High Tides of Youth Participation (Participatory Seminar)

High Tides of Youth Participation is a Participatory Seminar for organisations, practitioners and engaged young people who want to strengthen meaningful youth participation within organisations, local communities and European cooperation. 

It is rooted in the “high tides” many young people and communities are experiencing today: uncertainty, fragmentation and disengagement, but also change, energy and the search for new ways to take part in society. In this context, youth participation cannot remain a formal principle. It needs to become real, relevant and impactful. 

This activity will create a space where different actors can meet, reflect, learn from practice and build stronger connections for future cooperation across Europe. 

Aim of the activity 
The main aim of the activity is to enhance meaningful youth participation within organisations and communities. 

Objectives 
The activity will support participants to: 

• reflect on what real and impactful youth participation means today, especially in times of uncertainty and youth disengagement;  
• explore methodological frameworks, approaches and tools that can support participation processes;  
• share effective practices of youth participation at local level, in communities and within organisations;  
• strengthen the capacity of organisations to foster engagement, inclusion and successful participation-based interventions;  
• lay the foundations for strong and sustainable partnerships within Erasmus+ Youth and the European Solidarity Corps, as well as beyond project-based cooperation;  
• connect different experiences and perspectives that may inspire future high-quality cooperation and project ideas.  

Who is this activity for? 

• The activity is designed for youth workers, project managers and coordinators, trainers, facilitators, youth participation practitioners, representatives of NGOs, as well as educators and teachers from the formal education sector, schools and informal groups active in the field of youth participation. 
• It is also open to young people aged 18+ who are already engaged in youth organisations or local initiatives with a positive impact on their communities, and who can take part together with another relevant profile connected to the organisation or initiative. 
• Newcomers are welcome too, provided that they are already active in youth participation or in related community-based work. 

Thematic focus 
Special attention will be given to: 

• community participation;  
• local engagement;  
• co-decision and co-design;  
• inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities;  
• participation linked to sustainability challenges.  

The activity will value the connection between the local and the European dimension, starting from concrete experiences and building towards wider cooperation. 

Methodology 
The activity will be based on non-formal education, peer learning, experiential learning and reflection-based processes. Participants can expect an interactive, participatory and enjoyable learning environment, with space for exchange of practices, dialogue across sectors, networking, mutual inspiration and co-creation. 

As a Participatory Seminar, the activity will not only focus on learning about youth participation, but also on creating the conditions for future cooperation between people and organizations that want to make participation more meaningful in their own contexts. It will underline also the importance of having young people co-lead those actions through best case study examples.

Expected outcomes 
By the end of the activity, participants are expected to leave with: 

• stronger connections across organisations and countries;  
• fresh inspiration and new perspectives;  
• methods and approaches that can be adapted to their own realities;  
• a stronger basis for future partnerships and cooperation across Europe;  
• a memorable shared experience of learning, exchange and connection.