Co-create space with and for youth

A waiting room. A youth centre. A public square. A restroom. A courtroom. 

Most spaces used by young people are designed by adults. Adults decide what is needed, what feels safe and what feels welcoming. But how often do we ask young people what they think? And more importantly, how often do we invite them to create these spaces with us? 

The idea for this training comes from a cocreation project in which four unaccompanied minors worked with judges, guardians and children's rights experts to redesign a courtroom for the Belgian Council for Alien Law Litigation. Their ideas helped create a space that felt calmer, clearer and more respectful. The project showed that when young people are treated as equal partners, everyone benefits, including the adults who use and work in these spaces. 

Why does this matter? The spaces young people use every day influence how they feel, act and connect with others. When they help shape these spaces, they build confidence, ownership and a stronger sense of belonging. At the same time, the whole community can benefit from spaces that better reflect the needs and experiences of the people who use them. 

This training explores how youth workers can set up cocreation processes that enable young people to actively shape the spaces around them. Moving beyond participation, we focus on working together, sharing responsibility and creating solutions that reflect young people's experiences and needs. 

(young people: pre-teenagers, teenagers, young adults)

What to expect?  

Aims and objectives 

During the training course, our aim is to find common answers to the following questions: 

• What do we know, understand and experience when it comes to physical spaces? 
• How do we support young people? What spaces are provided for them, which spaces appeal to them, and what would they create themselves? 
• How should we approach the conversation about spaces? 
• How can we transform a space? 
• Who can transform a space?  
• What should we bear in mind when transforming a space?  
• What role can youth workers play in this process? 
• What is the strength and relevance of youth work in transforming spaces? 

In our search to find answers to these questions, we will talk about young people, defined as pre-teenagers, teenagers, and young adults. 

How?  

The training will offer participants hands-on tools, concrete examples, and guided practice to set up co-creative spatial processes with young people. 

The programme includes: 

• Introduction to co-creation principles and youth-centred spatial design 
• Exploration of methods to visualize, translate and build ideas with young people 
• Field visits to spaces in Brussels to reflect on their design and use. 
• A final guided process in which each participant thinks about some concrete first steps to start the co-creation plan for their organisation/ local reality. 

Who? 

Participant profile 

• Youth workers and other professionals who work with young people and have a basic understanding of youth work. 
• People who would like to improve or redesign a space in their local context together with young people (e.g. a youth centre, waiting room, public space, school environment, etc.). 
• Participants who already have a specific space, challenge or project in mind that they would like to explore during the training. 
• No previous experience with cocreation or spatial design is required but curiosity and a willingness to learn is necessary

Preparation before the training 

Before the training, participants will be asked to: 

• Reflect on a space or environment in their own context that is relevant for young people. 
• Observe how young people use and experience this space. 
• Bring a few observations, examples or reflections from their own practice. 

This preparation will help participants connect the training content to their own reality. 
 
Platform: online 
Method: more information and practical instructions for this preparation task will be shared with selected participants.  

 
Timing preparation: november