The CHLaYdoscope project aims to support the development of Youth Community Leaders (YCLs) through a non-formal education program and mentorship provided by experienced European Creative Hub Leaders (ECHLs). The project aligns with the goal of “Promoting active citizenship, young people’s sense of initiative, and youth entrepreneurship, including social entrepreneurship.” It has been co-designed by partners, including ECHLs and European Youth Organizations (EYOs), starting from the role that stakeholders can play in the actions of change and resolution at the local level proposed and carried out by Youth Community Leaders and their communities. European Creative Hub Leaders (ECHLs) play a crucial role in promoting creative entrepreneurship and providing spaces for local communities to gather, address new challenges, and organize social and economic life. They also contribute to introducing new approaches to finding innovative solutions to complex problems through co-creation, bottom-up participation, and community focus.

The European Youth Leaders Academy was organized in Portugal, providing a week of intensive training for Youth Community Leaders from Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Greece, Slovenia. During this period, participants acquired skills specifically tailored to their roles through a preview of the Training Package’s tools. They tackled a specific local challenge in Portimao, located in the Algarve region where the training took place. This experience offered them a unique opportunity to engage and connect directly with the local community and its young residents.