UNITED IN RHYTHM aims to strengthen the quality, innovation and inclusiveness of youth work by equipping youth workers with practical, arts-based methods that use traditional dance, rhythm and cultural expression as tools for learning, participation and intercultural dialogue. In today’s youth work reality, young people often face social fragmentation, low community belonging and limited opportunities to engage meaningfully across cultural differences. UNITED IN RHYTHM responds to this need by creating a learning space where youth workers experience and practice how culture can become a bridge for connection, cooperation and shared European values. Overall aim To empower youth workers to apply dance and rhythm-based non-formal education in their daily practice in order to increase youth participation, strengthen inclusion, and promote intercultural understanding in local communities. Objectives from the perspective of youth work practice 1) Strengthen youth workers’ facilitation skills through arts-based non-formal education Participants will develop concrete competencies in leading movement-based sessions, using rhythm and group dynamics to create engaging learning experiences for young people. This supports youth workers in diversifying their methods beyond standard workshops and reaching youth in a more inclusive and motivating way. 2) Promote intercultural dialogue and cooperation through co-creation Youth workers will learn how to facilitate cultural exchange in a respectful and meaningful way by sharing traditional dances and music from different countries and co-creating a common intercultural performance. This strengthens their ability to transform diversity into cooperation and shared group identity. 3) Support inclusion and participation of young people with fewer opportunities Because dance and rhythm are accessible regardless of language level, UNITED IN RHYTHM provides youth workers with tools to include young people who may face social, cultural, economic or geographical barriers. The project strengthens youth workers’ capacity to create safe spaces where everyone can participate equally and feel a sense of belonging. 4) Develop youth workers’ leadership and teamwork competences The project strengthens communication, empathy, responsibility-sharing and group facilitation skills. Youth workers practice how to manage group processes, motivate participation, and build trust in multicultural settings—competences that are directly transferable to youth centres, schools and community programmes. 5) Increase community engagement and visibility of youth work through culture By implementing a public intercultural performance and follow-up events, youth workers gain experience in connecting youth work with local communities and cultural stakeholders. This supports recognition of youth work as a meaningful contributor to social cohesion and active citizenship. 6) Ensure transfer and sustainability through follow-up actions Participants will return to their organisations with practical methods and motivation to implement local workshops, cultural evenings or youth sessions based on UNITED IN RHYTHM. This ensures the learning outcomes are embedded into everyday youth work practice and multiplied to wider groups of young people. Expected result By the end of the project, participating youth workers will have stronger intercultural competence, improved facilitation skills, and a set of transferable arts-based methods to promote participation, inclusion and European values through culture. This will improve the quality of their daily youth work and create a ripple effect through local follow-up activities in all partner countries.