EMERGING WORLD ISSUES & THE NEED FOR RESILIENT YOUTH WORK Europe is currently facing increasing societal polarization, challenges to democratic values, and threats to social cohesion. This shift brings forth rising cultural divides, the spread of misinformation, and a decline in mutual understanding. In this context, fostering intercultural dialogue has become more critical than ever. Rural areas, in particular, are experiencing demographic shifts and changes that require stronger community bonds and deeper intercultural engagement. Young people in rural communities often face limited exposure to cultural diversity, making it essential to create opportunities for meaningful dialogue and exchange. Youth workers play a vital role in bridging cultural gaps and fostering inclusive narratives through education and mobility programs. Shooting Stars was created to support them by equipping them with tools to do so. OUR IDEA: DIGITAL & EMBODIED ECO-LEARNING THROUGH MOBILITY Shooting Stars harnesses the transformative power of mobility experiences to create learning opportunities that integrate digital tools, physical and mental well-being, sustainability, and inclusion. The project aims to equip youth workers with innovative methodologies tailored to the needs of youth with fewer opportunities, particularly those with mobility restrictions. Through Shooting Stars training activity, youth workers will: • experience the methodology first-hand, analyze its impact, and provide feedback to adapt it for their specific target groups. • engage in green travel, documenting their embodied experiences through digital traces, including videos, images, sounds, data, and maps. • collect and transform this raw material into digital and embodied tales of mobility—personal narratives that reflect their journey and learning. • collaborate as a group to create a collective, interactive story that bridges diverse identities and celebrates inclusion and creativity in Europe. • host a physical and digital exhibition to connect with local communities and extend the project's impact across personal and professional networks. OBJECTIVES: CONNECTING MOBILITY, ECOLOGY, AND DIGITAL LEARNING Shooting Stars is designed to enhance creativity, inclusion, and community building across Europe by connecting mobility experiences with ecological awareness and digital learning. Key objectives include: • providing mobility and learning opportunities for youth with fewer opportunities, particularly those with mobility restrictions. • offering mobility and training opportunities for youth workers, especially those working with vulnerable youth or experiencing mobility restrictions themselves. • developing an innovative method for youth work that is adaptable to excluded or at-risk target groups. • actively involving youth users and beneficiaries in the design and creation of this new method. • fostering inclusion by blending diverse groups, including youth with mobility restrictions, in collaborative activities. • raising awareness of diversity and inclusion by equipping participants with tools for creative self-expression and visibility. • enhancing the quality of digital and embodied learning and promoting sustainable practices in youth work. • boosting the professional and personal development of youth workers and organizations, leading to increased satisfaction and impact. • strengthening European networks by building connections and collaboration between youth workers, young people, and youth organizations. • contributing to a diverse, inclusive, and creative European identity by empowering participants to embrace and celebrate their shared and individual identities. Through Shooting Stars, youth workers will gain the tools, methods, and confidence to transform their practices and create lasting, inclusive, and sustainable impacts in their communities and beyond.