The 'Partners of the Caribbean' project is a capacity-building initiative that links youth organisations in Curaçao and Martinique with those in eight European countries: Spain, Portugal, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. The project addresses the challenges of youth isolation, high unemployment and limited mobility opportunities in the Caribbean and other remote regions, as well as underestimation of and disengagement from youth work in Europe. The project connects European and overseas organisations, helping to address historical imbalances while creating opportunities for mutual learning and equity-based cooperation. The project builds the capacity of youth workers to design impactful initiatives, supports intercultural integration and strengthens the European dimension of youth work. Ultimately, the project aims to establish a sustainable transatlantic network that empowers young people, stimulates participation and promotes inclusive and innovative youth work practices. Project aims: The project aims to foster long-term EU–Caribbean cooperation in youth work by building mutual understanding and inclusive and innovative practices. It seeks to equip youth workers with practical competencies and networking capabilities, expand their access to project development resources, and strengthen their ability to support young people in overcoming social, cultural, and economic barriers. Objectives: Build the professional capacity of 27 youth workers from 10 countries through training, exchanges and non-formal learning. - Promote peer learning and intercultural exchange between European and Caribbean youth workers. - Develop and share inclusive methodologies that address social exclusion, mental health, intercultural integration and digital participation. - Create a sustainable EU–Caribbean youth work network to co-develop new Erasmus+ projects and non-funded initiatives. - Empower youth workers to promote inclusive and innovative practices within their organisations and communities. Partnership: This project brings together ten organisations from Curaçao, Martinique, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. The partnership combines newcomers and experienced Erasmus+ organisations, ensuring both innovation and quality. Caribbean partners will provide local knowledge, insights into island life, and cultural perspectives, while European partners will contribute methodological expertise, non-formal educational practices, and access to international networks. Activities & Programme Content The main activity is a Partnership Building Activity (PBA) involving 30 youth workers, 15 of whom have fewer opportunities. The programme includes: - Intercultural and trust-building sessions. - Workshops on non-formal methodologies (digital tools, creative arts, gamification, outdoor learning and mental well-being). - Exchange of good practices in youth work across EU and Caribbean contexts; - Project design labs for future Erasmus+ and non-funded initiatives. - Study visits to local organisations in Curaçao and Martinique to gain an understanding of the realities faced by young people in insular contexts. - Networking sessions to establish long-term cooperation structures. Stages: Preparation: Partner coordination, needs assessment and participant selection. Implementation: Delivery of the Partnership Building Activity, which combines training, peer learning, study visits and project labs. Follow-up: creation of new Erasmus+ project applications and non-funded initiatives; dissemination of methods; and consolidation of the EU–Caribbean network. Expected results and outcomes: Thirty youth workers will gain new competencies in inclusive methodologies, project design and digital tools. A transatlantic network of at least 10 organisations with concrete follow-up plans will be established. At least 5 Erasmus+ project applications and five non-funded initiatives will be co-developed within 6 months. The participation of young people with fewer opportunities in local, regional and international projects will be strengthened. There will be greater visibility for Caribbean youth issues in European contexts, and vice versa. Impact: The project will directly improve the quality of youth work by enabling youth workers to apply innovative, inclusive and context-sensitive methods in their daily practice. A network of organisations will be built. Five applications were developed and applied, and five more were developed without funding requirements. Establish new connections with Curaçao local NGOs and communities. The project will reduce the isolation of Caribbean youth organisations, expand cooperation opportunities for European partners and create a bridge between the two regions. In the long term, the project will encourage intercultural understanding and social inclusion, and promote sustainable partnerships that will endure beyond the Erasmus+ programme.