The project ‘Hand in hand against mafia’ was a youth exchange within the Key Action 1 of the Erasmus+ Programme which involved 35 young people from seven countries. The participating organisations wee: Libera Palermo (Italy), Ifjúsági Szolgáltatók Országos Szövetsége (Hungary), Kulturno izobraževalno društvo PiNA (Slovenia), ASOCIATIA TINERI PARTENERI PENTRU DEZVOLTAREA SOCIETATII CIVILE (Romania), ICM Jindřichův Hradec z.s. (Czech Republic), Pistes Solidaires Méditerranée (France), Utrikespolitiska föreningen i Göteborg (Sweden). The main activities carried out during the youth exchange were informal and non-formal activities, being essential features of the Erasmus+ Programme. Peer education was an important method which will have priority during the activities. The project aimed at the promotion of democratic values and at combating organised crime as a common concern for the European society. One of the purposes of the project was to raise awareness of the development and influence of mafia on the societies, and to understand the dynamics of organised crime and political corruption. The objective of the project was to answer the need for a lawful, democratic society with the sensitization of young peoples by introducing them to the anti-mafia movement, and by developing their sense of justice, active citizenship and anti-discrimination. All these values are essential for a functioning community as well as at local, national as at international level. The idea of the project came from the anti-mafia organisation Libera Palermo who has long experience in non-formal education aiming at the promotion of active citizenship and fostering social inclusion. Through the project the participating organisations could open new levels of cooperation in their field, further strengthening the international dimension of their work. Objectives of the project - To understand mafia, its roots and development in different European countries; - To exchange good practices in the fight against organised crime; - To involve youngsters with fewer opportunities with the aim of their personal development and to contribute to their social integration; - To “open the world” and inform young people about their mobility possibilities; - To make young people meet from other countries and to promote intercultural dialogue and cultural, religious and linguistic diversity; - To promote the human values of tolerance, respect of law, anti-xenophobia and antidiscrimination, solidarity etc. as important values for reaching an European Society based on respect and mutual understanding; - To emphasize the importance of active participation in the community with the respect for law; - Promoting the Erasmus+ Programme as a tool in youth participation and in community development and to promote non-formal education as a tool for personal and professional development; - To promote and strengthen European cooperation in the youth field. One of the expected results of the project were the competence development of the participants, especially their intercultural and social competences, their attitudes towards moral values essential for being a responsible, active citizen in the democratic society of the European Union. The project fostered the social inclusion of the participants with fewer opportunities, and contributed to a broaden knowledge on the significance of legality and the importance of following the rules. Furthermore the participating organisatons strengthened their partnership which led to an efficient, long-term collaboration, enforcing the European dimension in the organisations. The partner organisations improved their skills in European project management and are planning the development of future projects within the framework of European programmes. The project impacted the local communities and the international general public as well, sensitizing them about the dynamics and appearance of mafia in diverse elements of the social structures such as in politics, bureaucracy, in the national authorities and in the daily life of the communities. The target group, the organisations, other stakeholders and actors indirectly involved in the project benefit from it through the contribution to the establishment of a European society based on respect, mutual understanding and the values of justice and lawfulness.