The panel will promote discussion and provide practical examples of how distrust of politics among youth (democratic deficit) can be broken down and how municipalities can engage youth in urban transformation processes and empower them to become equal partners. Examples from policymaking (cohesion policy, AER), to urban planning (Košice, SK) and regenerating neighbourhoods (Tilburg, NL) provide transferable practices on how to cooperate and build empowering partnerships with youth.
- Local and regional | Governance and Public administration | Social inclusion and Equality | Education and culture | Youth and citizens engagement
- Code: 12WS23419
Practical information
- When
-
Thu 12/10/2023, 09:30 - 10:30 CET
- Type of partnership
- NONE
- Format
- Workshop
- Theme
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Promoting social innovation
- Language
- English
- Websites
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http://www.forwart.nu
https://youthopia.aer.eu/
https://aer.eu/
- Social media
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https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanRegions
https://www.instagram.com/europeanregions/?hl=en
https://be.linkedin.com/company/assembly-of-european-regions-aer-
https://twitter.com/europeanregions
https://www.instagram.com/noordvoerders013/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/gemeente-tilburg
Partner
Document
building_trust_ewrc_kravalik
Reporting
Session summary
The workshop within the European Week of Regions and Cities triggered a large audience of youth, highlighting that there is interest from the younger age groups to get involved, to take part. But as the stories went somehow at many occasions we lack skills to really engage them into both urban policies and practices.
The audience in the room agreed in the vital role youth play in shaping the future of their communities. How their fresh perspectives and contributions can lead to more inclusive, innovative and effective urban policies.
Examples from Košice Self-governing region showed that youth engagement is the essential element for creating forms of social integration through art and culture.
The story from Tilburg, based on the example of ForwArt (UIA) project in North Tilburg, highlighted the importance of TRUST what local municipalities should give towards young people.
During the Q&A session, moderated by Zsuzsa Kravalik, participants responded that the most important things are to listen to young people, to take them seriously, to reach out to them and give them ownership over their life, their neighbourhood.
Good leadership starts when people in position of power recognise ownership of the youth in driving urban change and reconnecting people within a cohesive community. In this context, youth-led initiatives like the Youth Regional Network of the Assembly of European Regions can project further the influence of relevant initiatives such as the YOUTHopia project, which boosted the awareness of Cohesion Policy benefits for young people.
Quotes
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We advocate for a new form of leadership where young people are empowered. YOUTHopia aims to ensure young people voices are heard"
We must trust youth, we must hand over the opportunity to govern themselves and their neighbourhoods. We must build for the future.
