NYDES Approaches Its Final Phase by Sharing Results with Young People and Local Stakeholders in Çorlu

As the European Union-funded Erasmus+ KA210-YOU project NYDES – NEET Youth Developing Entrepreneurial Skills approaches its final phase, Çorlu Municipality brought together young people, local stakeholders and neighbouring municipalities for a face-to-face dissemination and results-sharing event in Çorlu.

The NYDES project is funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme and supported by the Spanish National Agency for Erasmus+ Youth and Sport – Agencia Nacional Española Erasmus+ Juventud y Deporte / INJUVE. Implemented in partnership with Çorlu Municipality, Dinserta from Spain and 3TS from Greece, the project focuses on strengthening the entrepreneurial, social and civic skills of NEET young people, particularly those facing economic, geographical and social barriers.

The face-to-face dissemination event was not only designed as a formal presentation of project results. It created a local space where young people, youth workers, municipal representatives and civil society actors could reflect together on how Erasmus+ opportunities can become more accessible at local level. Participants included young people from Çorlu, representatives of the Çorlu Municipality Youth Council, Çorlu City Council, local stakeholders, and surrounding municipalities such as Evrensekiz Municipality and Ahmetbey Municipality.

For Çorlu, NYDES has a special meaning. As one of the first Erasmus+ youth projects implemented locally with the direct involvement of Çorlu Municipality, the project helped introduce many young people to European opportunities, non-formal education methods and the idea of youth participation in local decision-making. Throughout the project, young participants did not remain passive beneficiaries. They became more confident in expressing their needs, discussing local challenges and imagining themselves as active contributors to their community.

One of the most visible outcomes shared during the dissemination event was the project’s Guidebook, developed to support young people, youth workers and local institutions working with NEET youth. The guidebook brings together the project’s learning process, practical tools and good practices on entrepreneurship, motivation, active citizenship and youth participation. By presenting the guidebook to young people and stakeholders in Çorlu and surrounding localities, the project ensured that its results would continue to be used beyond the project lifetime.

The event also highlighted the behavioural and awareness changes observed among young participants. At the beginning of the project, many young people had limited knowledge of Erasmus+, entrepreneurship education or local participation mechanisms. As the project progressed, they became more familiar with European youth opportunities, more open to discussing entrepreneurship as a realistic pathway, and more willing to engage with local decision-makers. This change was particularly important for NEET and rural young people, who often face limited access to information, networks and self-development opportunities.

The involvement of local stakeholders strengthened the project’s impact. The participation of the Çorlu Municipality Youth Council and Çorlu City Council created a bridge between young people and local governance structures. Meanwhile, the presence of neighbouring municipalities such as Evrensekiz and Ahmetbey showed that the needs of rural and semi-rural young people are not isolated issues, but shared local development challenges that require cooperation between municipalities, civil society and youth groups.

Through NYDES, young people were encouraged to see entrepreneurship not only as starting a business, but also as developing initiative, problem-solving capacity, motivation and social responsibility. This approach helped connect the project directly with the realities of Çorlu and its surrounding areas, where young people need more accessible pathways to education, employment, civic engagement and European mobility.

As the project moves towards its final stage, NYDES leaves behind more than activities and outputs. It has contributed to a new local awareness in Çorlu: that young people, including those with fewer opportunities, can be active actors in shaping their own future and the future of their city. The project’s dissemination event and guidebook therefore represent an important step in making Erasmus+ results visible, usable and sustainable at local level.

The experience of NYDES shows that when European cooperation meets local commitment, young people gain not only new knowledge, but also the confidence to participate, create and lead. For Çorlu, this marks an important beginning for future Erasmus+ youth work, stronger local partnerships and more inclusive opportunities for NEET young people.