Project information

Futures For You (FUTU4U) is a two-year (2024–2026), international, EU-funded (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme CERV) project (project number 101147830) that aims to empower young Europeans of all backgrounds to build preferred futures for themselves.

Over 14% of Europeans between age 15-29 are not in education, employment or training (NEET). This leads to a risk of societal exclusion, which is compounded by inadequate understanding of how society works and the inability to see prospects and opportunities. Young people with a migratory background may face additional challenges due to discrimination.

The project coordinator in FUTU4U is Laurea University of Applied Sciences (Finland). The project partners are City of Vantaa (Finland), Monaghan County Council (Ireland), Ormož Library (Slovenia) and Municipality of Fano (Italy).

The Project includes

• workshops in four countries for young people and professionals working with them
• producing a digital guidebook about the workshop models developed in the project
• young people’s voices are ultimately presented to EU decision-makers and other policymakers

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

Phases of the project

Activities of the project include Language of Democracy Cafes, Futuring Good Life Workshops and the Policies for Good Life initiative. The events will increase the participants’ understanding of the democratic process and channel the voices of young Europeans to the policymakers.

At the end of the project, the participatory methods developed in the project will be published in a digital guide, which will be disseminated and shared with actors in national and international networks.

• Follow the project activities on LinkedIn

“My Voice” Workshops

Autumn 2024 – spring 2025
Supporting young people in navigating democratic processes, values and civic vocabulary
Lead Beneficiary: City of Vantaa

“My Future, Our Future” Workshops

Spring 2025 – autumn 2025
Enabling young people to co-create preferred futures for themselves, their communities, and the European Union.
Lead Beneficiary: Laurea UAS

“Policies for Good Life”

Spring 2026
The developed participatory methods are taught to experts working with youth
Lead Beneficiary: Laurea UAS

Publications

Articles (in Finnish)

Kaljunen, R. 2025. Futures For You rohkaisee Euroopan nuoria hyvän tulevaisuuden poluille https://journal.laurea.fi/futures-for-you-rohkaisee-euroopan-nuoria-hyvan-tulevaisuuden-poluille/#9913f11d

Hario, P. 2025. Mun ääni -työpajat luovat tilaa nuorten osallisuudelle
https://journal.laurea.fi/mun-aani-tyopajat-luovat-tilaa-nuorten-osallisuudelle/#55ac1bf3

Florack, T. and Hario, P. 2025. FUTU4U-hankkeessa kehitetty työpajakonsepti vahvistaa nuorten tulevaisuusajattelua ja yhteiskunnallista osallisuutta
https://journal.laurea.fi/futu4u-hankkeessa-kehitetty-tyopajakonsepti-vahvistaa-nuorten-tulevaisuusajattelua-ja-yhteiskunnallista-osallisuutta/#9c498652

Hario, P. 2026. Mun ja meidän tulevaisuus -työpajat avaavat ovet nuorten toivottaviin tulevaisuuksiin
https://journal.laurea.fi/mun-tulevaisuus-tyopajat-avaavat-ovet-nuorten-toivottaviin-tulevaisuuksiin/#576e279a