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Beyond Care

2026-1-BG01-KA155-YOU-0003896672026Discover EU inclusion actionongoing
Countries: BG · Grant: €41,800

Objectives

This project is designed specifically for young people aged 18–21 who come from transitional homes and who have grown up without parental support. These young people usually enter adulthood carrying responsibilities, fears, and insecurities far heavier than their peers, and yet they have had far fewer opportunities to discover their strengths or see who they could become. Our main goal is to create a powerful, structured, and deeply supportive educational experience that allows them to step confidently into adulthood - something they have never been able to do with the help of family. From the perspective of youth work practice, we want this project to be a transformational milestone in their lives. We are not simply aiming to organise a short trip; we are aiming to give these young people a sense of direction, belonging, and self-worth that will influence their lives long after the mobility ends. We want them to feel proud of themselves, capable of growth, and connected to Europe and these are not small achievements. They are big, meaningful changes for young people who rarely get a chance to experience anything of this scale. One of our key objectives is to build real independence. Many young people raised without parents struggle to manage everyday responsibilities, not because they are incapable, but because nobody ever taught them. Through the preparation, planning and the actual DiscoverEU travel, we want them to experience independence in a safe and structured way. They will learn to navigate transport, budget, organise their days, make decisions, and solve problems - all vital life skills for their transition into adulthood. Another major objective is to strengthen their self-esteem and self-belief. These young people often grow up hearing that “opportunities are not for them.” We want this project to break that mindset completely. By trusting them with responsibility, involving them in decision-making, and giving them a supportive environment to succeed, we want them to realise that they are capable, worthy, and deserving of good opportunities - just like any other young person in Europe. This aligns fully with the core mission of the DiscoverEU Inclusion Action: reaching young people who would never apply on their own and helping them overcome the barriers that hold them back. We also want to develop their social, emotional, and communication skills. Many care-leaving youth struggle with trust, teamwork, expressing emotions, or asking for help. Through group activities, reflection sessions, and shared travel experiences, we want them to feel connected, supported, and understood. From a youth-work perspective, these relational skills are often even more important than the travel itself - they help young people build healthier relationships, handle stress, and believe they can rely on others when needed. A further objective is to help them build intercultural awareness and a sense of European belonging. Most of these young people have never left their hometown, and many feel disconnected from society. By travelling to another European country, meeting local people, exploring new environments, and observing different ways of living, they open their minds and realise that they, too, have a place in Europe. This is exactly the kind of empowerment that KA155 was created for. We are also deeply committed to supporting their digital and practical skills. Using digital maps, translation tools, transport apps, communication platforms, and online safety practices are crucial skills for modern life. By learning and practising these skills during the project, the young people will return more confident and better equipped for education, employment, and independent living. An essential objective is to create long-term impact and future opportunities. We want this project to be only the beginning for them - a foundation that motivates them to join more activities, apply for DiscoverEU independently, seek education or work, or simply take more initiative in their own lives. We want them to return with not only new skills, but new dreams and the confidence to pursue them. What we want to achieve is big and ambitious, because the young people deserve nothing less. We want them to gain independence, confidence, emotional stability, social skills, intercultural understanding, digital competence, and a sense of belonging to Europe. These objectives come directly from good youth-work practice and align perfectly with KA155 standards. Above all, we want them to feel that this project was created for them, with them, and with genuine belief in their potential. This project is not just an activity, it is a genuine investment in the future of young people who rarely receive one. And that is exactly why we expect strong, lasting, and life-changing results.

Project partners (1)