We are applying for project funding for staff exchanges between Youth Services of the City of Rovaniemi and Youth welfer office of Kassel for the period from 1 June 2026 to 31 January 2028. Our aim is to develop the professional competences of youth workers and to create a strong foundation for implementing further joint projects together with young people. A key objective of youth work in both town is to ensure that young people under the age of 29 have equal opportunities to participate, feel well and develop in their own hometown. In Rovaniemi, there is active Youth Council activity, which involves students from local schools, as well as an ‘influencer’ group led by outreach youth work, consisting of young people in vulnerable situations.The challenge is to reach young people interested in these topics, encourage open discussion, and activate them toward concrete actions. The project aims to find new perspectives for supporting youth inclusion and ways to strengthen their belief in the future, helping them see how they can influence their own lives and societal issues. In Kassel, it has become clear in recent years that it is becoming increasingly difficult for social workers to get young people interested in extracurricular projects and youth education work and to establish asense of commitment. For youth work in Kassel, it is very important to look at how other countries deal with this problem. By involving three social workers from different fields, they can develop new ideas and gain insights from the experiences of others. The project aims to promote the exchange of ideas and experiences between social workers in Kassel and other cities. For youth work in Kassel, it is very important to look at how other countries are dealing with this problem. By involving three social workers from different areas, they can develop new ideas and learn from the respective partner country. We believe it is important to focus on young people from educationally disadvantaged families. Our goal is to deepen our knowledge and exchange good practices concerning: - youth active participation in society - methods used in youth work (especially to integrate disadvantaged and marginalized youngsters) - models of networking and fundraising in the youth work and youth participation projects - structured dialogue processes (participation by dialogue between youngsters and politicians andmunicipality) - programs and activities to foster and increase employability of young people. During the project, youth workers will familiarize themselves with different working methods used to support young people’s participation and to create various ways for young people to influence their own communities. These methods include, among others, learning democratic practices, building communities, and developing interaction and communication skills. The aim is to become familiar with youth work practices in the partner country, to network, exchange experiences and identify new tools. We want to implement this project to strengthen our international development cooperation and to jointly plan a youth participation project. With a focus on enhancing young people’s democratic skills, participation, diversity, and sense of justice. The main focus is on young people who have fewer opportunities than others to influence societal issues.