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A la découverte des espaces urbains européens

2025-1-FR02-KA155-YOU-0003043812025Discover EU inclusion actionongoing
Countries: FR · Grant: €46,020

Objectives

The project aims to provide young people with fewer opportunities an experience of mobility that fosters their social inclusion, autonomy, and civic engagement. Based on the principles of non-formal education, it helps them develop essential skills for their personal and professional growth while giving them access to cultural exposure and a sense of belonging to Europe. The main objective is to remove the socio-economic barriers that limit their access to mobility opportunities by offering personalized support before, during, and after the trip. This approach ensures that the participants from our association, young people from the northern districts of Marseille, can access a program they would not seek out independently, in a safe environment tailored to their specific needs. From a youth work perspective, the project is designed to empower young people by providing them with the necessary tools to actively engage in their own learning and in society. It follows a participatory approach where young people are not merely beneficiaries but active contributors to planning their journey. During the preparatory phase, they are encouraged to define their expectations and co-design their itinerary, allowing them to develop skills in planning, decision-making, and project management. The provided support goes beyond logistical assistance; it aims to strengthen their self-confidence and ability to handle unexpected situations. We aim to push these young people out of their comfort zones by encouraging them to travel beyond the northern districts and to use public transportation, something they are not particularly accustomed to due to the limited services available in their area (only buses, which sometimes do not run or are too crowded to find a seat). By meeting other European peers who regularly use public transport, this experience could serve as a moment of realization and possibly lead to a shift in values or even behavior for our participants. The DiscoverEU experience thus becomes a powerful tool for the social inclusion of young people, allowing them to step out of their daily environment and discover different cultural and social realities. This immersion fosters tolerance, intercultural understanding, and adaptability—key skills in an increasingly interconnected world. Engaging with other European youth also helps them recognize their role as active and engaged citizens within the European Union. This sense of belonging can further motivate them to participate in other mobility programs or community projects. The project also focuses on developing a sense of responsibility among the participants by integrating roles and responsibilities throughout the journey. Through peer mentoring, participants learn to support one another and work as a team, strengthening their social skills and ability to function in a group. The implementation of rotating roles during the trip, such as budget management, logistics, or activity planning, allows them to acquire practical skills that are directly transferable to their daily and professional lives. Beyond mobility itself, the project aims to create a lasting impact. The post-mobility follow-up is designed to help young people reflect on and highlight the skills they have gained. Through feedback workshops, they learn to identify their achievements and present them in academic or professional settings. The use of competency recognition tools, such as Youthpass, enables them to formalize their learning and turn it into an asset for their future. Additionally, by encouraging them to share their experiences with other young people, they become ambassadors for the program, helping to expand access to mobility for those who might still be hesitant to take the leap. In a broader perspective of youth work, this project is part of a social transformation effort aimed at making mobility accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic background. It operates on multiple levels: individually, by strengthening young people's skills; collectively, by fostering mutual support and experience-sharing; and institutionally, by raising awareness among local and European stakeholders about the importance of inclusion in mobility programs.

Project partners (1)