The main aim of this strategic partnership is to foster youth participation in democratic life. The partnership is designed as a framework to support and advance initiatives that aim to increase the quality of youth participation, at all levels. It has three wider objectives that are addressed through 3 Work Packages:

Empowering beneficiaries of Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps

Aims: The first work package focuses on introducing the Erasmus+ and ESC Youth Participation Strategy while supporting youth participation projects. It aims to develop the capacity of youth groups and NGOs to create impactful activities and raise awareness of EU youth policies and Youth Goals. This work package runs from the beginning of 2021 until the end of the programme, supporting the launch of the new programme generation and enhancing the quality of youth participation projects.

Actions: Specific actions within this work package include the Online challenge focused on youth participation projects (supporting three formats: KA154 - youth participation activities, KA152 - youth mobilities, and ESC30 solidarity local projects, KA2), organising online and residential capacity-building activities, partnership-finding activities, and developing informational resources about youth participation in democratic life.

Supporting Strategic Development for Democratic Engagement

Aims: The second work package supports the strategic development of youth participation in democratic life at local, national, and European levels. It aims to develop national approaches that prioritise youth involvement and engage young people in the design of services. This work package also runs from the beginning of 2021 until the end of the programme, enabling participating National Agencies to contribute to the implementation of Aim 5 of the Youth Participation Strategy.

Actions: Initiatives in this work package include piloting activities on engaging young people in the work of NAs, researching and mapping practices, facilitating peer learning sessions among National Agencies, and supporting youth participation activities through a Pool of experts and trainers.

Enhancing Cross-Sectoral Cooperation

Aims: The 3rd work package enhances cooperation between non-formal and formal education sectors to better support youth participation. It aims to foster partnerships and capacity-building activities that create a shared understanding of youth participation across different educational contexts. This work package spans from 2023 to 2026, with a focus on building capacity among professionals in both sectors.

Actions: Specific actions include organising planning and reflection events for NAs and stakeholders in both sectors, mapping existing cross-sectoral cooperation practices, identifying gaps and needs in competencies of educators, and supporting collaborative initiatives that promote active citizenship of young people.

Meant for 

• Potential applicants and beneficiaries of the Erasmus+ Youth and European Solidarity Corps programmes, including youth workers, youth leaders and professionals engaged in civic initiatives;
• National Agency staff and other relevant stakeholders in the youth field;
• Teachers and other relevant school staff, such as civic education teachers and community organisers;
• The general public.

Main activities

• Capacity building activities for beneficiaries of E+ & ESC to develop quality youth participation projects - residential trainings, online activities, online partner finding activities.
• Piloting initiatives of engaging young people in work of NAs - peer learning between NAs, webinars, and research.
• Organising forums & activities to support cross-sectoral cooperation; mappings of initiatives & needs of professionals in both sectors.
• Pool of experts & trainers on youth participation (since 2024).

Introducing Erasmus+ & ESC Youth Participation Strategy

• Online Project Challenge
  • Aimed to support projects focused on youth participation, submitted annually at the February deadline.
  • Includes four editions from 2021 to 2024, with a total of 400 applications, 120 participants successfully participating, and 35 projects mentored and submitted.
• Online Partner Finding Activity
  • Fostered collaboration among youth leaders and workers to develop partnerships for projects related to youth participation.
  • Two editions held in 2023 and 2024. A total of 245 applications and 140 participants joining the activities.
• Training Dive into Youth Participation
  • Enhanced capacities of youth workers and leaders in working with participatory initiatives and implementing quality youth participation.
  • Two editions were conducted (2022 and 2023), with new editions planned for 2025 and 2026. A total of 650 applications were received, and 50 participants were selected.
• International Project Lab
  • Supported the quality development of Erasmus+ and ESC projects.
  • Two editions were held in 2023 and 2024 (the activity was discontinued), with a total of 110 applications and 45 participants selected.
• Youth Participation Incubator
  • Focused on embedding youth participation in organisational practices.
  • One edition organised in 2022, 167 applications, 25 selected participants.

Supporting Strategic Development of Youth Participation
 

Engagement of Young People

• Focused on advancing the involvement of young people in decision-making processes within National Agencies.
• Conducted international meetings between young people and NA staff, NAs peer learning sessions, and a European mapping exercise from 2021 to 2024.

• Research Initiatives
  • Conducted research on youth involvement in National Agencies in 2022 and 2024.
  • Produced reports highlighting successful practices and challenges.
• Pool of Experts and Trainers
  • Established a network of professionals to enhance youth participation.
  • Launched in July 2024 with 31 experts from diverse backgrounds.

Enhancing Cooperation Between Education Sectors

• Cross-Sectoral Forum
  • Aimed at fostering collaboration between the youth work and civic education sectors.
  • First edition held in November 2023, with 40 experts participating.
  • A second edition is planned for 2025.
• Analytical Paper on Youth Participation and Citizenship Education
  • Explored the intersection of youth participation and civic education.
  • Presented at the 2023 Forum on Cross-Sectoral Cooperation.
• Mapping Cross-Sectoral Practices
  • Identified inspiring practices of youth participation through surveys conducted in 2024.
• Workshop on Cross-Sectoral Collaboration
  • Discussed barriers to effective collaboration between sectors.
  • Took place during the Participation Forum in Tallinn, Estonia, November 2024.

Who is involved? 

National Agencies for Erasmus+ Youth and the European Solidarity Corps in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands and Romania, as well as SALTO Inclusion & Diversity, SALTO Participation and Information, and SALTO South East Europe.

Get in touch!

For your questions, reach out to the project coordinator, Veronica Stefan: veronica.stefan@harno.ee.