European Initiative for Youth Empowerment, Mindfulness and Wellbeing - GO Alive

GO Alive is a youth-focused, non-profit, non-governmental organisation officially established in January 2020 and based in Kozani, Western Macedonia, Greece. Its mission is to empower and support young people - especially those with fewer opportunities due to social, economic or geographical challenges - by strengthening educational, professional, cultural and mental capacities through mindfulness and wellbeing. It promotes holistic health (physical, mental and social wellbeing), healthy lifestyles, active citizenship, leadership, social inclusion and youth participation.

The organisation grew out of the informal youth group “Greek Odysseuses”, active since 2017, and was formally established following the Erasmus+ Transnational Youth Initiative “GO Alive” (2018-2-EL02-KA205-004425). Its core values include volunteerism, democracy, human rights, gender equality, solidarity, active healthy living and responsible European citizenship. Activities include training courses, workshops, youth exchanges, peer education, mentoring, public events, festivals and seminars, with particular attention to young people facing poverty, early school-leaving, migration or disability.

GO Alive works in Western Macedonia, a largely rural and remote region affected by unemployment, poverty, out-migration and the just transition away from lignite. The source PIF notes unemployment of nearly 20% in 2024, youth unemployment above 30% and a NEET rate above 25%. GO Alive therefore focuses strongly on employability, wellbeing, inclusion, skills development and social cohesion, while engaging municipalities, schools and civil-society actors.

Throughout its existence, GO Alive has coordinated and participated in more than 200 EU-funded projects, mainly through Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps. It is Erasmus+ accredited in Youth, holds an ESC Quality Label, is a certified Eurodesk Multiplier in Western Macedonia, has memoranda of understanding with the municipalities of Kozani, Katerini and Voio, and has led the annual K Youth Fest since 2022. Its multidisciplinary team is supported by more than 100 active volunteers, mainly students and young people aged 15-30, and works with local authorities, schools, universities and international networks.

GO Alive has coordinated more than 30 international and local youth projects - including training courses, workshops, seminars, youth exchanges and conferences - involving more than 5,000 participants and supported by Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps, CERV and other European funding mechanisms.

• EU project development and management: grant writing, monitoring, reporting and quality assurance.

• Capacity-building of youth workers and trainers using non-formal education, peer learning and experiential methods.

• Leadership, public speaking, critical thinking, entrepreneurship and employability.

• Mindfulness, wellbeing and mental-health promotion, including stress management and emotional resilience.

• Digital innovation, media literacy and digital skills, including coding, digital marketing and ethical online behaviour.

• Social inclusion, gender equality and empowerment of vulnerable youth, including refugees, Roma, migrants and people with disabilities.

• Environmental sustainability and green skills, including eco-lifestyle, circular economy and green jobs.

• Cross-sectoral cooperation with schools, universities, municipalities, NGOs and youth networks.

GO Alive also has established methodologies for coordination, communication, quality assurance, dissemination and sustainability, and participates in Erasmus+, ESC, Creative Europe and CERV initiatives.