Training course (TC) “Local Youth Councils for Quality Participation in the Digital Sphere” at the University on Youth and Development 2025

Local Youth Councils are vital spaces for dialogue and representation at the municipal level, but they face new challenges linked to digitalisation, online risks, and the changing ways young people express themselves and interact with governance.

From 14th to 21st September 2025, DYPALL Network organised the training course “Local Youth Councils for Quality Participation in the Digital Sphere” in Mollina (Spain), within the framework of the 24th University on Youth and Development (UYD). This initiative brought together 20 active members of Local Youth Councils and similar participatory structures from across 14 countries in Europe and beyond, committed to enhancing the quality of youth participation in decision-making, particularly in the rapidly evolving digital sphere.

Throughout the programme, participants explored the “Quality Charter on Participatory and Inclusive Local Youth Councils” and its accompanying Toolkit, gaining practical strategies to assess, improve, and sustain the effectiveness of their councils. They also deepened their understanding of democratic engagement, advocacy, and digital literacy, while reflecting on how these elements can be adapted and applied in their own communities. Finally, the course emphasised not only the challenges but also the opportunities that the digital sphere presents for Local Youth Councils. The activity contributed to strengthening a European network of peer educators and multipliers for quality youth participation.

The programme was further enriched by the broader framework of the UYD, which this year focused on the theme “Empowering Youth for Digital Safety”. This provided participants with opportunities to connect with other youth leaders, experts, and institutional representatives.

The training course was co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union through the Portuguese National Agency and coordinated by DYPALL Network. The University on Youth and Development is part of the iLEGEND III Joint Programme, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe.