The KEY-YOU (Creative Knowledge & Diversity-oriented Engagement for Youth UNLOCKED Participation) project is a 24-month Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership in Youth that aims to strengthen civic participation, equality, and democratic literacy among young people aged 18–30, with a particular focus on NEETs and youth with fewer opportunities. The project addresses the growing gap between young people and democratic institutions by creating more accessible, engaging, and inclusive ways for them to understand their rights and actively participate in decision-making processes at local and European level. At the core of the project is the development of an innovative civic-education escape room framework, combining gamification, experiential learning, and non-formal education to make complex civic and political concepts easier to understand and more appealing to youth. Alongside this, the project will develop a set of boardable flashcards, civic literacy mapping tools, and practical educational resources for youth workers. Through localized think tanks, pilot trainings, and demo-days across partner countries, KEY-YOU will directly engage 320 young people and 120 youth workers, creating spaces for dialogue, co-creation, and hands-on civic learning. Implemented by a consortium of organizations from Germany, Portugal, Greece, and Slovenia, the project aims to build long-term, transferable tools that promote active citizenship, social inclusion, and stronger democratic engagement among young people across Europe.