With our project Inclusion through Volunteering (ITV), we aim to foster a profound transformation and capacity building in youth work practice. Across Europe, growing social inequalities, economic challenges, and cultural diversity have created barriers to young people’s participation in society, increasing the risk of social exclusion for disadvantaged youth. At the same time, youth workers often lack methodological tools to effectively address these issues. Our project seeks to fill this gap by strengthening the capacity of youth workers and youth leaders to use volunteering as a tool for social inclusion and outreach to disadvantaged young people, thereby creating lasting impact in the youth field. The main objectives of our project and their implications for youth work practice are as follows: 1. Introducing and Practicing Inclusive Volunteering Methods We aim to equip youth workers with inclusive volunteering methods applicable to working with disadvantaged young people. Through activities such as the “Volunteering for Inclusion” workshop, participants will explore the role of volunteering in social inclusion. With tools like the “Inclusion Ladder” model, they will learn inclusive steps, while role-playing exercises will help them experience situations from the perspective of disadvantaged youth. These practical trainings will enable youth workers to act more consciously and effectively in the field, adopting innovative approaches that strengthen young people’s sense of belonging and foster their participation. 2. Gaining Field Experience with Local Civil Society Organisations We seek to provide youth workers with direct field experience in cooperation with local NGOs, allowing them to grasp the role of volunteering in social inclusion across different contexts. In İzmir’s multicultural environment, participants will visit associations working with Roma, Balkan, Circassian, Laz, and migrant communities. They will directly observe and actively engage in inclusive volunteering practices aimed at disadvantaged young people. Activities will range from elderly care centres, youth programmes with migrants, and environmental clean-ups to sports activities with young people with disabilities. These experiences will help participants combine theoretical knowledge with real-life scenarios, significantly increasing the effectiveness of their interventions in the field. 3. Developing Project Design and Implementation Skills A core need in youth work practice is to strengthen participants’ ability to design and implement volunteering-based projects. Through Project Cycle Management (PCM) training, group work, and peer-review sessions, youth workers will acquire the skills to develop inclusive volunteering initiatives—from idea development to planning, budgeting, and implementation. This will enable them to launch more effective, sustainable, and measurable initiatives in their own communities, fostering the active participation of disadvantaged youth in social life. Using digital tools such as Miro and Trello for project boards will further modernise and streamline this process. 4. Producing a Methodological Guide – “Inclusion through Volunteering” One of the most tangible outcomes of the project will be the creation of a methodological guide under the same title. This guide will systematically compile the knowledge, experiences, and best practices gathered throughout the project. Designed as a practical resource for youth workers, it will include: A methodology section with inclusive approaches, case studies from field visits, and practical tools such as checklists and recommendations. By ensuring accessible formats (subtitles, high-contrast design, screen reader compatibility), the guide will extend the project’s impact beyond the participants themselves, making it available to youth workers across Europe and directly supporting their field practices. 5. Ensuring Dissemination and Sustainability Strategies We aim to support participants in developing dissemination and sustainability strategies that they can apply in their own countries when working with young people. Workshops will focus on how to spread project results through social media plans, local stakeholder meetings, and international networks. In addition, a short panel and policy proposal presentation with local decision-makers will enhance youth workers’ advocacy and impact skills. This will ensure that the project outcomes do not remain limited to the project period but are instead adapted to local contexts, creating long-term effects and leaving a lasting contribution to the field of youth work.