This workshop introduces the Policy Labs methodology and explores how, in 2024–2025, Youth Policy Labs engaged young people, government, and civil society across the Eastern Partnership countries to co-create solutions for challenges such as waste management, air pollution, youth employment, and creating local youth spaces. Attention is also given to inclusion of disadvantaged youth, and building structured dialogue in policymaking. The session highlights practical lessons, innovative approaches, and the expanding impact of youth-driven solutions in the region.

This workshop highlights the diversity of youth participation and dialogue in Eastern Partnership countries. It showcases concrete examples of how young people are influencing strategic decisions at national, regional, and local levels—through youth councils, advisory boards, participatory budgeting and advocacy campaigns. The workshop will focus on exploring how young people helped shape the first ever law on youth policy in Armenia, how National Network of Local Youth Councils in Moldova is boosting local youth participation and similarly a number of municipalities in Georgia engaged in joint decision-making exercise with youth groups. It will also highlight the importance of advocating for the youth from the Eastern Partnership region using international platforms and fora.

The workshop focuses on youth mental health and the importance of youth engagement—from shaping services to making decisions in policy. Featuring a specialist from WHO, the session will provide a snapshot of current developments in Europe and Eastern Partnership countries. Participants will examine two innovative solutions (from Italy and Belarus) with a strong youth-led component, designed to inspire and foster new approaches for mental health support, inclusion, and youth empowerment at both service and policy levels.

This workshop offers a regional perspective on the power of centre-based youth work. Through inspiring examples from Armenia, Georgia, and Ukraine, participants will discover strategic approaches for reaching marginalised and vulnerable youth. The session explores solutions for building trust, providing safe spaces, and turning local youth hubs into engines of empowerment and resilience - both at strategic and grassroots levels.

This workshop will evolve around two practices from Moldova, showcasing how formal education institutions are becoming vibrant spaces for civic engagement and innovation, through strengthened student councils and expanded opportunities for participation in decision-making. Contributors will share experiences on building stronger school communities around students’ challenges, while empowering young people to implement social innovation initiatives that address their peers’ needs. The session will also emphasize developing civic and social competences, nurturing critical thinking, and promoting a culture of active citizenship. By embedding democratic values into formal education, these approaches prepare students not only as active participants in their schools, but also as engaged citizens in their societies.

This interactive workshop, featuring expert contributors from the European Commission European External Action Service and Young European Ambassadors (EUNEIGHBOURS EAST), explores the critical link between civic engagement and the fight against disinformation. Participants will learn about strategies to boost media literacy, navigate today’s information landscape, and promote positive civic action in their communities.

The workshop explores adapted curricula and inclusive pedagogies tailored to different types of disabilities—physical, intellectual, sensory, and psychosocial. Emphasizing soft skills and rights-based awareness, the session will highlight strategies for youth engagement, cooperation with public employment services, and effective training of teachers. Participants will also examine programme management practices and policy alignment, designed to foster inclusion and empower young people in both education and employment pathways.

The workshop highlights the important role voluntary youth work in outreach, skills development and empowerment of marginalized young people in Eastern Partnership countries. Focusing on several local and international initiatives, such as the work of local organizations in Georgia, support for volunteering initiatives through the European Solidarity Corps, and grassroots work in all Eastern Partnership countries by the EU4Youth Alumni Network. Participants will explore how volunteering fosters transferable skills, strengthens inclusion, and creates pathways for education, employability, and civic engagement at both national and European levels.

The workshop introduces EntreGram4Youth, a tool based on the European Framework of Entrepreneurial Competences (EntreComp), adapted and localised for Ukraine to support young people in self-assessing their entrepreneurial competences. Participants will complete an on-line test, explore their competence profile across the four competence areas: preconditions, preparation, implementation and sustainability, and gain access to tailored learning resources. The session encourages reflection on how entrepreneurial competences can be applied in everyday life, even for those not currently planning to start a business, and provides space for sharing insights to strengthen youth entrepreneurship across Europe.

This workshop explores innovative employment support measures for young people in Eastern Partnership countries. The National Youth Council of Moldova will present its NEET outreach programme, implemented with the National Employment Agency and the ILO. The Ministry of Education and Research of Moldova will showcase a governmental programme of paid internships in public institutions, supporting youth employability and modernizing public administration. Finally, the Public Employment Service of Armenia will share national practices for skills development, job placement, and career guidance. Together, these contributions offer a regional perspective on inclusive, effective employment pathways for youth.

Ready to go green? Join Romain Boitard from ETF for a deep dive into what “green skills” actually mean for current and future jobs. This workshop will explore why green skills are critical for the green transition, and how countries and sectors are integrating sustainability and new competencies into education, jobs, and policy. Real-life examples and peer learning opportunities will inspire meaningful action for a fair, sustainable and climate-resilient future.

The workshop explores the role of mentorship in supporting social entrepreneurship among young people. Participants will learn how to select and engage mentors, match them with aspiring social entrepreneurs, and structure programmes with practical tools and timelines. The session will highlight common pitfalls, share tips for success, and showcase how mentorship can be sustained both within projects and independently to foster social impact and innovation.

This workshop spotlights women in innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, including a special focus on young women leaders forging change in conflict-affected contexts. The session highlights how women entrepreneurs are driving positive change, promoting inclusion, and building resilient communities - while also addressing persistent challenges in policy, funding, and capacity development in the region.

This workshop spotlights two inspiring examples of cultural entrepreneurship. Anna Lutcan, a creative force in animation and illustration and an alumna of EU4Culture with experience at Disney and Warner Bros., empowers children and promotes the animation field in Moldova. Nigar Sultanova, founder of DanceAbility Azerbaijan, leads an inclusive dance company connecting people of all abilities and backgrounds. Together, their work showcases how creative talent and social enterprise can foster inclusion, resilience, and cultural transformation across the region.

The workshop explores how to foster social entrepreneurship outside formal education, focusing on centre-based youth work. Participants will learn strategies to engage young people with fewer opportunities, supporting them to develop entrepreneurial skills and resilience in uncertain times. The session will highlight practical approaches, tools, and inspiring examples to strengthen inclusion, empowerment, and social impact through youth-led initiatives.

The workshop focuses on integrating social entrepreneurship education into formal education. Participants will explore practical guidance for programme design, teacher training, and curriculum integration, alongside recommendations and strategies for their future development. The session will highlight approaches to lay the groundwork for social entrepreneurship through formal education, fostering entrepreneurial mindsets, creativity, and civic engagement among young people.