The impulse for the Universe Express project came from the cooperation of the IRIS Foundation with Energosfera in Konarzew, where we organized educational meetings and debates for young people together with volunteers. During one of these events, held on June 13 this year and addressed to young people from war-affected areas now living in Łódź and its surroundings (including beneficiaries of the Foreigners’ Integration Center), the idea was born to create a train travel project across Europe within the DiscoverEU Inclusion format. The initiative came from the youth initiative group – two volunteers of the Foundation who have long been leading activities for children and youth and are well aware of their daily struggles. It was precisely the conversations with young people, their emotions, dreams, and the barriers they face that inspired the development of the project. Young people with fewer opportunities, especially those with migration experience, encounter many difficulties in life. They often experience withdrawal and uncertainty, communication barriers, as well as stereotypes and discrimination. A lack of travel opportunities and limited access to culture further deepen isolation and a sense of marginalization. The project also responds to young people’s developmental needs connected with their desire to explore Europe independently and share their reflections. Universe Express combines travel with digital creativity – participants will conduct mini-interviews with locals, document the journey through photos and short films, create collages and digital “planetary stamps” in the form of QR codes, as well as keep a joint “Cosmic Journal” of self-reflection. In doing so, they will develop digital, language, communication, and social competences, while also learning collaboration and creative use of technology. The project addresses key challenges: the growing sense of marginalization among young migrants, unequal access to educational mobility, and the need to develop future skills. From the perspective of working with youth, this means creating an educational process based on participatory and experiential methods that foster responsibility, cooperation, and creative action. Main goals of the project, defined by the volunteers: - promoting and fostering social inclusion, with particular emphasis on youth aged 18–21 with migration experience – enabling young people with fewer opportunities, including those from migrant backgrounds, to take part in travel and gain new experiences on an equal basis with their peers - increasing cross-sectoral competences – strengthening language, digital, communication, organizational, and cultural skills through practical activities during the journey and mission-based tasks - promoting the values of integration, community, and universal EU principles, such as freedom, democracy, solidarity, equality, anti-discrimination, and sustainable lifestyles – building bonds among participants, developing intercultural dialogue, and nurturing a sense of belonging to the European community - discovering and deepening passions and strengths, including boosting self-esteem and overcoming barriers and personal limitations – creating space to explore interests and self-knowledge through creative tasks, self-reflection, and collaborative activities - raising awareness among other young EU citizens of Europe’s cultural diversity