Our project aims to revitalize and modernise youth participation structures—specifically municipal youth councils and student parliaments—by equipping youth workers with the tools to make these bodies more inclusive, digitally relevant, and psychologically safe. By bringing together 40 professional and voluntary youth workers from 10 partner organisations across Europe, we seek to bridge the gap between "traditional" democratic structures and the reality of today's young people, who often view such councils as bureaucratic or "adult-led." The main objective is to improve the capacity of youth workers to act not just as organizers, but as facilitators of democratic ownership. We aim to transform youth councils from formal consultative bodies into dynamic "labs for democracy" where even the most marginalised young people (rural youth, refugees, youth in recovery) feel safe to speak up. This will be achieved through a 7-day training course in Romania (September 2026), supported by a comprehensive preparation and follow-up phase. From the perspective of youth work practice, the project has five specific objectives: 1. Modernise Participation through Digital Tools: We aim to equip youth workers with competences in "Digital Democracy" (supported by expertise in e-participation). Participants will learn how to use hybrid consultation tools, e-voting apps, and digital open badges to engage "digital native" youth who may be alienated by traditional meeting formats. The objective is to make decision-making processes accessible via the smartphones in young people's pockets. 2. Ensure Psychological Safety and Radical Inclusion: Moving beyond tokenism, we aim to develop youth workers' skills in creating trauma-informed spaces. Drawing on expertise in working with refugees and youth in recovery, participants will learn how to facilitate councils that are safe for vulnerable groups. The objective is to ensure that "inclusion" means active emotional support, preventing burnout or re-traumatization in civic spaces. 3. Innovate with Arts-Based Facilitation: We seek to introduce non-verbal and creative methods (visual facilitation, theatre, gamification) into the rigid structures of youth councils. This objective addresses the language and cultural barriers that often silence minority youth. By using art as a language of advocacy, youth workers will learn to unlock the potential of young people who struggle with formal political jargon. 4. Strengthen Advocacy and Structural Impact: We aim to professionalise the way youth workers support councils in influencing policy. Participants will learn how to move from organizing "activities" to drafting structural proposals and engaging in constructive dialogue with decision-makers. This involves understanding municipal statutes and advocacy cycles to ensure youth voices lead to tangible local policy changes. 5. Create a Sustainable "Community of Practice": Finally, we aim to build a resilient European network of youth workers who can support each other in the long term. Through the co-creation of the "Council Starter Kit" (a tangible collection of the methods tested during the training), we ensure that the project results are transferable. We aim to foster future cooperation (KA2 and KA1 projects) that keeps the topic of youth participation high on the agenda. Addressing Identified Needs: These objectives directly respond to the needs identified by the consortium: Rural partners (RO, TR, RS) need tools to combat the isolation and lack of motivation in remote areas. Inclusion-focused partners (PL, LT, HU) need specific protocols to integrate crisis-affected youth into standard youth structures. Specialized partners (BG, MK, IT, HR) need a platform to transfer their niche expertise (digital, art, sustainability) into the mainstream youth council model. Ultimately, the project aims to ensure that youth workers return home not just with theoretical knowledge, but with a backpack full of adaptable, tested methods. This will result in youth councils that are not merely symbolic, but are vibrant, inclusive, and effective schools of democracy.