HRYO - Human Rights Youth Organization is a non-profit, non-governmental organization founded in Palermo in 2009 and aimed at strengthening and protecting Human Rights at a local and global level. Vision: The Human Rights Youth Organization believes in a world governed by peace and mutual understanding. Education is viewed as an essential tool to facilitate the creation of a reality that promotes and protects human dignity, all aspects of equality, and sustainability. This is an organization that prides itself in recognizing the impact created by supporting local initiatives and developing the skill set of promising individuals because through grassroots development a transformed and more progressive global society is created. Mission: Our mission is to champion the upholding of Human Rights through various initiatives and projects and to establish an international network of organizations and individuals who are active contributors in their various local communities. The organisation has been committed to implementing educational youth projects at local and international levels since its inception. At a local level seminars, workshops, and other didactic courses promoting human rights and other democratic, European values are offered. Young people from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds are also involved (e.g. young special needs people, youth migrants and minors under the restorative justice program) in the organization’s activities. We provide traineeship opportunities to university students and volunteers. At an international level, the organization routinely implements projects such as Youth in Action and Erasmus+, through which international trainees from other European and Mediterranean countries have been hosted. The organisation prioritises the continuous training of the facilitator’s of young people’s learning – for either a short period of time ( through workshops, youth exchanges, trainings) or a longer one (through EVS, Erasmus placement, ENPI CBC Med project mobility - work placements for youth workers and unemployed youth etc.). HRYO is a promoter of Youthpass and values informal learning pathways, focusing, therefore, on the key competences needed to facilitate the involvement and learning of its target groups. In addition, HRYO has been allotted a plot of land called “Terra Franca” in Palermo. It qualifies as a "terreno confiscato alla mafia", as the plot is confiscated land which was formerly under the Mafia’s control and was placed in the custody of the organisation through consolidated partnerships linked to social projects. It aims at creating various environmental, social, and health benefits such as providing a local source of food, bringing communities and families together, educating people about farming and the origins of food, and making Palermo greener. The land is also being developed to provide leisure and recreational spaces