intended to promote innovative youth work practices by reinforcing participant-centered approaches that placed young people’s experiences, perspectives, and active involvement at the core of the learning process. Another key objective was to strengthen participants’ digital competences and group facilitation skills, improving their ability to design, communicate, and deliver impactful non-formal learning activities in both physical and digital settings. In parallel, the project worked towards the development of a shared collection of non-formal education tools and methods, co-created within the partnership, to ensure long-term sustainability and support ongoing knowledge-sharing among youth workers. Finally, the project aimed to reinforce the sense of community among youth workers by fostering collaboration, co-design processes, and peer-to-peer learning. Through the exchange of practices and experiences, participants were encouraged to build lasting professional connections and contribute to a more innovative and inclusive youth work ecosystem. DESIGN contributed to redefining the role of youth workers as designers and facilitators of meaningful learning experiences, supporting both their immediate professional development and the long-term strengthening of the youth work sector.