Inclusive youth participation webinars: Webinar #1 Involvement in decision-making of young people in and after alternative care

Date: 10 February 2026 Time: 13:00–14:30 CET

How can young people in and after alternative care meaningfully influence the decisions that affect their lives? What barriers limit their participation in democratic processes - and, most importantly, what works in overcoming them?

This webinar session will focus specifically on the experiences of young people in and after alternative care, a group whose voices are often underrepresented despite their lived expertise. 

SALTO Inclusion & Diversity and SALTO Participation & Information are joining forces to deliver a series of five webinars on democratic participation of young people with fewer opportunities. Each webinar will include input from youth participation experts, practical case studies, and tools that participants can use in their own work in Erasmus+ and ESC projects and beyond. 

About the theme of the first webinar - "young people in and after alternative care": Young people in and after alternative care refers to children and young people who are living, or have lived, outside their biological family due to protection or care arrangements. This can include foster care, residential care, kinship care, or other forms of out-of-home care. Young people “after alternative care” are often called care leavers and may face specific challenges when transitioning to independent adulthood. Their experiences, rights, and perspectives are crucial when discussing participation, inclusion, and decision-making processes that affect their lives.

What to expect?

The webinar will consist of a keynote input from an expert on inclusive participation and breakout sessions featuring practical case studies and tools, providing the participants with opportunities for exchange, reflection, and peer learning.

Speakers:

• Key note: Artūrs Pokšāns, social anthropologist, University of Latvia
• Practice: Marie Kaiser, project leader at Kreuzberger Kinderstiftung
• Practice: Margherita Brasca and Marcela Baxanean, project managers at SOS Children’s Villages Italy

Who is this for?

This webinar is open to a diverse audience, including:

• Young people
• Youth workers, trainers, teachers, and other education practitioners
• Researchers and experts
• Policymakers and decision-makers
• Anyone interested in inclusion and participation in democratic life

Whether you work within Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps, or related fields, this webinar offers relevant insights and practical inspiration for your work and beyond.

By participating in this webinar, you will:

• Gain a deeper understanding of participation from the perspective of young people with lived experiences in alternative care  
• Learn concrete approaches to promote inclusive decision-making
• Connect with others committed to youth empowerment and democratic participation
• Contribute to a shared knowledge base as part of a long-term project 

How to participate?

Register now via this link and be part of a growing community working towards more inclusive and participatory democratic practices.

The registration closes 4 hours before the event.

There is no selection – everyone who is interested and registers will receive the link to join.