The project aimed to promote intercultural encounters, ecological education and democratic participation of young people from Germany and France. Supported by the non-profit association Rasselbande e.V. and its long-standing partner Les Petits Débrouillards, the youth meeting deliberately relied on extracurricular learning in order to offer young people a space in which they can develop personally, discover cultural differences and actively deal with global future issues such as climate change, sustainability and democratic participation. A central concern was to sensitise young people to the complexity of global contexts and at the same time to provide them with practical opportunities for action. In view of the growing importance of climate change - not least through movements such as Fridays for Future - the youth encounter should give young people orientation and enable them to think critically and act independently, sustainably. The focus was not only on the teaching of scientific content, but also on the development of social, intercultural and democratic skills. The project objectives were multifaceted: Promote democracy and participation: Young people should not only understand democratic processes theoretically, but also actively experience and shape them in workshops, discussions and group decisions. Values such as tolerance, respect and diversity were made experienceable. Strengthening ecological competence: With creative, practical methods - for example through environmental workshops or excursions with an ornithologist - topics such as biodiversity, resource conservation and climate protection were conveyed vividly and close to life. Enable intercultural exchange: the bi-national composition of the participants, the accommodation in mixed rooms and bilingual activities opened up direct encounters. This allowed young people to reflect on their own culture, break down prejudices and gain new perspectives. Promoting personality development and key competencies: Teamwork, self-efficacy, conflict resolution and personal responsibility were strengthened above all through non-formal learning methods. The young people have learned to find their way in new situations, to take responsibility and to develop creative solutions. The project was deliberately aimed at young people with fewer opportunities, especially from rural or socially disadvantaged regions. In this way, participation opportunities were created that supported young people individually in the preparation and made an inclusive and diverse group experience possible through intensive care. Overall, the youth meeting has seen itself as a platform to turn young people into active creators of a sustainable and democratic future – locally rooted and networked in Europe.