We Are Streetwise in Marseille.

A new momentum is taking shape to support young people in vulnerable situations through the European project We Are Streetwise, funded by Erasmus+. This initiative connects three cities, Marseille, Antwerp and Utrecht, around a strong and essential belief: every young person has a dream, every young person has talent, and our role is to create the conditions that allow both to flourish.

Supporting young people in vulnerable situations requires an approach that is both structured, deeply human and rooted in local cultural realities. The We Are Streetwise model is therefore based on four fundamental principles: cultural relevance, equality, the creation of spaces that are both safe and stimulating, and tailored support. These principles are built around five key objectives: health, social connection, autonomy, purpose and empowerment, which provide a solid foundation for helping young people strengthen their resilience, build self-esteem and reconnect with their own potential.

At the heart of this approach lies a five-step methodology, ranging from proactive street outreach to identifying talents and aspirations, including personalised interventions and development plans co-designed with the young people themselves. Experiences in Antwerp, Marseille and Utrecht show that this trust-based and personalised support has a real impact: it strengthens motivation, engagement and long-term well-being.

In Marseille, the project is brought to life through close collaboration with Contact Club, an organisation that has been working with young people in the city centre neighbourhoods for over 60 years. With an experienced team deeply rooted in the local area of Belsunce, Noailles, La Joliette and Carmes, the organisation operates across four main goals: promoting social cohesion and preventing exclusion and marginalisation, supporting academic success, assisting parents and families in their educational role, and fostering access to employment and re-engagement among young people.

It is precisely in this area that the We Are Streetwise project is currently being rolled out, in close collaboration with Karim Loukil. His journey is particularly inspiring: a former young resident of the Belsunce neighbourhood who himself benefited from the support of Contact Club, he is now a youth worker and head of educational programmes. He embodies the continuity and strength of this grassroots work, where individual pathways become drivers of collective impact. We are launching the programme with two groups: the “Dreamers”, aged 15 to 24, and the “Future Builders”, aged 25 to 30. Particular attention will be paid to the participation of young women, in order to strengthen their access to new directions.

This project represents a unique opportunity to roll out this model in Marseille, Antwerp and Utrecht over the next 18 months, while fully valuing local dynamics and potential. The ambition is also to build strong bridges between the cities, and to inspire public policy through concrete, field-tested practices.

We Are Streetwise is a project of Morgenmakers with committed partners Roots Vlaanderen, Stichting M&K, Contact Club, Marseille Solutions, Wetopia and JINT vzw, We Are Streetwise is part of an ambitious European dynamic, where transnational cooperation and local stakeholders become drivers of social transformation.