The proposed project was a Contact Making Event which gathered 31 participants (youth workers, project coordinator, youth leaders, volunteers, trainers, mentors, coaches, etc.) from 16 partner organisations from EU, EEAC and SEE countries. The need for the activity was dictated by the partners’ wish to both explore the issue of youth unemployment further as well as to create partnerships with new youth organisations interested in the same theme. As such, the partners strongly believe that by coming together, developing stronger links (both personal and professional) as well as by jointly planning our future steps, we are in a much better position to ensure needs-based, timely and high-quality implementation of the current and future youth projects. The CME was aimed at bringing together stakeholders interested in developing networks and joint future projects with the view to addressing issues of youth unemployment. This was achieved by: - discussing the topic of youth unemployment around Europe so as to understand its short and long term negative effects on young people - exploring the themes of creativity and entrepreneurship in the context of combating youth unemployment - facilitating networking between partner organisations engaged in the project so as to create stronger and trust-based bonds for the future - exchanging best practices in the fields of youth employability and supporting the development of employability skills - developing capacities to prepare and implement high-quality, sustainable youth projects with long lasting impact - promoting and facilitating the use of the local and international funds (e.g. Erasmus+) in supporting young people’s development - developing ideas and strategies for the future joint projects to be carried out by the partner promoters. All the workshops implemented within the CME were based on the principles and practices of non-formal education, taking into account the needs of youth NGOs and their youngsters, their motivations / expectations and previous experiences. As such, a diversity of working methods was be applied, including: presentations, group work, 1-2-1 activities, simulation exercises, multimedia presentations, discussions, daily reflections, etc. The project was meant to exert a significant impact on those attending the CME as well as their sending organisations and young people back home. Sample impact includes: - Exchange of knowledge and skills as provided by the trainers/facilitators and participants themselves - Increase in participants’ competencies in terms of empowering young people to take an active role in their communities, tackling youth problems (e.g. unemployment) and other issues at home, including working with vulnerable and fewer opportunities groups - Building the capacities of the participants in order for them to be able to implement new methods in their further youth work - Providing tools and methods to encourage and involve young people into the organisational structures - Increasing competencies in non formal education and act as multipliers in their communities - Linking the participants and their organisations to other stakeholders of youth projects dealing with youth unemployment. - Providing information about E+ programme and other sources for funding youth projects; - Encouraging critical thinking among young people and youth workers with the aim of empowering them to take an active role in building civil society aware of its values and rights as understood from European Citizenship. Overall, 7 Training Courses, 2 Study Visits, 1 Contact Making Event and a APP for mobile phone have been the outcomes of the session. In total, 10 project ideas were debated during the session, within the following areas: Sport, Entrepreneurship; Coaching; Empowering Leaders For Sustainability; Hip Hop exchange/ Cultural awareness; Land Art; Dragon Dreaming; Media awareness; Sexual Education; Personal Development; Emotional Intelligence; Co-working, etc. Participants of the event are expected to multiply the CME outcomes by further implementing some of the projects created during the event at local, regional or/ and international level. Consequently we expect the impact to be spread also on those other than the direct beneficiaries of the CME.