IDEAL

Integration of Youth Desiderians Among Legacy (IDEAL) is a European youth organisation committed to connecting cultural legacy with the aspirations of the younger generations. Our central vision is to promote intercultural understanding, active citizenship, and sustainable development by positioning youth as both inheritors and co-creators of Europe’s cultural, social, and democratic future.

IDEAL acknowledges that heritage is not merely a collection of historical symbols or traditions, but a living resource that can guide innovation, dialogue, and social progress. By facilitating youth exchanges, capacity-building programmes, non-formal education activities, and collaborative community initiatives, we aim to foster resilience, creativity, and shared responsibility among young people across Europe.

Our organisational objectives are multidimensional and rooted in European values:

Cultural Heritage and Identity: To safeguard, reinterpret, and revitalise tangible and intangible heritage as a basis for intercultural learning, critical reflection, and identity formation.

Democracy and Active Citizenship: To cultivate democratic participation, youth engagement in decision-making processes, and the development of civic competencies for stronger European integration.

Diversity and Inclusion: To ensure equal opportunities, break down barriers of exclusion, and create safe, inclusive environments where all young people—regardless of background, gender, religion, or socio-economic status—can thrive.

Creativity and Innovation: To inspire young people to transform historical and cultural legacies into contemporary solutions for societal challenges through art, digital tools, and social innovation.

Sustainability and Responsibility: To raise awareness about environmental challenges and climate change, and to encourage youth-led initiatives that integrate ecological consciousness with cultural traditions.

Peace and Solidarity: To strengthen dialogue, mutual understanding, and European solidarity by highlighting shared values while respecting cultural differences.

In practice, IDEAL develops projects that bridge the local and international dimensions of youth work. Activities range from heritage-based storytelling and intercultural art workshops to democratic simulations, community research, environmental campaigns, and digital literacy programmes. Each activity is designed using non-formal education methodologies, peer-to-peer learning, and experiential approaches that allow young people to gain competencies while actively contributing to their communities.

We work in close cooperation with NGOs, schools, municipalities, cultural institutions, and European networks. This multi-stakeholder approach ensures that young voices are not only heard but also embedded in broader social and political structures.

Ultimately, IDDEAL’s mission is to create a Europe where young people are empowered to respect and reinterpret legacy, embrace diversity, and take an active role in shaping a sustainable, democratic, and inclusive future.