IN.PACT

The IN.PACT project, led by Gaia Education in partnership with organizations from Spain, Italy, and France, addresses the growing needs of European youth, particularly those in vulnerable situations. By fostering participatory practices and creating inclusive spaces, the project empowers young people and youth workers to build more resilient communities, reduce marginalization, and drive positive social change.

The Project

Project
IN.PACT - Innovative participatory competencies for youth workers and youth with fewer opportunities
Project number
KA220-YOU-4A5DE40E
Type of project
Cooperation Partnerships in the field of youth
Programme
Erasmus+

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Context

Across Europe, many young people—particularly those with fewer opportunities—face barriers to meaningful participation in their communities and decision-making processes. Social exclusion, limited access to inclusive spaces and a lack of opportunities to develop participatory competences can reduce young people’s confidence, sense of belonging and active engagement in society.

At the same time, youth workers and youth organisations often lack practical tools, innovative methodologies and opportunities to exchange good practices that enable them to create inclusive and participatory environments. Strengthening their capacities is essential to empower young people, foster social inclusion and build more resilient communities.

IN.PACT addresses these challenges by promoting innovative participatory practices through non-formal education, international cooperation and capacity building. The project brings together organisations from Belgium, Spain, Italy and France to map successful participation initiatives, train youth facilitators and establish Smart Participatory Labs where young people can collaborate, co-create solutions and actively contribute to their local communities.

Objectives

The IN.PACT project, within the Erasmus+ KA220-YOU program, aims to foster youth participation by training facilitators and reducing the marginalization of at-risk young people. The specific objectives include:

Building a Collaborative Network: Connecting youth organizations across Europe to overcome isolation, share best practices, and enhance collective action. Through an interactive online platform and networking events, the project promotes continuous collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovation.

Strengthening Skills of Youth and Youth Workers: Providing specialized training in participatory methodologies, leadership, and facilitation through a hybrid program combining online and in-person modules. This initiative equips facilitators and youth leaders with practical tools for community engagement, supported by ongoing mentorship

Reducing Youth Marginalization: Empowering marginalized youth, including NEETs and young migrants, to become active community leaders. Inclusive environments and direct participation activities foster leadership development, social inclusion, and personal growth, enabling these youth to influence decision-making and contribute to community-building efforts.

Results

An Interactive Best Practices Map

for youth organizations, workers, and facilitators to foster a network for knowledge sharing and enable the replication of successful initiatives.

A Flexible Training Package

on youth participation, accessible online and adaptable to different contexts.

A Smart Lab Implementation Handbook

for replicating these practices across other communities.

Project Activities

01. Interactive Mapping of Participatory Practices:

Identifying, analyzing, and connecting youth participation experiences across Europe.

02. Hybrid Training Program:

Combining online and in-person modules for training youth facilitators.

03. Smart Labs Implementation:

Establishing local community spaces for hands-on participatory training practices.

Partners

Gaia Education
Belgium
Asociacion Mundus
Spain
Grain&Sens
France
Inesto
Italy
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

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