Breaking the generational cycle of educational discrimination against young people in disadvantaged situations

<< Background >>BTC aimed to tackle high educational dropout rates, youth unemployment, and social exclusion among young people in Europe, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. We adressed:-High NEET Rates & Social Exclusion:In 2021, 13.1% of youth (15-29) were NEET. BTC aimed to enhance employability and foster entrepreneurship through essential skills training.-School Dropout & Educational Inequalities: With 9.7% of youth (18-24) leaving school early, BTC used non-formal education and digital learning to aid marginalized groups. -Post-COVID Employment Challenges: Youth employment fell by 2.3% from 2019 to 2020. We promoted economic resilience by providing skills modules.-Essential Skills for Employment & Entrepreneurship: Many educational systems overlook the mix of hard and soft skills needed in the modern labor market. We offered training to develop these competencies.-Active Citizenship & Social Innovation: By connecting youth with EU networks and local stakeholders, BTC encouraged civic engagement through workshops and peer-led initiatives.-Non-Formal Educational Approaches:Traditional education often fails marginalized students. We employed virtual training and gamified learning to engage at-risk youth better.<< Objectives >>The Breaking the Cycle project aimed to promote youth engagement and active citizenship in Europe, with a particular focus on including marginalized youth who are at risk of dropping out of school. Through a grassroots, learner-centered approach, we sought to raise awareness about the importance of completing education as a pathway to a better future.Our main objectives were:1. Promoting Active Citizenship and Youth Empowerment - Increase the ability of partner organizations to foster youth empowerment, active citizenship, and social responsibility. - Encourage youth participation, initiative, and problem-solving through innovative, learner-centered methods. - Develop both hard and soft skills for employability, entrepreneurship, and social cohesion.2. Community Development and Social Inclusion - Strengthen the skills of adult educators in non-formal education. - Enhance student engagement in education and civic life. - Reduce school dropout rates among marginalized youth. - Foster safe and inclusive environments that encourage youth to continue their studies.<< Implementation >>The Breaking the Cycle project implemented a series of structured activities designed to empower youth, prevent school dropout, and enhance employability through non-formal education methods.1. Training on Hard & Soft Skills for Social Empowerment- A Virtual Training Program that covered 21st-century skills: teamwork, adaptability, communication, leadership, problem-solving, digital literacy, and entrepreneurship, developing two online training modules on a Multilingual Learning Platform (MLS) for long-term accessibility.2. Financial Independence Training-A Virtual Training Program developing 4 modules focusing on Budgeting & Bill Management, Opening a Bank Account, Sustainable Economy & Green Finance, and Youth Entrepreneurship.3. Call to Action Workshops-Hands-on local workshops where youth applied skills from previous training sessions. These workshops simulated real-world challenges like job searching, independent living, and teamwork using gamified, peer-led methods.4. Local Dissemination & EU Networking-On-site dissemination events were held in Sweden, Greece, and Spain, featuring youth-led awareness campaigns, podcast recordings, and flash mobs designed to engage local communities.<< Results >>1. Educational & Training Outputs: Developed six online training modules (in English, Spanish, Greek, and Swedish) tailored for youth hard skills, soft skills, and financial independence through a Multilingual Learning Platform with 24 completed courses and 85 people still enrolled.2. Youth Engagement & Impact: Engaged over 114 young participants in training modules, incorporating hands-on activities in 4 Call to Action workshops, where they practiced financial and life skills in realistic scenarios.3. Civic Engagement & EU Networking: Conducted four local dissemination events and collaborated on initiatives, engaging over 45 participants and forming new partnerships among schools, youth organizations, and policymakers through a wide dissemination that reached more than 100 people via the 8 multiplier events in WP1 & WP4.4. Educator & Stakeholder Capacity Building: More than 18 educators engaged in non-formal education methodologies, fostering collaboration among educational institutions and social organizations for long-term youth support.5. Raising awareness on school dropout and youth challenges: Two reports on the youth situation used as training material during call to action and multiplier events