Study visit to Ghent

During the activity, participants will have the opportunity to learn about youth participation in Ghent, the European Youth Capital 2024. It will also serve as a platform for networking and getting to know other European organisations working in the area of youth participation in decision-making processes at the local level.

Furthermore, the Study visit will be based on the non-formal education methodology, which includes sharing practices and active engagement of the participants.

The specific objectives of this Study visit are:

• Exploring and gaining a comprehensive understanding of youth policies and various models of youth participation at the local level within Flanders, particularly in Ghent;
• Identifying and learning innovative strategies that can effectively support youth workers in expanding youth participation within their local contexts;
• Facilitate the exchange of good practices of youth engagement in local democracies through reflection and discussion to uncover the potential of different engagement approaches;
• Provide insights into the functioning of local youth councils and other participatory mechanisms in Ghent;
• Learning about the participatory processes taking place within Ghent;
• Comparative analysis of the opportunities and challenges that municipalities face concerning youth participation in Belgium and the partner countries;
• Expanding the partners’ network and fostering new synergies across Europe.