The aim of the project is to support reconciliation and excellence through education and training targeting the youth of the Danube Region. Active citizenship, creativity and intercultural dialogue shall be supported through innovative and joint teaching programmes for students in the Danube region. The project focuses on new approaches at school level to the students’ empowerment to act as self-reliant citizens and entrepreneurs. Specific attention is also given to making best use of linguistic and cultural diversity in the Danube Region.Through developing an innovative pilot model for school and labour market cooperation in the field of active citizenship, creativity and intercultural dialogue the project willensure sustainability. It will enable schools to use this tested approach and established network in the future.The direct target group are teachers and students from 16 schools of the Danube Region from 8 countries. Achievements: The EUSDR Pilot Project "Empowering Young People - Connecting Europe" was implemented by KulturKontakt Austria between 2012 and 2014. The aim of the project was tosupport new approaches in teaching / learning to empower students to take an active role in shaping the future of their region. Around 110 teachers have gained experience in regional project implementation. 400 students have actively participated in four regional projects in fields relevant for the Danube Region. The schools shared their project results and experiences at a final event in Vienna. The "Danube Region Project Portfolio" – an innovative teacher's guide is available to teachers/schools in the Danube Region and others (Link to the portfolio: www.mahara.at/user/kulturkontakt-austria).