As part of the Europe Edges project, the local roundtable activities aimed at achieving several
very specific objectives:
To increase the level of youth participation
To create contexts in which young people feel they have a voice, thereby exercising their
participation in decision-making
To raise awareness among teachers and school management regarding the importance of
involving students in decision-making processes that directly affect them
To create different contexts in which students, teachers, and other relevant actors of the
school community (such as parents, for example) can find bridges for an open dialogue
and mutual understanding on issues that are either of interest to young people or directly
and substantially impact them.
USMA organized two roundtables in Italy on October 12th and November 9th, 2023. The event
was split into two parts to ensure more involvement of young people from various NGOs and
schools in the local community, the city of Padua. The youngsters ranged from 12 to 18 years
old, which helped USMA interact with different age groups and understand their needs,
opinions, and plans.
In Portugal, Rosto Solidario organized a local roundtable with the support of Arrifana
Secondary School on May 13th, which gathered 51 participants – teachers, students, and
representatives of the local city council (Gustavo Costa, Maria Pires and Lara Castro). Also, the
roundtable was attended by the youth technician Carla Palhares, who opened up the discussions
on youth participation in global problems such as environmental sustainability and inclusion
and diversity as premises for weakening radicalism, extreme nationalism, and populist
discourses.
In Greece, PYLON ONE organized a local roundtable in the community of Skydra on
September 20th, 2024, with the participation of 30 people: secondary school students (Skydra’s
Secondary School and Second High School of Skydra), representatives from youth-focused
NGOs, and local authorities. The event aimed to discuss the achievements of the EDGES
project and explore ways to democratize youth engagement in the community further. The
roundtable served as a platform for dialogue, emphasizing the importance of empowering young
people to take an active role in democratic processes.
In Romania, the IKAROS Foundation for Active Youth has organized 3 local roundtables on
May 3rd, June 3rd, the 10th and August 20th 2024. The three events gathered participants from
3 schools and local NGOs – teachers, youth workers, volunteers and students. All events have
been organized in a non-formal format to increase participation and bring youth participation
and youth needs to the centre of participants ‘discussions. Representatives from Greek Catholic
Theological High School attended the events, Hearing Impaired School no 1, FDP-Protagonists
in Education NGO, Ikaros Foundation for Active Youth, and Saint Sava National College from
Bucharest. Events were hosted by the Hearing Impaired School no 1 and the Youth Center of
Bucharest.
In Latvia, Riga, ECREED organized a local roundtable on September 24th, 2024, to foster youth
engagement and discuss critical societal challenges. The event, held in the capital city, brought
together students, youth organizations, and educators to discuss relevant issues facing Latvian
youth and their communities. Participants included students alongside youth organizations such
as the Latvian Youth Council. Educators, professors, and local government representatives also
contributed to the discussions. This diverse group allowed for a rich exchange of ideas and
perspectives.
All local roundtables gathered 229 people: young people (secondary, high school, and faculty
students), teachers, representatives of local NGOs and public authorities, and parents.
Pictures of the activities within the Local roundtables organized in Romania by Fundatia Ikaros