Youthmakers Hub marks the completion of Empowering Youth for the Digital Era (EYDE), an Erasmus+ KA210-YOU Small-scale Partnership in Youth implemented by IO PER L’ALTRO – APS and Youthmakers Hub. The project was funded by the Italian National Agency for Youth. The project ran for 15 months, from 1 February 2025 to 30 April 2026, supporting young people, youth workers, educators, and youth organisations to respond to the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation. 

As the Communication & Dissemination Partner, Youthmakers Hub supported the project’s visibility, communication strategy, and outreach. This included digital content, social media campaigns, webinars, trainings, project materials, and public dissemination activities aimed at youth workers, educators, young people, and organizations active in youth empowerment, employability, and digital learning. 

EYDE aimed to strengthen digital readiness, employability, and AI-related competencies among young people through non-formal education. The project connected research, policy, and practice to support a more inclusive digital transformation, giving youth both practical insights and theoretical knowledge to better understand the opportunities and challenges of a technology-driven world.

Today, this topic matters more than ever. Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how we learn, work, communicate, and make decisions. For young people, digital skills are no longer optional; they are essential for participation, employability, creativity, and confidence. EYDE responded to this need by opening space for learning, reflection, and critical thinking, encouraging young people not only to use digital tools, but to question them, understand them, and apply them responsibly.

Over the course of the project, EYDE produced several outputs, including a scoping review on AI, Erasmus+ resources, SALTO materials, and non-formal education practices. The project also developed training modules and learning materials, a research protocol for the testing phase, a facilitator toolkit, a takeaways worksheet for youth workers and educators, and a free asynchronous course to extend access to the project’s learning materials beyond its official timeline.

EYDE reached youth workers, educators, young people, and partner communities across Italy, Greece, Armenia, and beyond, including participants connected to Youthmakers Hub, IPA Ostia, Kamaleonte, and INTOFF Armenia. According to the project results, the dissemination reached participants across age groups, with 33% under 30, 39% aged 31–40, and 28% over 40, underscoring the relevance of digital readiness across generations and professional contexts. 

There was no better way to close the project than by opening its work to a wider community. On 27 April 2026, Youthmakers Hub hosted “AI for Critical Thinking in the Digital Era”, the final public dissemination event of EYDE. The online session brought together more than 50 participants from Greece, Italy, Germany, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and beyond to explore how AI can support critical thinking, creativity, employability, and digital readiness.

Facilitated by Silvia Diazzi, Senior Project Manager at Youthmakers Hub, the session combined a short training, an interactive Mentimeter activity, and an evaluation process. Participants were introduced to the EYDE project and reflected on how AI can become a useful cognitive partner when used critically, responsibly, and intentionally.

Through its results, conversations, and learning moments, the project leaves behind a clear reminder that inclusive digital transformation starts with skills, access, awareness, and the courage to keep asking better questions.

EYDE’s final message is clear: the future belongs to young people who use AI with curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking