Despite the European Union’s commitment to inclusive economic growth and social cohesion, youth unemployment remains one of the most persistent and complex challenges across many EU countries. Rapid technological change, economic uncertainty, and evolving labour market demands continue to create significant barriers to stable employment for young people. Even as Europe rebounds from recent crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, young people are disproportionately affected by unemployment, underemployment, and a lack of entrepreneurial opportunities, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds or rural areas. According to Eurostat, as of March 2025, youth unemployment remains a significant challenge across the partner countries: Bulgaria – 10.2%, Romania – 24.8%, Estonia – 17.9% and Greece – 22,8 % (https://tinyurl.com/2h3wh2t7). These figures demonstrate that, despite some national improvements, stable employment opportunities are still limited for many young people. In Cyprus, the rate stands at 9.9%, but much of this is driven by seasonal employment in tourism, which does not ensure long-term job security (Trading Economics, YCharts, https://tinyurl.com/5n7kfwwu). In regions like Agros, we observe that many young people, especially those from disadvantaged or rural backgrounds, face persistent barriers to accessing lasting employment. They often lack practical experience, entrepreneurial competences, and personal guidance, leaving them disconnected from the labour market. A similar situation exists across our partner countries – Estonia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece, where youth from rural areas, low-income families, or underrepresented communities continue to face systemic obstacles in accessing quality jobs, entrepreneurial support, or mentorship. Through the youth work, consultations, observations, and local needs assessments, our organisations identified a shared challenge: Young people possess creativity, motivation, and ambition, but they lack practical tools, guidance, and opportunities to transform their ideas into sustainable initiatives or enterprises. Furthermore, formal education often focuses on theory, failing to equip young people with the competences required for real-world economic participation. As a result, youth struggle to navigate the labour market and lack awareness of entrepreneurship as a viable career pathway. This project directly addresses these gaps by: - Empowering youth through experiential learning and non-formal education focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, and employability. - Fostering social inclusion by creating an intercultural environment where young people with fewer opportunities feel supported, heard, and empowered. - Promoting EU Youth Goal #7: Quality Employment for All and contributing to key Erasmus+ priorities, including inclusion and diversity and participation in democratic and economic life. Objectives Main AIM: To promote youth entrepreneurship as a practical and inclusive tool to reduce youth unemployment while building participants’ confidence, creativity, and readiness to take initiative in their personal and professional lives, by the end of the project. Specific objectives include: 1. To raise awareness among young people (including youth with fewer opportunities) about the possibilities of entrepreneurship and the realities of the labor market across the five participating countries, helping them explore viable career paths and business models. 2. To develop key entrepreneurial skills and competences – including teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, communication, self-confidence, and planning, through non-formal and hands-on activities. 3. To introduce participants to real-life role models and entrepreneurial ecosystems, showing them that entrepreneurship is a realistic and meaningful career path. 4. To increase the inclusion of youth with fewer opportunities by providing a safe, intercultural environment where they can share their experiences, learn from others, and build both professional and social networks. By prioritising practice over theory, the project offers inclusive, empowering, and action-oriented learning experiences that directly respond to young people’s real needs. Through interactive workshops, role models, and exposure to entrepreneurial ecosystems, participants will develop practical tools, employability skills, and confidence to pursue their ideas. This project aims to bridge the gap between youth potential and real-world opportunities, supporting young people – especially those with fewer chances – to become self-reliant, resilient, and entrepreneurial thinkers. Ultimately, “Start It Up” will contribute to reducing youth unemployment, strengthening social inclusion, and equipping participants to create their own initiatives, start businesses, or secure meaningful employment.