The RAI Youth Exchange aims to fundamentally shift the role of young people from passive subjects of research or beneficiaries of environmental initiatives to active, empowered agents of change in their communities. From a youth work perspective, our goal is to equip a diverse group of 30 young people (16-26) with the methodological tool of Youth-led Participatory Action Research (YPAR) to investigate, understand, and take concrete action on issues of socio-environmental justice that directly affect their lives. Our specific objectives are: SO1 - Solidify understanding and empower youth voices : We will move beyond traditional civic education by fostering critical consciousness and deepen participants' comprehension of socio-environmental justice through an intersectional lens. Participants will learn to deconstruct the root causes of socio-environmental issues not as inevitable facts, but as products of systemic decisions. This process of "conscientization" is the bedrock of empowerment. Youth workers will facilitate sessions where young people identify their own research questions, ensuring the project is genuinely youth-led and relevant to their realities, thereby strengthening their sense of agency and self-efficacy (eg. eco-anxieties, biodiversity loss, environmental inequalities, water…) SO2 - Build concrete research and democratic competences through experiential learning : We will provide hands-on training in the full YPAR cycle: ethical research design, data collection methods (e.g., surveys, paired-interviews, focus groups, community mapping…), collective data analysis, interpretation, and lastly, action! This demystifies research and positions it as an accessible tool for advocacy. Furthermore, by working in international teams to conduct this research, participants will actively practice democratic skills: negotiation, consensus-building, respecting diverse viewpoints, and collective decision-making. SO3 - Foster advocacy and translating knowledge into action : A key failure of traditional education (besides being too often top-down) is stopping at awareness-raising. YPAR is inherently action and change-oriented. A core objective is to support youths in moving from research findings to designing a tangible, impactful social or environmental action. Youth workers will mentor teams in developing an "Impact Plan" (e.g. an awareness campaign, a community garden project, a policy brief, a social media initiative, an artistic performance…) This transmits strategic planning, resource mobilisation, and public speaking, turning abstract knowledge into practical change-making skills, that can be catalysed in local actions. SO4 - Strengthen European solidarity and peer support networks : While YPAR specialises in the strength of local action and community impact for change, the international setting is a crucial youth work strategy. In this exchange we aim at bringing together young people from different geographic and socio-economic backgrounds to work on a common goal and exchange on topics that they might not have the chance or the space to discuss about with their peers. This allows us to break down stereotypes and build connections, solidarity, and a shared sense of empowerment! The exchange will intentionally create a brave, inclusive space for dialogue and mutual learning. The resulting network will serve as a vital support system, sustaining motivation and providing a platform for collaboration long after the project ends, preventing burnout, anxiety, and ensuring long-term impact. In summary, RAI is not just a training or an exchange, but aims at being a transformative process (the main objective of YPAR). We also aim to achieve a multiplier effect : empowered youth returning to their communities not only with a specific action plan but with the lasting competence, confidence, and network to continue being engaged citizens and drivers of socio-environmental wellbeing.