The E-LOCUM project (2024–2026) was not simply a sequence of activities, but a structured journey that aimed to transform how young people understand and engage with migration. At a time when public discourse is often shaped by misinformation and polarisation, the project created spaces where young people could reflect, question, and co-create alternative narratives. The approach combined learning, participation, and dialogue, gradually moving from awareness to action.
Through interconnected activities, participants did not only acquire knowledge, but developed the confidence and capacity to actively contribute to discussions on migration, inclusion, and democratic participation. The project culminated in the co-creation of a Local Youth Compact, demonstrating that young people can move from being passive observers to active contributors in shaping more inclusive societies.
1. The Story of the Project
E-LOCUM was designed as a process rather than a set of isolated interventions. Each activity built on the previous one, creating a continuous learning pathway.
The project started by strengthening the capacity of professionals, ensuring that those working with young people had the tools and understanding needed to facilitate meaningful engagement. It then moved to direct work with young people, focusing on critical thinking and media literacy, before expanding to broader awareness-raising activities.
The most important shift came with the focus groups, where participants were invited not just to learn, but to co create. This marked a transition from education to participation, and ultimately to contribution. The final events brought these results into dialogue with institutions and stakeholders, ensuring visibility and impact.
2. Activities as a Journey
The activities of the project can be understood as a journey with different phases.
It began with the Training of Multipliers in Athens (December 2024 – February 2025), where professionals explored European values, inclusion, and the challenges of misinformation. This phase ensured that the foundation of the project was strong and sustainable.
The Training for Young People (July 2025) brought these themes directly to youth, using interactive and experiential methods. Participants engaged with real examples of misinformation and developed practical skills to analyse and challenge them.
The Awareness Raising Workshops (November 2025 – February 2026) expanded the reach of the project, engaging over 100 young people, including school students. A key moment here was the involvement of participants from previous activities, who shared their experiences and strengthened the peer learning dimension.
The Focus Groups (September – October 2025) represented the core of the project. The same group of participants worked together over time, building trust and ownership, and ultimately co-creating the Local Youth Compact.
Parallel to this, the International Youth Camp in Athens (April 2025) created a strong intercultural dimension, allowing participants from different countries to connect, share experiences, and develop empathy.
The Cross-Border Workshop in Gorizia (October 2025) introduced a new level of engagement, bringing young people into dialogue with institutions and stakeholders.
Finally, the Brussels Event (January 2026) ensured that the results of the project reached a European level, connecting youth voices with policy discussions.
3. What Changed
The impact of the project can be understood not only in terms of numbers, but in terms of change. Young people developed the ability to critically analyse information, question dominant narratives, and express their views with confidence. They moved from passive consumption of information to active engagement.
Professionals strengthened their capacity to facilitate inclusive learning environments and address complex topics such as migration and misinformation.
Perhaps most importantly, the project created connections: between young people from different backgrounds, between youth and institutions, and between learning and real-world application.
4. Why It Matters
E-LOCUM shows that addressing complex societal challenges requires more than information. It requires participation, dialogue, and trust.
By creating spaces where young people could reflect and co-create, the project contributed to more inclusive narratives and stronger social cohesion.
The Local Youth Compact stands as a concrete example of what can be achieved when young people are given the tools, the space, and the opportunity to contribute.
5. Conclusion
E-LOCUM demonstrates that meaningful youth participation is not only possible but necessary. The project successfully combined learning, participation, and policy dialogue, showing that young people can play a central role in shaping more democratic and inclusive societies.
What remains is not only the outputs, but the process itself: a model that can be replicated and adapted in other contexts.
