The Islands of Change project was born from a shared diagnosis among partner organizations: young people living in island and remote regions face specific challenges that cannot be ignored in European youth work. Insularity and geographical isolation limit access to educational, employment, and mobility opportunities. In many islands, youth unemployment exceeds 25%, compared to the European average of 14%. In addition, the distance from major capitals and decision-making centers fuels a sense of exclusion, reducing active participation and European belonging. These regions also face environmental fragilities linked to vulnerable ecosystems, climate change, tourism pressure, and waste management deficiencies. However, such difficulties also represent opportunities for innovation, resilience, and creativity. Islands of Change positions itself as a response to this context, transforming barriers into drivers of learning, empowerment, and cooperation. The central goal is to equip 35 young people from six countries (Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Iceland, and Estonia) with skills, tools, and motivation to act as change-makers. The project aims to ensure they overcome socio-economic and geographic obstacles and become community leaders, social entrepreneurs, and sustainability advocates. It relies on non-formal education methodologies, making learning experiential, participatory, and directly connected to participants’ realities. Through group dynamics, visits, co-creation labs, and reflection moments, young people will learn by doing, in a process of joint discovery and appreciation of diversity. The specific objectives are structured into three dimensions: Empowerment and skills – strengthen teamwork, leadership, communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, digital literacy, and entrepreneurial competences. Workshops, debates, and cooperative games will be structured to ensure gradual learning. The goal is that at least 80% of participants report greater confidence in planning and implementing local initiatives, verified through Youthpass. Sustainability and environmental responsibility – explore green entrepreneurship practices adapted to island contexts. Young people will engage with examples such as sustainable tourism projects, organic farms, and initiatives incubated at StartUp Madeira. In the Impact Labs they will develop at least six micro-projects—digital campaigns, business prototypes, or community action plans—designed as replicable outputs for their home territories. Inclusion, diversity, and European identity – involve young people with fewer opportunities, especially those facing economic, educational, or geographical barriers. Diversity will be seen as a positive resource: intercultural nights, sharing activities, and collaborative learning will foster empathy, strengthen belonging, and encourage cooperation across cultures. The project contributes directly to the Erasmus+ Inclusion and Diversity Strategy, by involving young people who might otherwise be excluded from international experiences. It also responds to three European Youth Goals: Goal 6 (Moving Rural Youth Forward), by valuing the potential of peripheral and isolated regions; Goal 7 (Quality Employment for All), by developing skills relevant to employability; and Goal 10 (A Green and Sustainable Europe), by promoting environmentally responsible practices. Group leaders and youth workers will play an active role, ensuring continuous support, facilitating reflection, and linking learning to the eight EU key competences. The expected results go beyond individual growth. The project seeks to create a transnational network of young change-makers committed to sustainability, innovation, and inclusion. It will also produce concrete outputs: co-created micro-projects, an e-book of best practices, joint digital campaigns, and open-access educational materials. These results will be disseminated locally and across Europe, reaching at least 500 additional young people through public events, schools, associations, and digital platforms. Partner organizations will also strengthen their institutional capacity to design and implement impactful Erasmus+ projects, particularly in island contexts. In summary, by implementing Islands of Change, we want young people to stop seeing themselves as victims of their circumstances and instead embrace their role as protagonists of change. The project aims to provide them with practical skills, transformative attitudes, and confidence to act locally with a European perspective. For youth work, it is an example of how non-formal education, when rooted in real community challenges, can become a powerful tool for social transformation and lasting impact—both on islands and across Europe.