For Young People Who Want to Make a Difference
About the Project
Across Europe, many young people care deeply about societal issues but feel sidelined from decision-making or lack enough structured opportunities for civic participation. Existing structures often seem distant, exclusive, or simply ineffective. This Erasmus+ project aims to change that.
What we’re building:
An inclusive European space where young people can exchange ideas, develop civic skills, and propose designs of better systems for youth participation. Through workshops, simulations, small project development, and real dialogue with decision-makers, you’ll gain direct experience in active citizenship and shaping youth policymaking — all while connecting with inspiring peers from other countries.
By taking part in this project, you will:
- Understand and evaluate how youth engage with politics across Europe.
- Envision ideal political systems that reflect youth voices and values.
- Design proposals for new or improved ways how youth can influence public decisions.
- Meet and debate with decision-makers, political youth representatives, and fellow youth changemakers.
- Learn practical skills in advocacy, public speaking, project design, and critical thinking.
We're putting together a group of 20 active young people (16–30 years old) from across Central Europe — based in Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, Germany or Serbia. You should be curious and eager to improve how youth voices are heard in public affairs. Importantly, we expect everyone to be involved for the whole duration of the project and attend both in-person meetings we plan. This group will be joined by experienced facilitators, mentors, youth leaders, and decision-makers at various points throughout the project. Please note the entire project will be conducted in English, so sufficient language skill is mandatory.
Mid-September 2025 | Online Kick-Off
- Welcome & introduction to the project (goals, timeline, some starting tasks).
- Setting ground rules for collaboration and support.
- Sharing your expectations—and hear others’.
12–13 October 2025 | Physical Meeting in Prague, Czechia
An in-person experience full of workshops, peer exchange, simulations, and engagement with youth leaders and politicians.
Key activities include:
- Foresight exercises: designing dream political futures.
- Developing small project proposals.
- Practicing negotiation and feedback with decision-makers.
- Meetings with youth leaders and politicians – presenting and discussing the proposals.
Oct–Dec 2025 | Local-Level Action Projects
Based on your Prague experience and your interests, you will:
- Create a proposal for local or regional change.
- Develop a realistic advocacy strategy for it.
- Pursue real-world outreach: try to meet or connect with relevant decision-makers.
- Receive optional short mentoring from youth leaders or politicians (based on availability).
December 2025 | Online Peer Feedback Meeting
- Present your local advocacy project and share how its execution went so far.
- Give and receive peer feedback.
January and February 2026 | Online National/EU-Level Dialogue Workshop
- Moving from the local and regional to the national and European level.
- Explore new or improved channels for youth dialogue with political institutions and authorities.
- Work in small thematic groups to develop proposals for the next in-person meeting.
16 -17 March 2026 | Second and Final Physical Meeting in Brussels, Belgium
Another in-person experience, this time at the heart of the European change, which brings the whole project together.
Key activities include:
- Sharing and testing your national/EU-level proposals through simulation.
- Presenting the proposals to decision-makers and debating them further.
- Finalizing your recommendations on youth engagement in public life.
- Meeting Brussels-based youth organizations and exploring other EU opportunities.
- Visiting an EU institution and seeing democratic processes in action.
- Confidence and skills to engage in public dialogue and politics.
- First-hand experience advocating for change.
- A network of peers, mentors, and policymakers across Europe.
- Insight into EU institutions and democratic processes.
- Concrete outputs: your own project proposal, policy recommendations, and more.
If you're passionate about change, eager to speak up, and ready to connect with others across borders—this project is for you. No prior experience in politics or activism is required, only motivation and openness to learn and try things out. Get in touch for more details!
Project funding
This project is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CERV. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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