This project aimed to address the needs of young people from Germany, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, and Turkey, who face an overdose of information and societal demands that distract them from focusing on their personal growth. The main objective was to develop the ability to focus on goals, achieve results, and find a balance between oneself and society. The project drew inspiration from Youth Goal – Mental Health and Wellbeing, which seeks to encourage the development of self-awareness, less competitive mindsets, and appreciation for individual skills and strengths.

The training program lasted for ten days, and on the first day, the participants got to know each other, shared their expectations, fears, and contributions. The second day focused on grounding, where the participants went back to their “original” selves. Subsequently, they went through various methods to concentrate on important matters and ultimately set achievable goals. The program incorporated team-building exercises, role-playing exercises, group discussions, individual goal-setting, coaching in groups, pitching, and study visits.

The program helped the participants develop a personal understanding of the world they live in, society’s expectations, and how they want to respond to it. They also learned techniques to slow down, get closer to themselves, formulate goals, objectives, and a strategy to achieve those goals. They were taught exercises to get through self-sabotage, techniques to see potential resources in each problem, and ways to present themselves and their achievements effectively. They built a one-year plan based on their priorities and learned about EU opportunities for further leadership development.

The project prioritized inclusion and diversity, aiming to provide leadership experience and build confidence for applicants facing different barriers, such as those from small towns in underdeveloped rural areas, migrants from outside the EU, and those with educational difficulties, memory problems, or minor mental disorders. The project incorporated digital communication via Telegram Messenger, which helped the participants learn new digital competencies and disseminate their work in digital forms.

The project equipped the participants with essential competencies such as multilingual competence, personal, social, and learning to learn competence, competence in cultural awareness and expression, and digital competence. The program’s learning instruments and activities aimed to establish social connections and foster cultural exchange. For instance, participants learned basic German words for traveling, played games and engaged in group discussions, and learned about each other’s cultures.

During the project, participants learned how to overcome disruptive triggers that may impede their progress. Through brainstorming sessions, they identified overcontrol, easy dopamine sources, and unfulfilled promises as triggers and found solutions using the World Café method. The project also taught participants techniques and practices to slow down and get closer to themselves. By avoiding interactions with others for 1.5 hours, participants learned to concentrate on themselves and recharge.

Overall, the project successfully equipped participants with essential skills to focus on their personal growth, set achievable goals, and overcome obstacles that may impede their progress. The project’s emphasis on inclusion and diversity provided leadership opportunities to young people facing various challenges, fostering social connections and cultural awareness.