We know firsthand that young people are leaving their hometowns, and entire minority groups are at risk of disappearing. This understanding drives our project, which aims to address the attrition of the Arbëreshë language and the broader challenges faced by minority communities in today’s globalized world. Our organization is deeply rooted in the Arbëreshë community, which uniquely positions us to tackle the challenges faced by minority groups. As newcomers to youth-focused projects, we will exploit this opportunity to grow personally and promote growth among the peers around us.. The project’s primary aim is to establish connections with other Albanian minorities, such as the Arvanites in Greece, a bilingual community, with an estimated population 200,000. Additionally, it seeks to connect with the Arnavuts in Turkey, over 500,000 of whom strongly identify with their Albanian heritage. Lastly, the initiative focuses on Albanians themselves, uniting the origin of the community with its final point of convergence in a cohesive framework. While rooted in Arbëreshë culture, the project extends its scope to include Arbëreshë youth as well as young people from various backgrounds, promoting a broader perspective on minority issues. Issues and needs Young people are leaving their hometowns – Due to media overstimulation and local influences, many young people feel inadequate and disconnected from their cultural origins. This, combined with limited rural opportunities, leads to a brain drain as they seek better prospects in cities or abroad. Minorities are being overwhelmed by globalization – Many minority communities, like the Arbereshe, are losing their languages and cultural ties due to globalization. With 40% of the world’s languages at risk, young people’s attitudes toward their heritage play a crucial role in language preservation. There is a clear gap between rural and urban areas – Rural life is perceived as limiting compared to urban areas, despite its connection to nature. A lack of cultural, recreational, and educational opportunities contributes to young people’s desire to leave in pursuit of personal and professional growth. Minority youth often don’t seize the few chances they have – Living in closed communities fosters a passive mindset, making young people less likely to embrace change. In addition to practical tools, they need cognitive resources and encouragement to break out of their comfort zones and pursue opportunities. Objectives: - Promote pride in heritage and cultural awareness among the youth of minority communities. - Equip participants and, more widely, the youngsters of the communities to which they belong with the tools to embrace new opportunities. - Decentralize cooperation realities in rural areas, creating bridges to fill the gap between rural and urban areas through access to digital platforms. - Spread sufficient information so that youngsters in our target communities can continue to live there and not leave in search of better opportunities. - Enhance the preservation of languages, customs, traditions, art, and gastronomy of Albanian minorities, and more widely, have an impact on other minorities as well. Alignment with Erasmus+ Youth Goals: Youth Goal #3: Inclusive Societies: Strengthen outreach of information to marginalized young people. Ensure that all marginalized young people have equal access to formal and non-formal learning environments.Provide more spaces, opportunities, resources and programmes to foster dialogue and social cohesion. Youth Goal #11: Youth Organizations & European Programmes: Ensure visibility and provide quality information EU youth programmes for all young people. Increase the accessibility of European youth programmes. Reach out to and support marginalized young people to be active in EU youth programmes. Youth Goal #6: Moving Rural Youth Forward: Ensure the decentralization of different activities. Establish a positive image of rural areas. Ensure the protection of rural traditions. The YE project empowers marginalized minority youth by providing tools, resources, and opportunities to reconnect with their roots and build confidence in a globalized world. Through open conversations and intercultural dialogue, it combats discrimination, fosters inclusion, and strengthens community ties. The initiative ensures youth gain visibility and access to European programs like Erasmus+ through workshops, networking, and hands-on guidance. Additionally, it promotes pride in rural heritage by integrating local traditions and addressing challenges like mobility and access to opportunities. Held in Piana degli Albanesi, Italy, the project bridges the rural-urban gap and enhances youth participation in EU initiatives.