EU & Me – Rebuilding trust, shaping tomorrow

EU & Me – Rebuilding Trust, Shaping Tomorrow is a 12-month Erasmus+ Youth Participation project (KA154-YOU) running from 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026, implemented by partners from Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania.

The project responds to a growing challenge across Central and Eastern Europe: declining youth trust in democratic institutions, increasing exposure to misinformation, and a sense of political disconnection among young people. EU & Me creates spaces where young people can critically explore these issues, engage in dialogue with decision-makers, and strengthen their role as active European citizens.

Aims and objectives

The project aims to:

• Strengthen youth participation in democratic life at local, national, and European levels

• Increase young people’s understanding of the European Union and its institutions

• Develop media literacy and critical thinking skills to counter disinformation

• Foster cross-border dialogue and solidarity among youth in Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania

• Promote inclusion by actively engaging rural youth, young people with migrant backgrounds, and those with fewer opportunities

By combining mobility activities and local participation events, the project empowers young people not only to understand democratic processes, but to actively shape them.

Main activities

EU & Me includes four core activities, involving a total of 72 direct participants, including a significant number of young people with fewer opportunities.

1️⃣ International Youth Mobility – Slovakia

“Institutions Under the Microscope: Rebuilding Trust Through Youth Dialogue”
A 6-day mobility focused on democratic institutions, trust-building, structured dialogue, and meetings with civic actors.

2️⃣ Local Youth Participation Event – Hungary

“Voices of the Future: Youth Speak Up for Europe”
An interactive civic event with workshops, stakeholder dialogue, and youth-led discussions.

3️⃣ International Youth Mobility – Romania

“Truth or Trap? Navigating Fake News in a Digital Europe”
An 8-day mobility dedicated to media literacy, fake news detection, fact-checking exercises, and dialogue with journalists and civil society representatives.

4️⃣ Final Participation Event (Hybrid Format)

“What Now, Europe? Youth Reflections and Final Debate”
A concluding event bringing together participants to present recommendations and reflect on youth trust and democratic engagement.

Throughout the project, non-formal education methods are used, including simulations, debates, storytelling, peer facilitation, and structured dialogue with stakeholders.

Target group

The project targets young people aged 16–30 from Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania, with a special focus on:

• Rural youth

• Young people with migrant or minority backgrounds

• NEETs

• Youth with limited access to international opportunities

Participants are actively involved in planning, implementing, and disseminating the project, ensuring genuine youth ownership.

Outcomes and impact

For Participants

• Increased knowledge of EU institutions and democratic processes

• Stronger critical thinking and media literacy skills

• Improved civic competences and public speaking confidence

• Enhanced intercultural understanding and European identity

• Youth-led recommendations addressing institutional trust and misinformation

For Partner Organisations

• Strengthened capacity in youth civic engagement and democratic dialogue

• Enhanced cross-border cooperation

• Increased visibility in the fields of youth participation and EU awareness

Wider Impact

At local and regional levels, the project fosters structured dialogue between young people and decision-makers.
At European level, it contributes to Erasmus+ priorities on democracy, inclusion, and awareness about the EU.

Partners

The project is implemented by:

• Medzinárodné a kultúrne vzťahy Slovákom (SLOVAKOM) – Slovakia (Applicant)

• Institute for Cultural Relations Policy (ICRP) – Hungary

• Asociația pentru Relații Culturale (ARC) – Romania

Together, the partners create a transnational platform where young people can reconnect with democratic values, challenge misinformation, and rebuild trust in institutions.

EU & Me is not only about understanding Europe — it is about reclaiming agency.
It invites young people to move from skepticism to engagement, from passive observation to active participation, and from distrust to dialogue.