When we began shaping “The Crown, The Sword & The Eternal Flame,” we did not start with castles, costumes, or storylines. We started with young people sitting around pizza boxes in March 2025, voicing their fears, frustrations, and questions. They spoke of wars they see daily on the news, of growing hatred between communities in their neighborhoods—especially between Muslim and Jewish youth—and of their fading trust in democracy. One participant said quietly, “If leaders can’t stop war, then what is democracy worth?” That moment made clear what our project had to achieve: not only to create a game, but to create an experience that could restore belief, inspire courage, and teach the skills of peacebuilding and leadership. From the perspective of youth work practice, we want to achieve four main things: Reignite young people’s faith in democracy and shared values. Through the metaphor of the Eternal Flame—representing freedom, democracy, peace, and justice—participants will experience first-hand what it means to defend values under pressure. Just as knights, priests, princes, and sages must decide whether to compromise or resist, young people will learn to weigh choices, debate, and practice democratic decision-making in a safe but challenging environment. Develop critical competences for life and citizenship. As youth workers, we know that competences are not taught best in classrooms but in lived experiences. In this LARP-based project, participants will: Negotiate alliances (building communication, conflict resolution, and teamwork skills). Lead councils and make collective decisions (practicing democratic participation and leadership). Face betrayals, crises, and ethical dilemmas (strengthening resilience, problem-solving, and empathy). Reflect daily on their experiences (growing in personal, social, and learning-to-learn competences). Create safe spaces for intercultural dialogue and inclusion. The kingdoms are fictional, but the conflicts mirror real divisions. By placing participants from different countries, religions, and backgrounds into roles that require cooperation, we break down stereotypes and foster intercultural understanding. In youth work practice, this means we are not only addressing global issues but also healing fractures at the local level—where mistrust between communities often grows. Empower young people to become multipliers and changemakers. A youth exchange should not end at the castle gates. Our objective is that participants leave with the courage and tools to bring the Eternal Flame back home. Each will be supported to organise at least one local activity—whether a school workshop, dialogue café, or creative campaign—sharing lessons learned with peers and communities. This ensures the project’s legacy continues and creates a ripple effect of youth-led engagement. Specific objectives of the project (framed in youth work terms): To strengthen democratic values among 32 young people (18–30) and 8 youth leaders by creating experiential learning around decision-making, leadership, and the consequences of power. To equip participants with key competences of the Erasmus+ framework: citizenship, intercultural awareness, entrepreneurship, personal/social competences, and digital competences. To address current challenges—such as the rise of extremism, growing mistrust in institutions, and community tensions—through creative, non-formal education. To foster active youth participation by ensuring that participants co-created the project from the very beginning (March 2025 pizza sessions) and remain actively engaged in its preparation, implementation, and follow-up. To strengthen international cooperation among youth organisations, combining experienced and newcomer partners, ensuring knowledge-sharing and long-term partnerships. The APV as well the mobility will take place in Germany in a real castle Hostel: ostel Burg Breuberg https://www.jugendherberge.de/en/youth-hostels/burg-breuberg/#portrait In short We do not want to “teach” democracy, peace, and justice as abstract concepts. We want young people to live them—to feel the weight of power, the cost of betrayal, the hope of alliances, and the possibility of peace. By implementing this project, we aim to create an unforgettable experience where young people grow as individuals, as citizens, and as changemakers who will carry the Eternal Flame back into their communities.