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In'n'Out

2025-2-PL01-KA155-YOU-0003731362025Discover EU inclusion actionongoing
Countries: PL · Grant: €47,870

Objectives

The project grew out of our foundation’s experience in working with young creators who face various barriers in their everyday lives – economic, social, health-related, or stemming from discrimination. These are individuals who often lack sufficient financial resources or family support to organize a trip and gain educational experiences abroad on their own. At the same time, they are people full of courage and passion, taking their first independent steps into adulthood – applying to universities, looking for jobs, engaging in social and artistic activities, often despite a lack of acceptance from their surroundings. They are our inspiration for creating a project that opens the door to experiences which, for many of their peers, are self-evident, but for them still remain an inaccessible privilege. From a youth work perspective, we know that DiscoverEU mobilities are much more than just traveling. They are an intense learning process that engages all areas of life: from developing independence and responsibility, through strengthening social skills, to building a sense of belonging to the European community. Traveling across Europe requires planning, coping with unforeseen situations, making decisions in a group, and seeking compromises. Each day becomes a lesson in cooperation, solidarity, and responsibility. Such experience is invaluable, especially for young people with fewer opportunities, who often have very limited chances to practice these skills in real life. The goals of the project arise directly from this understanding. We want young creators to have a real opportunity to take part in European mobility and to benefit from the DiscoverEU experience on equal terms with their peers. We want travel to become a space of conscious learning – through observation, reflection, and creative expression. That is why we placed the process of documenting experiences at the heart of our activities: each participant keeps a reflective sketchbook, takes photographs, creates collages, and the whole journey is complemented with short video recordings. These tools not only develop their artistic competences but also help them process their experiences in real time and learn through action. Another important goal of the project is strengthening the participants’ sense of agency. The final exhibition, organized in Łódź, will be the moment when young people with fewer opportunities take center stage in a cultural event. They will be the authors and protagonists of a story about Europe as seen through their own eyes. Publicly presenting their works gives them a chance for recognition and validation of their creativity, while also allowing other young people to see that barriers can be overcome and that their experiences are just as valuable as those of any other artist. The project combines several dimensions – artistic, educational, social, and civic. Participants learn not only the art of storytelling through images, texts, or films, but also develop language, financial, and organizational skills. Traveling exclusively by low-emission means of transport allows them to practice pro-environmental attitudes, while joint budget planning and the use of food-sharing apps help them strengthen economic awareness. In this way, the project becomes a comprehensive lesson in responsibility – for oneself, for the group, and for the environment. “In’n’Out” addresses several key needs of young participants. It gives them the opportunity to travel and discover, which they were previously deprived of. It meets the need for recognition by creating a space for presenting their work and building self-esteem. It strengthens the sense of belonging – both to the peer group with whom they embark on the journey and to the broader European community, which they get to know through contact with diverse cultures and societies. From a youth work perspective, the “In’n’Out” project is a practice of education through experience: learning by traveling, meeting, and reflecting. It is a process in which young people not only gain knowledge but also discover themselves and their potential. Our aim is not just that they visit several countries, but that they return with the conviction that they can make decisions, organize themselves, cooperate, and express who they are. What begins with a train journey becomes the start of a deeper transformation – towards greater courage, openness, and awareness. At the same time, the project has a strong social dimension. Participants come back with experiences that they bring into their families, friendships, and local communities. They become inspiration for other young people, showing that participation in European life is not reserved for the privileged, but also accessible to those who until now have felt excluded. In this way, the outcomes of the project go far beyond the group itself – they radiate into the surroundings and reinforce the idea of inclusiveness that lies at the heart of the entire programme.

Project partners (1)