Mind the m{AI}nd

Artificial Intelligence has rapidly become part of young people’s everyday lives through generative AI tools, recommendation systems and, increasingly, systems capable of reasoning, using tools and acting more autonomously. However, there is an important gap between using AI and understanding AI. Many young people can interact with AI tools without understanding what an AI model actually is, how it is trained, where its capabilities come from, why it makes mistakes, or what distinguishes a chatbot from a reasoning model or an AI agent.

This gap becomes increasingly relevant as AI develops at a remarkable pace and young people are exposed to highly contradictory claims about its future and its potential impact on education, employment and society. Beyond learning how to use existing tools, young people need a conceptual understanding that enables them to understand how modern AI works, follow how the technology is evolving, and critically assess what these developments may mean for their own lives and futures.

The project aims to strengthen young people’s capacity to understand Artificial Intelligence and its evolution.

Objectives:

1. To develop participants’ understanding of the fundamental principles behind modern AI by practically exploring concepts such as machine learning, neural networks, training, tokens, transformers and LLMs, as well as the differences between traditional programming and systems that learn from data.

2. To develop participants’ understanding of the main directions in which AI is currently evolving by exploring the progression from generative models towards reasoning, multimodality, tool use and AI agents, as well as the approaches being used to increase AI capabilities.

3. To increase participants’ ability to identify and assess how current and emerging AI developments may affect their own learning, work and everyday life.

• You should be 16 to 25 years old.

• You must have legal residency in one of the partner countries.

• You should be curious about AI, how it actually works and where the technology might be heading. You do not need to be passionate about technology, but you should be interested in understanding the systems that are increasingly becoming part of our everyday lives

• No specific academic, technical or professional background is required. You may use AI every day, only occasionally, or almost never. What matters is your curiosity and willingness to explore how AI works, ask questions and engage with new concepts.

• You should be willing to learn through experiments, games, simulations and hands-on activities, and to explore concepts that might initially seem complex or unfamiliar. You should also be comfortable with questions where there may be no single correct answer.

• You’re okay with chatting in groups, sharing your thoughts, and listening to others. You can speak and understand basic English.

• You’re ready to join us for all the project days and do all the activities (including dissemination and evaluation activities).

• We value diversity, so individuals from different cultural, geographical, and socio-economic backgrounds or young people who face challenges are encouraged to participate.

• You’re eager to engage in non-formal educational settings, collaborate with peers, and be open to diverse viewpoints.

• You are willing to contribute to the group, cooperate with others and take responsibility for your role in the project.

The following criteria will be considered during the selection process:

• Fitting in the participants’ profile;
• Motivation to participate and the quality of the application;
• Euroactive NGO active volunteers and young people from the communities where we are active have priority;
• Young people with fewer opportunities are prioritised;
• Gender balance;

Number: 7 participants (16 to 25 Years Old);

The selection results will be sent by email to all candidates at the latest 19.09.2026;

Green travel, which according to Erasmus+ rules refers to travelling primarily by low-emission means such as bus, train, or carpooling instead of flying, is mandatory for all participants. 

The Project was approved based on this sustainability indicator; therefore, no exceptions to green travel can be granted. Under these conditions, Asociația Euroactive will facilitate the organisation of travel in the best possible manner, as follows: participants will travel by car, with one overnight stay en route on the outbound journey and one overnight stay on the return journey.

Costs:

1. Participation costs (accommodation, food, materials, and local programme-related costs) will be covered by the organisers.

2. Participants may be required to advance certain travel-related costs, such as fuel expenses or tolls. All eligible fuel and accommodation costs incurred during the travel days will be reimbursed in accordance with the applicable Erasmus+ rules, upon submission of the required supporting documents.

3. Travel insurance is mandatory and must be purchased at the participant’s own expense.

Application procedure:

1. Carefully read through the info-pack and participant contract to make sure you understand the project details and requirements.

2. Complete the application form with accurate and complete information. We strongly advise you to fill out the application form by yourself and to be honest and original in your responses. The purpose of the application is to get to know you better and to understand why you are interested in our project. It is important that your application reflects your own thoughts and ideas.

3. Submit your application before the deadline. Please note that late applications may not be considered.

4. After the application deadline has passed, we will notify you of the results by email. Please check your email regularly and also your spam folder in case our email gets filtered there.

5. If you are selected to participate in the project, you will be required to sign the participant contract within 2 days and send it back to us via email. Please read the contract carefully and ensure that you understand and agree to the terms and conditions before signing.

6. Once you have completed all the necessary steps, you will be ready to participate in the project. We will provide you with all the additional instructions or guidelines to ensure that you have a successful and enjoyable experience.

Thank you for your interest in our project, and we look forward to hearing from you!

For any questions, do not hesitate to contact us!

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