The project ASES a participar! was developed within the framework of the Strategic Intermunicipal Education Development Plan (PEDIME), which emphasises the promotion of school success and continuous improvement through reflection, sharing and the development of meaningful experiences. AES+ works mainly with young people with fewer opportunities, designing initiatives that address their specific interests and needs. Consultations with these young people revealed that, while they demonstrate strong critical thinking skills, they rarely use them to reflect on their community or to engage actively in civic life. At the same time, they often expressed dissatisfaction with political decisions and a limited understanding of how democratic processes operate. The project was therefore created to respond to these needs by enriching the opportunities available to young people, enabling them to build meaningful life pathways and to strengthen their sense of belonging to the European Union. The specific objectives were to: • Promote youth participation in the municipality of Sintra on issues linked to the European Youth Goals; • Raise awareness among young people of common challenges faced by youth across the European Union; • Increase knowledge and understanding of the functioning of democratic institutions; • Encourage debate and reflection on the importance of politics in shaping societies; • Stimulate young people to design and present proposals for solutions to the problems identified. In order to achieve these aims, the AES+ team worked with participants on five thematic areas, directly linked to the European Youth Goals and chosen by the young people during the preparation phase: 1. Inclusive Societies (Youth Goal 3) 2. Mental Health and Well-being (Youth Goal 5) 3. Quality Employment for All (Youth Goal 7) 4. Quality Learning (Youth Goal 8) 5. Space and Participation for All (Youth Goal 9) For each theme, young people organised meetings with political decision-makers and relevant public entities, where they presented their reflections, concerns and proposals. Based on the conclusions reached, they then developed dissemination activities to share outcomes with peers and the wider community. The choice of topics reflected the lived realities of the participants. Testimonies highlighted issues such as discrimination and exclusion, mental health pressures, barriers to quality employment, challenges in education for young people with diverse needs, and the lack of opportunities for youth participation in decision-making. In addition, the project aimed to strengthen the use of technological and digital tools as instruments to mobilise and enhance youth participation, while at the same time developing essential competences for the transition to adult life within the European Union, such as critical thinking, autonomy in mobility, and ecological responsibility. In summary, ASES a participar! created structured opportunities for young people in Sintra to engage in democratic processes, to give voice to their concerns, to propose solutions to real problems, and to reinforce their active citizenship at both local and European levels.