Day 3: We Have Problems Everywhere, So What Can We Do? 💡

Today we finally got out of our usual workshop space and visited Tarnów! 🚌 And no, it wasn't just sightseeing. We were going to meet representatives of the Municipal Youth Council and see how youth participation works in an actual city. We had been talking about participation for days, so it was nice to finally connect all these ideas with something real.

We visited the town hall, where local authorities hold their meetings, and listened to the young council representatives explaining their work. They talked about elections, how the council is structured and how young people can represent others in their municipality. We could also ask questions and compare their experiences with what happens in our own countries. Something we found especially interesting was that participation doesn't always mean organising huge initiatives. Sometimes it starts with having a place where young people can communicate their needs and discuss decisions that affect them.

After the meeting, the council representatives showed us around Tarnów. 🚶 We visited historical places and learned a bit more about the city and its civic life. It was a nice change of pace, but it also made us think about how much happens in local communities that young people might not really notice until someone explains it.

Back at the venue, we had to design our own dream youth council. And well, easier said than done. 😂 Each group had to decide on its council's structure, partners and priorities. Should the main focus be education? More spaces for young people? Better communication with the municipality? And how would we convince people to vote for us? We ended up creating four different council models and organising mock promotional campaigns.

What we learned today was that youth representation isn't just about saying what young people want. It also means organising ideas, setting realistic priorities, finding partners and explaining why other people should support your plans. We started seeing youth councils less as formal institutions and more as something young people can actively shape. And maybe that's the most important part. 💙