The implementation of Village to Vision seeks to achieve a transformative change in the lives of 20 young people from Jonadi, region of Calabria, by using non-formal learning and youth work practices that combine travelling, experiential learning, peer-to-peer exchange, and active civic engagement. Our objectives are based on tackling the specific challenges faced by rural youth with fewer opportunities, in the case of Jonadi we are talking about geographic isolation, limited access to education and mobility, high NEET rates, and low civic participation. Currently, of 4700 people the council has around 36% of the population between the ages of 0-29 years old and the opportunities for the young people are scarce, with unemployment at 41.7% (ISTAT, 2023), lack of superior education in the area and a strong youth migration. Calabria is the second region in Italy with the highest unemployment rate, with 13,2% (ISTAT, 2024). In 2021, the NEETs in Italy were 23.1% of the population aged between 15 and 29, and in the South, the incidence is double compared to the Centre-North. In fact, in Sicily, Campania, and Calabria, for 2 employed young people there are 3 others who are NEET (E.M. Associazione ARCES, 2022). Between 2020 and 2023, Calabria lost nearly 19,000 residents. Because Jonadi stands out as a young community in demographic terms, which makes it an exception and a place with a strong responsibility to act and inspire similar cities. With this project, by taking this youth to get to know different realities while deepening their understanding of their place in the wider European community, we can work on equipping them with the competences, confidence, and tools to become proactive actors in their local communities. Through visits, workshops, peer exchanges, non-formal learning, and experiential travel to rural and urban areas in Southern Europe that have successfully revitalised communities, preserved heritage, and fostered youth inclusion, participants will gain first-hand exposure to innovative rural practices and intercultural experiences that are directly relevant to their own context in Jonadi. The use of non-formal education methods, such as guided reflection, group dialogue, intercultural workshops, and peer-to-peer learning, will ensure that young people transform these encounters into conscious learning experiences. For most participants, this will be their first international trip, making it a transformative opportunity to expand horizons, foster curiosity, and strengthen their sense of belonging to Europe. Our project aims to provide young people the opportunity to discover new places but also to foster curiosity, openness, creativity, and to value diversity and inclusion. Village to Vision is only a start to empower our youth, and its objectives are not only developed for this mobility, but to integrate in a broader strategy that is to empower disadvantaged young people, give them ownership over their learning, and support them in transforming personal growth into collective action. Only in this way, Village to Vision can directly contribute to improve Jonadi’s reality and to fight brain drain, reducing NEET rates, and revitalising our community through the active participation of its youngest citizens Project Objectives: - Create opportunities for young people in Jonadi to interact and learn about different countries and cultures, enabling them to expand their horizons and develop themselves. Inspire local development in Jonadi through youth civic participation by showcasing real-life examples of successful rural revitalization and forms of development, inclusion and integration, encouraging them to take action in their community, with 70% of participants in post-trip evaluations reporting motivation to take action. - Promote digital inclusion among participants by integrating digital skills, documentation, and storytelling into the journey, ensuring the development of techniques for their personal and professional lives. - Raise awareness about democratic values of inclusion, active citizenship and interculturality, EU values and human rights by visiting cities, institutions and associations that take action in the practice of social development, as well as through non formal activities, ensuring that 80% of participants, in post-trip evaluations, report knowing more about other cultures, human rights, Erasmus+ opportunities and European values than before. - Promote intercultural dialogue by facilitating participants' interactions with different cultures and backgrounds, ensuring that participants take part in discussions about cultural diversity with different players in the European scene, to develop personal growth, independence and intercultural sensitivity. At least 1 group discussion per location visited. - Tackling the rise in the NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) population aged between 15 and 29 in Calabria and, specifically, in Jonadi.