Urban regeneration LABoratories to promote YOUth active participation and community social development

<< Background >>This project aims to promote civic engagement and social development among disadvantaged European youths living in marginalized urban areas through urban art and regeneration practices. The goal is to encourage participation in the social and democratic life of their communities, and for young people to become active agents of positive change. By rethinking and caring for their public spaces, they can build new dynamics in their relationship to their surroundings. The project provides non-formal and informal education methodologies to stimulate social and cultural growth, and the youth centers involved in Italy, Greece, and Spain will have the opportunity to share their experiences and promote mutual growth. Ultimately, the project seeks to empower young people to become recognized as positive change makers in their societies.<< Objectives >>The project YOUrban LAB - Urban regeneration LABoratories to promote YOUth active participation and community social development, has as OVERALL OBJECTIVE to build a strategic partnership among youth centres based in three Mediterranean countries, improving their capacities to address young people needs, especially those with feweropportunities and in marginalized local contexts.The project has two specific objectives: the FIRST SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE (1) is to promote active citizenship and participation practices among young people and their commitment in the community social development in the urban areas they belong to; the SECOND SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE (2) is to encourage social change and the involvement of the local communities, spreading European values and strengthen European dimension at the local level through practices of urban requalification and regeneration.<< Implementation >>The YOUrban LAB project aimed to involve young people in urban regeneration through art, recycling, and community involvement. The project involved a transnational kick-off meeting where partners discussed project management tools, project approach, and follow-up activities. Urban regeneration laboratories were organized in each country where 15 young people created works of urban art that pictured their social context and made it greener and sustainable using green art and creative recycling. Three six-days mobility events were also organized, consisting of a study-visit and international workshop to share best practices in urban regeneration, youth engagement, and local community involvement. The project culminated in youth-led public events in each city, consisting of exhibitions of urban art produced with recycled materials and of a permanent urban art work as a tangible sign of their commitment to neighborhood regeneration.<< Results >>The Kick Off Meeting resulted in three youth workers from Italy, Greece, and Spain participating in an international experience, creating a youth participation support plan, establishing learning objectives and outcomes, ensuring good project management, and updating their skills in non-formal and informal education tools. In the long term, a new European partnership was formed, and opportunities for further Erasmus+ Programme calls were evaluated. The Urban Regeneration Laboratories involved 45 young people acquiring new skills and becoming more active in society, with an increased interaction with local communities. A youth-led research on urban identity was produced, and the visibility of exhibitions and urban artwork improved the neighborhoods' appearance. The short mobility events resulted in three youth workers strengthening their sense of belonging to the European community, conducting international workshops, and increasing their knowledge and skills on urban regeneration. Local youths took part in an intercultural experience, and a YOUrban LAB BOOKLET was produced and published online.