“Sustainable change starts at the local level. Therefore, engaging youth to participate in local affairs is of the upmost importance’’ pointed out Saara Ilvessalo, member of the Congress (Finland, SOC). “It is also the only way to achieve a better and peaceful society”, added Eva Černigoj, member of the Congress (Slovenia, GILD). Sharing their experience as local and regional councillors, both Congress members inspired the 30 young representatives of civil society organisations, media and local authorities from Odessa, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Mykolayiv regions. On this basis, ideas were developed for initiatives to foster citizen engagement for a transparent decision-making and to strengthen local democracy in their community, during the three-day seminar organised by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. The seminar was organised in the framework of the project “Promoting local democracy in Ukraine”, which is part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine 2015-2017.