Strasbourg, February 12, 2025

On February 12, 2025, the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg hosted the final conference of the Youth Vision 2030 Project, titled “Shaping the Future Through Youth Participation.” The event brought together young people, civil society organisations, institutional stakeholders, and project partners from across Europe to celebrate and reflect on two years of work empowering youth in local governance and sustainable development.

Opening and Framing

The event opened with Aladdin Alrifai, Project Manager at ALDA, who reflected on the journey of Youth Vision 2030 and its success in creating meaningful youth engagement spaces.

Andrea Michelini, also from ALDA, then introduced ALDA’s mission, emphasizing its strong collaboration with local actors and presented related youth initiatives such as The Future We Want, YouthSocial Act, and the upcoming EYE 2025 at the European Parliament.

Keynote Speech

Alexandre Godonaise, President of Les Jeunes Européens – Strasbourg, introduced their civic education programme “Europe par les Jeunes”, which brings Europe closer to young people through peer-to-peer learning, local activism, and public outreach.

Roundtable: Active Youth Participation

Moderated by Alexandre Météreau (ALDA), the roundtable featured:

• Hania Chalal (President, FEMYSO)

• Ekrem Sahin (Youth Express Network)

• Charlotte Gong (Volunteer, AMSED)

• Marion Clasquin (GESCOD)

• Anissa Ben Rahal (Youth ID)
  
  

The discussion addressed challenges and solutions in youth participation at the local and European level. Themes included inclusion, digital citizenship, intercultural learning, and how to engage young people with fewer opportunities.

Notably:

• Marion Clasquin discussed the evolution of volunteering schemes like VSI into professional pathways.

• Hania Chalal emphasized inclusion, stating:
  “True democracy must be resilient and inclusive, incorporating diverse perspectives rather than token representation.”

• Charlotte Gong highlighted AMSED’s work with digital tools and mobility to support youth employability.

• Ekrem Sahin described Youth Express Network’s 30-year legacy of working with marginalised youth and facilitating civic engagement across Europe.

• Anissa Ben Rahal shared how Youth ID bridges the gap between EU programmes and underrepresented youth through outreach and second-chance initiatives.
  
  

Youth Perspectives and Local Initiatives

The second half of the conference spotlighted local impact stories from project partners.

Marc Caballero Císcar, from the Municipality of Catadau, presented the town’s efforts to engage youth in policymaking despite initial challenges with awareness and participation in rural areas.

Beatriz Veiga, a student from Lousada, Portugal, shared a powerful testimony about her involvement in the project’s local labs. She described how the project gave her the space to research, co-create, and be heard in a political process—something that is often missing for young people in public life.

Institutional Reflections

Sean Currie, from the Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe, concluded this session by stressing the need for strong institutional frameworks that genuinely include young people in decision-making, encouraging them to stay engaged beyond the scope of the project.

Marketplace and Networking

The conference concluded with a vibrant Marketplace featuring participating organisations showcasing their initiatives, volunteer opportunities, and youth-led projects. It created valuable networking moments and opened the door to future collaborations among participants, NGOs, and municipalities.