Międzybrodzie Bialskie, 10–11 October 2025 • 140 participants from Poland, Italy, Greece, Slovakia and Portugal
Organised within Youth DemocrAID – Education, Debate, Action
(co-funded by the EU’s CERV programme), the International Youth Forum became a vibrant space
for young leaders to meet, exchange practices and discuss how to strengthen youth participation
in public life and decision-making. The Forum’s goals mirror the project’s mission: promoting youth
engagement, empowering young people with civic skills, advancing citizenship education and
reinforcing democratic values and a shared European identity.
The event was opened by Maciej Krakowiński, Secretary of the Czernichów Municipality,
and Christian Jaworski, the youngest councillor of Cieszyn County, who emphasised how the
youth voice can influence policies at local, national and European level. Delegations from partner
countries showcased how young people engage civically in their contexts, revealing both the richness
of approaches and common challenges, such as limited representation and the need for permanent
mechanisms to include youth in decision-making.
In the experiential education block, participants took part in the simulation game
“City of the Future”, designed by the Polish partner Social Innovation Cluster.
Working in teams and stepping into decision-makers’ shoes, they identified key urban problems and
proposed solutions, building civic competences, collaboration, systems thinking and
decision-making skills. The activity was very well received and will be included in the project’s shared
educational toolkit.
A moderated debate, “Does the youth voice matter?”, brought together participants from all
partner countries to discuss real levers of influence, barriers to representation, and tools that support
effective civic action. The conclusion was clear: young people must be systematically included
in decision-making at local and European levels, and institutions should establish stable channels for
co-creation with youth.
The Forum delivered on Youth DemocrAID’s promise to combine education, debate and action:
participants left inspired and equipped to co-shape their communities — and Europe’s democratic future.
