Youth for Europe: YOU Participate
- Eskisehir, Turkey 2-10 September 2023
About the Project
The Erasmus+ Youth Exchange "Youth for Europe: YOU Participate" brought together young people from France, Turkey, North Macedonia, Serbia, Spain, Poland, and Croatia with a clear and ambitious goal — to empower young people to become active citizens who take part in decision-making processes in their countries and shape the decisions that impact their lives.
The project explored youth participation as a cornerstone of democratic and inclusive societies, recognising that every young person — regardless of their ethnicity, social status, or background — has the right to be heard and to contribute to the decisions that affect them. Through non-formal education methods, intercultural exchange, and collaborative activities, participants gained both the knowledge and the confidence to engage meaningfully in civic life.
Beyond the exchange itself, the project aimed to spark a wider conversation about youth participation by sharing its results through social media and community events in all participating countries.
The "Youth for Europe: YOU Participate" project aimed to:
- Increase participants’ competencies in youth participation building knowledge on its importance, developing practical skills, and fostering a proactive attitude toward civic engagement.
- Explore various forms of youth participation across participating countries, including youth organisations, youth clubs, and youth parliaments.
- Support the exchange of good practices and experiences between countries, encouraging young people to get actively involved in their communities.
- Explore the concept of youth participation in the context of building democratic and inclusive societies that respect the rule of law, freedom, and equal representation.
- Encourage and empower participants to take initiative and increase their level of involvement in civic and community life.
- Share information about the Erasmus+ Programme 2021–2027 and inspire young people to make use of the opportunities it offers.
- Raise awareness about youth participation through social media, reaching young people in participating communities online.
- Create a series of three short videos on youth participation to promote the topic during follow-up events, combining project footage with personal testimonials from exchange participants.
Project Activities
The youth exchange was structured around several key activities:
- Workshops on Youth Participation — Participants deepened their understanding of what youth participation means, why it matters, and how it can take different forms across Europe.
- Cross-Country Exchange of Good Practices — Young people from seven countries shared experiences from their local contexts, exploring how youth organisations, clubs, and parliaments function in different national settings.
- Civic Engagement Sessions — Through interactive activities, participants examined the role of youth participation in building democratic and inclusive societies and reflected on how they can contribute to their own communities.
- Short Video Production — As a key project output, participants collaborated to create a series of three short videos designed to promote youth participation in their home communities.
- Social Media Campaign — The project used digital platforms to share content on youth participation and engage a broader online audience beyond the exchange itself.
- Follow-Up Events — After returning home, participants organised local events featuring the project videos and personal testimonials to continue the conversation in their communities.
Expected Results and Impact
Through the youth exchange, participants and their communities gained:
- Stronger knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to active citizenship and youth participation.
- Broader awareness of the diverse forms of youth participation can be taken across Europe.
- Practical inspiration and motivation to get involved in youth organisations, local governance, and civic initiatives.
- A series of three short videos serving as lasting educational resources to promote youth participation in participating communities.
- Increased visibility of the Erasmus+ programme among young people in all seven partner countries.
- A wider online reach through social media, engaging young people who could not attend the exchange directly.