Day 3: From Local Voices to Global Visions
The morning kicked off with a visit from a participation expert — a young professional who had built a career around empowering others. He talked about founding youth NGOs, applying for funding, and how getting involved in civic life can open unexpected doors. What could’ve been a lecture turned into an open conversation. The questions kept coming: How do you start something from scratch? How do you get people to listen? His answers were honest, sometimes funny, and full of energy — proof that participation isn’t an abstract idea, it’s a life choice.
After the coffee break, it was time for Country Background Presentations. Each national team had spent the previous day preparing creative ways to showcase how youth participation works back home — and they did not disappoint. One team staged a mock TV interview, another shared a homemade video, while another went full theatrical with costumes and humor. Between laughter and applause, the group learned that while every country faces different challenges, the dream of young people having a voice in decisions is universal. The participation expert offered feedback, asking sharp questions and helping everyone see their local contexts with fresh eyes.
The afternoon session — Burning Problems — turned the room into a think tank. Participants split into groups to tackle topics like Environment & Climate, Education & School Life, Equality & Human Rights, Mental Health & Well-Being, and Youth Participation & Voice. Each group listed real-life challenges they’d seen or experienced, from climate anxiety and school pressure to the lack of youth representation in politics. The discussions got intense, but that’s where the magic happened: when frustration turned into motivation.
And then came Youth Campaigns: Preparation. Each participant chose the issue they cared about most and joined others who shared their passion. The task? To create a campaign — posters, videos, slogans, whatever they could dream up — that would raise awareness and call people to action. Suddenly, scissors, markers, and laptops filled the tables, and creativity took over. The room buzzed with brainstorming, sketching, and laughter — the sound of ideas becoming plans.
The day ended on a lighter note with Germany’s Intercultural Night. Pretzels met pierogi, folk music met techno, and soon everyone was dancing again — this time to German hits and polka remixes. Between bites of traditional snacks, participants realized something important: understanding each other’s cultures wasn’t just fun; it was the foundation of the cooperation they’d been practicing all day.
When the lights dimmed and the music faded, the group knew they weren’t just learning about participation anymore — they were living it.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
