<< Background >>Accordingly, the Gallup study of attitudes toward immigration found people in Europe the most negative in the world towards immigration. The majority of residents (58%) said immigration levels in their countries should be decreased. And all that while migrants constitute 4.6% of the European population, a percentage which could be ‘translated’ into numbers as 20 million migrants. Young people in the more disadvantaged segments of society (e.g., amongst NEETS) implicitly will be more likely to disengage and stay out. Our exploratory interviews showed that for many, this ‘staying out’ is a consequence of a perception of being discriminated against, of being neglected by those in power. Refugees and migration is controversial and polarising topic across Europe. However, increasing diversity is a reality that we need to accept. Instead of deepening the division on the subject, more than ever, constructive dialogue is essential. Moreover, today (young) refugees are an intrinsic part of society. In order to overcome the growing tension in society, youth workers have to work together to design the solutions of tomorrow. One of the most effective tools for inclusion is “art and communication.” It is aimed to use creativity and art to increase diversity and inclusion for the specified target audience in our project. From the beginning, our main concern will be the link between the arts and society, significantly how participation in the arts may enhance social inclusion.<< Objectives >>Objectives Based on the background and needs described above, the aim of the Art&Act project is to increase the competencies of youth workers in inclusion, non-formal education and digital youth work and support their professional development to ensure the social integration of young migrants and refugees through art. The objectives of the project; To ensure the cooperation of 7 institutions from Slovenia, Belgium, France, Germany and Turkey for 18 months, to ensure the development and transfer of good practices for the social inclusion of refugees/immigrants and disadvantaged youth, to improve the scope of their work in this field 2. To carry out field research to determine the needs and wishes of youth workers and contribute to youth work and other projects to be carried out in this field from now on. 3. Producing a 48-hour capacity building training program to develop the knowledge and skills needed by youth workers to ensure social inclusion of refugees/immigrants and disadvantaged youth through art and creativity 4. To produce an Art&Act Toolbox using existing/innovative artistic and cultural tools, workshops and practices to ensure social inclusion of refugees/immigrants and disadvantaged youth through art, to be used in the capacity building training program. 5. Implementing a 6-day international pilot training in which 4 youth workers from each project partner (28 youth workers) will be included in order to test the training program, contribute to its development, and ensure its applicability in different contexts from an intercultural perspective. 6. Ensuring that youth workers who have completed the pilot training program implement the training program with disadvantaged youth in local communities, ensuring that each partner includes 20 disadvantaged youth<< Implementation >>To achieve project goals, the activities which will be implemented are as following; - Project coordination a management meetings (3 TM and regular meetings)- Needs analysis workshop- Producing 4 intellectual outputs (needs analysis report, capacity development training program, guidebook, online platform)- Learning and training activities (international pilot training of produced capacity development program, local implementations of capacity development program)- Dissemination activities (one dissemination summit in Slovenia, one EU-wide dissemination conference in Brussels and 4 dissemination workshops in Germany, France, Turkey)- Monitoring activities<< Results >>- Regarding O1, Identifying the real needs and aspirations of youth workers and organizations in the project partner countries in order to effectively adapt “art-based inclusion” methods and practices to different multicultural contexts - regarding O2, To provide capacity to youth workers to meet the needs arising from the effects of the pandemic by producing a toolbox that includes digital tools and innovative methods that youth workers can use in inclusion activities -Regarding O3, To increase the capacity of youth workers, who work to ensure the social integration of youth with refugee, migrant background or at risk of marginalization, in non-formal education practices and digital youth work -Regarding O4, To share and develop effective and sustainable practices through the arts between target groups and working organizations that are not directly involved in the project in order to create inclusive communities based on dialogue, harmony, diversity and a culture of non-discrimination -Promote the active participation of young people in their communities by focusing on young people aged 16-22 who are at risk of marginalization due to their cultural, social and economic barriers. -To enable young people to get to know the art and cultural elements of the local area, and thus to recognize the values of the society they live in.