With the implementation of the Youth Participation project, we aimed to address a clearly identified deficit: low and stagnant levels of real participation of young people in decision-making processes, as well as a discrepancy in the understanding of "what youth participation is" among young people, youth structures, and institutions. In this regard, our main goal was to increase the levels and quality of youth participation in Bulgaria by putting the topic more visibly on the agenda and helping to transform participation from a "one-off event" into a more structured process at the local and national levels. The specific sub-goals we set were: - To raise awareness and general understanding of youth participation – what it is, what forms and mechanisms it takes, what its role is in the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of youth policies, and what its benefits are for democratic life. This was specifically addressed through the information campaign, resources on the ActNow.bg website, and a series of webinars. - To build and develop civic competencies and practical skills for participation – to prepare young people and youth representatives to engage in a more informed, confident, and reasoned dialogue with institutions, including through work on specific topics and recommendations within the framework of the National Meeting. - To create and disseminate practical resources to support and "multiply" participation: a Handbook collection of good practices for youth participation at the local level (as a basis for inspiration and applicable models); a policy document (Declaration) – a commonly accepted framework/definition and recommendations for improving the mechanisms and environment for participation. - The creation of a meeting point for joint work between young people, experts, and decision-makers, where meaningful debate can take place and concrete recommendations can be formulated, rather than just sharing opinions. That is why the central element of the project was the National Meeting Youth Participation, followed by formats for deepening the discussion (youth studios). - Advocacy for improving youth participation at the local level – we planned for participants to develop and implement advocacy initiatives, supported by mentoring from the team, so that the recommendations would be "grounded" in real local actions and partnerships with municipalities and institutions. The expected and desired outcome of these objectives was the drafting of a Declaration with recommendations that would summarize the common position and serve as a basis for subsequent processes to improve the framework and practices for participation (including on topics such as defining youth participation, strengthening structures and mechanisms for participation, etc.). Through this logic, the project positions itself within the objectives of the EU Youth Strategy – "Engage - Empower" and strengthens participation in democratic life and related European youth goals.