The SoftSkills4Democracy project was developed in response to a clear need identified by the partner organisations in their previous work with young people: many young adults need stronger soft skills not only for personal and professional development, but also for meaningful participation in democratic and civic life. In particular, we identified a need for more practical and holistic learning opportunities related to critical thinking, media literacy, digital competences, communication, teamwork, creativity, and active engagement in society. The project also responded to a low level of understanding among young people of the role of civil society organisations, local initiatives, and democratic participation, as well as to the growing impact of misinformation and the fast-changing digital environment. The project aimed to address these needs by combining non-formal education, mentoring, experiential learning, and cross-border exchange. Its main objective was to support young people aged 18-30 in Germany and Poland in developing key competences that would help them become more confident, responsible, and active members of their communities. The project focused especially on strengthening cognitive skills such as critical thinking, media literacy, and responsible use of AI, as well as interpersonal and creative skills such as communication, collaboration, empathy, leadership, and innovation. More specifically, the project set out to create a local mentoring and participation process for young people in Erfurt and Poznań, connect participants with decision-makers, professionals, and civil society actors, involve young people directly in the planning and implementation of activities, and produce transferable content and methods that could be reused by other youth workers and organisations. Through this, the project aimed to contribute to more inclusive democratic participation, stronger youth engagement, and a better connection between soft skills development and civic responsibility The specific objectives we set out for the project are: - Implement an intensive mentorship programme, engaging young people from Erfurt and Poznań in a structured learning process focused on key competences through non-formal education and experiential learning, linked to European values - Strengthen young people’s ability to critically assess information, particularly in the context of digital media, misinformation, and public discourse - Develop communication, interpersonal, teamwork, and collaboration skills necessary for dialogue, debate, and collective decision-making - Connect mentoring programme participants with decision-makers, professionals, and civil society organisations in Thuringia and Wielkopolska to encourage active participation and involvement in local initiatives - Provide opportunities for young people to actively contribute as co-organisers and co-coordinators of local events and study visits, fostering ownership, responsibility, and initiative - Ensure the inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities by creating accessible, supportive, and participatory learning environments - Strengthen cooperation between partner organisations and exchange approaches to youth participation and non-formal education - Lastly, to create transferable content (photos, videos, blog posts, brochures, activities, and workshop formats) to share and promote the project within a wider network of youth workers and educational NGOs.