From Hogwarts to Wakanda, from the Dauntless to the Avengers stories shape how we see ourselves, others, and the world around us. They remind us that despite our differences, we can stand together. And that even the most unlikely characters can become heroes – when they choose to care. Epic Bonds is a European project that turns the power of popular stories into a new tool for youth work. By using the worlds young people already know and love we explore big ideas like identity, empathy, and belonging. The goal is to help youth workers prevent polarisation, build understanding, and create stronger, more inclusive communities. We believe social cohesion isn’t just a buzzword – it’s about helping young people live together, see things from another perspective, and feel like they belong.

Here’s how we’ll do it:

1. Create ready-to-use tools - including workshop scenarios, practical syllabuses, and bite-sized microlearning courses. All of them will use stories from popular books and movies to help young people talk about who they are, how they see others, and how we can live better together.

2. Train youth workers from different countries to learn how to use these tools in their everyday work. The goal is to empower them to bring these approaches into classrooms, community centers, and youth spaces.

3. Build a community of practitioners (educators, facilitators, and youth workers) who share a passion for using storytelling and pop culture in their work. Through this community, we’ll exchange ideas, experiences, and best practices.

4. Offer online sessions and trainings - from live webinars to self-paced content, we’ll open up access to our methods and insights so that youth workers across Europe (and beyond) can join the movement. By the end, we hope more youth workers will feel ready to bring young people together, help them understand each other better, and make their spaces more welcoming for everyone.

Or as Albus Dumbledore once said:

“Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.”