Study session: Climbing the ladder - Capacitating youth leaders to facilitate youth participation in decision-making processes at the local level

The participants will expand their knowledge about youth work and youth participation in decision-making processes, including most recent trends, while improving their practical skills in facilitating short activities and designing a youth dialogue process.

Moreover, the participants will complete the study session with a clearer vision and a step-by-step working plan on how to implement the outcomes of the session and be more engaged as young facilitators for democratic processes in their local and regional realities. They will work together on the production of a set of qualitative guidelines for the development of training activities dedicated to the target group of “youth leaders”.

The specific objectives of the study session are to:

• bring together and train 25 Youth leaders from all around Europe about youth participation in decision-making processes at the local level and youth work, in line with the most recent recommendations, structures, models;

• create and test a learning module based on non-formal education that includes vital skills (such as advocacy principles, outreach strategies, facilitation skills) to encourage youth leaders to take action at the local level and multiply their learnings and attitudes with their peers;

• explore the impact of Covid19 in the traditional and formal processes of youth participation (youth councils, youth organisations, youth delegate program, etc) and map new forms of participation that emerged during the pandemic (from the experience of DYPALL Network and that of the participants – e-participation, blended mobilities);

• reflect on various tools, both traditional and digital, that can boost the active participation of young people in their local societies;

• empower 25 young facilitators committed to revitalising pluralistic democracy and foster youth political participation from the local to the European level.