The implementation of “Joint step - with local communities for participation" project was initiated by the recognition that there is a growing need among young people to be able to openly express their opinions and to be given real opportunities to have their voices heard on issues that affect their everyday lives and local communities. Our experiences gained through the Youth Awareness Programme, launched five years ago and focused on civic education for young people and led by a group of young participants, confirmed that many young people lack the appropriate tools, skills and platforms to actively engage in community life and democratic, participatory processes. Building on these needs, we implemented our project with the aim of promoting joint reflection among young people, strengthening their participation in local communities and their organizing capacity initiating and reinforcing dialogue between young people and local community actors, decision-makers and public stakeholders. Our long-term goal was for these efforts to contribute to the development of local communities and to encourage young people to remain active actors in their local areas. An important objective of the project was to provide young people with real opportunities for participation in civil society at the local level and to support them in acquiring the foundations of active citizenship and democratic engagement as well as the skills and competencies required for these processes. Particular attention was paid to involving young people with fewer opportunities, who typically have more limited access to participatory processes. The specific objectives of the project were to: - promote the understanding and practice of genuine youth participation and democracy within local communities; - develop competencies necessary for community building and active civic participation through the use of non-formal learning methods; - involve young people in initiating community life and fostering dialogue at the local level; - establish dialogue and cooperation between young people, youth workers and youth professionals, as well as local decision-makers and public stakeholders; - encourage young people’s active participation in local democratic life; - strengthen connections between young people and decision-makers and public stakeholders, thereby stimulating dialogue; - train young multipliers who are capable of supporting their peers in active participation and in organizing civic and community-based programmes; - stimulate the development of new ideas initiated by youth communities that respond to local social challenges, and support their practical implementation in connection with the EU Youth Goals. During the project we consciously implemented a complex, interconnected process to achieve the above objectives. We considered it particularly important that young people not only be given opportunities to express their opinions, but also acquire the skills and competencies that enable them to represent their interests, initiate bottom-up initiatives, engage in dialogue and become capable of bringing about change through the implementation of their own ideas. Throughout the project, we designed participatory processes that contributed to the development of young people’s participation competencies, with a particular focus on sharing opinion, advocacy, critical thinking and community responsibility. By applying non-formal learning methods, we created a safe and inclusive learning environment where young people could openly express their views and perspectives based on their own experiences, thereby strengthening their civic and social awareness. All implemented activities aimed to encourage young people’s active participation in democratic life, promote the exchange of opinions between young people and public stakeholders, while simultaneously developing participants’ skills, shaping their attitudes and strengthening their sense of community responsibility. Involving young people in the planning and implementation of community initiatives fostered their community engagement while providing them with practical experience in organizing programmes and actions. The project also contributed to strengthening cooperation and solidarity among young people by involving participants from diverse backgrounds and life situations in shared learning and action processes, thereby supporting the strengthening of communities and increasing social cohesion. The interconnected activities, such as training, residential camps, mentoring processes and the initiation of local community activities, enabled long-term youth engagement and offered learning and participation pathways that went beyond one-off events, contributing to the sustainable development of young people’s active and conscious civic roles.