With the National Vocational College Debate, we wanted to give vocational students, who are still underrepresented in politics, in voter turnout, and in societal debates, the opportunity to make their voices heard and to strengthen their civic skills. This is particularly relevant because there are currently over 475,000 vocational students in the Netherlands, while for more than 40% of the workforce vocational education is the highest completed level of education. For a vital democracy, it is crucial that this group is properly represented. The National Vocational College Debate provided students with both a platform and the skills to increase their political and social engagement. Through debating, they learned to think critically, articulate their opinions clearly, and adopt different perspectives. By connecting students with their representatives (politicians, JOBmbo – the National Student Union for Vocational Education – and the Youth Climate Movement), they became better equipped to navigate political and societal debates. For many vocational students, this was an eye-opener: they often expressed that they felt politics was “not for them,” and were positively surprised by the direct interaction with politicians. This strengthened their trust and motivated them to become more engaged. The project therefore aimed to reduce the gap between politics and vocational education and to give vocational students a stronger, structural voice.