The YOUnion project was designed as an international youth exchange program that brings together young people from across Europe to engage with the history and remembrance of the 20th century in a participatory and creative way. The primary goal of the project is to strengthen a democratic, historically aware, and future-oriented European civil society by fostering an active and critical engagement with history, memory culture, and current societal challenges. At its core, YOUnion aims to provide young people with the tools to understand history not as a distant and static narrative but as a living and evolving process that continues to shape contemporary societies. By confronting the complex history of National Socialism and its consequences—through the lens of Stalag VIII A, a former prisoner-of-war camp in Görlitz-Zgorzelec—the project seeks to connect past atrocities with present-day issues such as the resurgence of nationalist ideologies, human rights violations, and threats to democracy. One of the key approaches of the project is to make history tangible and accessible through experiential learning. The workshops and activities encourage participants to actively engage with historical narratives rather than passively consume them. Artistic and creative methods, such as film production, audio storytelling, and archaeological exploration, allow for a multi-layered engagement with history on an intellectual, emotional, and practical level. By using these interactive and hands-on approaches, participants gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of exclusion and dehumanization used by totalitarian regimes and develop the ability to recognize and counteract similar patterns in today’s world. Beyond its historical focus, YOUnion is explicitly designed to foster European transnational understanding and solidarity. The project brings together young people from diverse national, ethnic, cultural, and social backgrounds, enabling them to engage in meaningful dialogue and collaborative learning. The participants not only explore history together but also experience the values of democracy, participation, and intercultural exchange firsthand. Living and working together in an intensive two-week program allows them to form lasting transnational connections, which are essential for building a resilient and unified Europe. Through this process, YOUnion encourages critical reflection on how historical events are remembered, interpreted, and instrumentalized in different societal contexts. Participants are challenged to examine various national narratives of memory and to question dominant historical perspectives. By exploring different ways of commemoration, they develop a nuanced understanding of how history is constructed and how remembrance can be used to promote democratic values or, conversely, to justify exclusion and division. In addition to historical and civic education, the project also emphasizes personal and social development. Participants acquire valuable skills such as teamwork, self-organization, and intercultural communication. They take an active role in shaping the program, making decisions about their projects and presentations, and organizing aspects of their daily life during the encounter. This participatory approach fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility, reinforcing their ability to work collaboratively and to contribute meaningfully to their communities. YOUnion is more than just a history project—it is an investment in the future of European civil society. By empowering young people to engage with history critically, creatively, and emotionally, the project helps them understand how the past continues to shape the present and how they, as active citizens, can contribute to a democratic and inclusive future. Through this process, YOUnion fosters a sense of responsibility and agency, ensuring that remembrance is not merely about preserving the past but about actively shaping a more just and open society for generations to come.