In the summer of 2025, the Italian organization conducted an internal survey aimed at its volunteers and followers. This survey focused on the link between politics and youth participation. The results painted a rather concerning picture: the majority do not vote; two-thirds of those who do exercise their right to vote are not familiar with the electoral programs, voting based on "gut feeling" and without real awareness. More than half of the respondents do not like to discuss politics and socially relevant issues. This scenario is also shared by the other partner organizations involved here, with the exception of the Turkish one. The problem of voter abstention is particularly shared by Romania and Spain (affecting over 50% of their youth), while a total disinterest in electoral programs is reported among young people from Spain, Romania, and Serbia. The lack of trust in the political class is disconcerting (reaching a peak of 80% for the Romanian partner). Another cross-cutting problem within the partnership is the low percentage of respondents who participate or have participated in social initiatives (12% Italy, 16% Spain, 20% Turkey). Turkish youth represent a "counter-trend" to the general situation, especially regarding their high voter turnout and political participation. This characteristic will undoubtedly help to enrich and balance the group's perspective, making the activities more interesting. Given this situation, we thought of doing something to reverse this "trend" among young people by creating this youth exchange. Democracy in Europe is facing a critical phase, threatened by populism, corruption, fake news, and multiple crises. In this context, the enthusiasm and participation of young people are the most valuable resources to change course. This is why we created a project that puts them front and center, giving them the tools and a voice to be agents of change. The exchange is designed to achieve several objectives. Among the primary ones, we will seek to: *Enhance the understanding and critical adherence to fundamental democratic values. *Stimulate the involvement of young people in democratic and civic life at the local, national, and European levels. *Develop analytical skills against the risks posed by populist, authoritarian, and totalitarian drifts, recognizing their characteristics and consequences. *Deepen knowledge of the European Union, from its history and founding values to its institutions, policies, and functioning. *Consolidate the capacity of partner organizations to manage international projects on these themes, strengthening the network of cooperation for future initiatives. The secondary objectives are more connected to the very essence of a youth exchange rather than its main theme, namely: *To foster individual growth, enhancing self-esteem, self-confidence, self-awareness, the ability to step out of one's comfort zone, and sensitivity towards environmental issues. *To develop fundamental skills for the contemporary world (soft skills), such as teamwork, time management, empathy, critical thinking, effective communication, and leadership. *To experience and improve the understanding of non-formal education methods, appreciating their effectiveness for acquiring competences. *To broaden knowledge and skills in the critical and conscious use of digital tools. *To refine mastery of the English language and other foreign languages in a real communicative context. *To create an inclusive environment that facilitates the birth of lasting international friendships and a network of personal/professional contacts. The exchange aims to explore themes crucial for the civic education of young people: the promotion of active citizenship and the strengthening of democratic principles, the encouragement of concrete engagement in the democratic and social spheres, the broadening of international and multicultural perspectives, as well as increasing awareness of indispensable social values such as solidarity, tolerance, and respect. The project will also guarantee participants a thorough understanding of recent European history. These objectives will be pursued through a rich program of analysis, debates, quizzes, meetings, presentations, and exchanges of ideas, all based on the use of non-formal education methodology.