Seven organizations from six countries — Belgium, Spain, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Albania — joined forces in the project Strengthening the human dignity of young people in the EU and the Western Balkans (EHDEU&WBY), funded by the European Union's Erasmus+ programme. The goal was simple: to enable young people from the EU and the Western Balkans to connect, learn and grow together — regardless of geographical or economic constraints. Looking at the implementation period from mid-2023 to the end of 2025, this goal has been achieved with real and measurable results.

What we have achieved – Nearly 40 virtual sessions have been held across five programme areas, with approximately 490 participants from all six partner countries participating so far. Activities covered youth leadership, human dignity and EU values, critical thinking and media literacy, participation in hybrid projects, and intercultural dialogue — all in an online format, making them accessible to young people who otherwise have limited access to international learning experiences.

Each partner brought something of their own and together they shaped the program as it was. World Youth Alliance Europe he coordinated the project and led sessions on advocacy and leadership, using his experience in connecting young people with EU values and human dignity education. In Bosnia and Herzegovina BRAVO organized two Winter Academies — structured programs that provided participants from across the Western Balkans region with practical tools for civic engagement and youth leadership.

The field of media literacy has come to life with the work University of EPOKA in Albania, which designed and delivered four expert seminars on topics ranging from civil dialogue and data protection to the impact of artificial intelligence on the information we consume every day. Promoted in Albanian and English and reaching almost 3,000 people on social media, the seminars went far beyond the circle of registered participants. AMJE from Spain joined this field with its own event on critical thinking and media literacy in November 2025, dedicated to audience responsibility in an age of information overload. The intercultural dimension was rounded off by KVRP from Kosovo, which hosted two Intercultural Conversations and opened a real space for dialogue among peers — about identity, shared values, and building bridges across borders — for participants from all six countries.

Connecting the online and real world – A special element of the programme was the hybrid projects, which directly connected online participants with existing live events. Young people from six countries joined international conferences and expert lectures virtually — demonstrating that quality intercultural learning does not require physical travel and opening doors to young people who would otherwise not be able to participate in such events. The sessions of the Certified Training Programme on Human Dignity and EU Values were conducted in small groups of 5 to 10 participants, ensuring depth of discussion and engagement on topics such as fundamental rights, solidarity and democratic values.

Impact and reach – Beyond the session figures, the project has had a tangible impact. Participants have developed competences in critical thinking, media literacy, leadership and intercultural communication — skills that are directly relevant for civic and professional life. The programme has maintained its focus on inclusion, actively involving young people with fewer opportunities. In order to extend the impact beyond the circle of direct participants, the consortium has published more than 60 press releases and newsletters in the first reporting period alone, and dissemination is continuing in the second period.