Within the DoYou(th) project, the strategic capacity-building training series was created as a shared space for reflection, learning, and collective growth for project team members and youth workers. In a region shaped by rapid change, uncertainty, and social challenges, civil society organizations need more than good intentions—they need strong roots, clear direction, and teams that feel seen, valued, and inspired. This training series responded to that need by placing people, purpose, and values at the heart of organizational development.

The programme invited participants to explore the connection between their personal values and European values, and to reflect on how their own passions, experiences, and motivations can strengthen the mission of their organizations. Instead of separating “professional work” from “personal identity,” the trainings encouraged participants to see their stories, talents, and dreams as essential building blocks of strong CSO strategies. By doing so, organizations become more authentic, resilient, and rooted in their communities.

Participants also worked with practical tools such as the Social Business Canvas to design sustainable and impact-driven strategies. This helped teams translate vision into action, balance social purpose with financial responsibility, and think creatively about long-term sustainability. Alongside this, the trainings focused on organizational development, volunteer engagement, and stakeholder management—supporting participants in building healthy internal cultures and meaningful partnerships based on trust and cooperation.

Inspired by the MasterPeace approach of “connecting differences and creating opportunities,” the series strengthened leadership, collaboration, and mutual accountability. It nurtured teams that lead with empathy, clarity, and courage. By aligning personal aspirations, organizational goals, and European values, the trainings supported CSOs in becoming learning organizations—capable of adapting, growing, and multiplying their impact. In this way, strategic thinking became not just a management tool, but a pathway toward shared ownership, peaceful transformation, and lasting social change.