DYPALL Network at ACT NOW 2026

On 11–12 May, DYPALL Network participated in the ACT NOW Mayors’ Conference 2026 in Cascais, the European Capital of Democracy 2026. The conference was organised by European Capital of Democracy, in collaboration with the Cascais Municipality, and brought together local leaders, innovators, and young changemakers from across Europe to discuss how cities and local governments can turn universal rights into practical actions during a time of growing democratic challenges worldwide.

Throughout the two-day event, participants engaged in interactive sessions, including panel discussions, workshops, spark talks, and best-practice exchanges, creating a collaborative space to co-create concrete solutions aimed at protecting and strengthening democracy and rights at the local level.

More information about the conference is available on the official event website: ACT NOW Mayors’ Conference 2026.

Related News

Final Conference “Towards a more youth-oriented society – starting from a meaningful youth engagement”

“HUMAN” European Conference on the Rights of the Child in the age of AI

“European Future Citizens” Transnational Project Meeting and Final Conference

Participation Forum 2024: Advancing Democratic Participation Through Erasmus+ andEuropean Solidarity Corps

DYPALL Network at the European Conference on Local Youth Work and Democracy

“Cities of Welcome” International Conference

Winter Democracy Academy: A Week-long event Focused on Youth Participation for Stronger Local Democracies

“Migrant Youth Friendly Cities” Third Transnational Project Meeting and Final Conference

“International Partnership to Support Youth Initiatives” Final conference

Closing Conference of the European Year of Youth 2022 “Claim the future”

Register to the conference “LOCAL YOUTH COUNCILS AT INTERNATIONAL SCALE” on the 6-7 July 2022 (10:30-14:00 Brussels time).

Online conference “Migrant Children and Communities in Transforming Europe”

Conference “Digital Participation Tools for Youth Engagement in Local Governance”

Final conference of the project “Migrant Children and Communities in a Transforming Europe” (Ljubljana, Slovenia)

Final conference of the project “Management systems of coworking spaces for social innovation”

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE “BUILDING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES – YOUTH WORK AT MUNICIPALITY LEVEL DURING COVID-19 TIMES”

International Conference: Building Resilient Communities & Training Course Youth Takes the Floor

Mapping best practices of youth friendly cities – final conference and partners meeting in Cracow, Poland

Democracy Reloading – Stakeholder Conference in Portimão

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: HOW TO CULTIVATE A CULTURE OF INNOVATION AND AN ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET IN SCHOOLS?

International Conference: How to cultivate a culture of innovation and an entrepreneurial mindset in schools?

Artificial intelligence: How can youth take part?

Youth Democracy Academy Conference

“Youth Democracy Academy” Conference

DYPALL Network at the 20th edition of the UYD

Conference “Youth Participation Matters”

II DYPALL International Conference – Youth Work at Municipality Level

Youth Voices Upgraded – “Young in Vestfold” conference

II DYPALL International Conference “Youth Work at Municipality Level”

Conference “Youth work at local level for community empowerment”

Seminar “Models of youth participation at the local level in Europe”

SE+ED: Social Entrepreneurship and Educational Practices for Young People

Conclusions from the Symposium ‘Youth Policy Responses to the Contemporary Challenges Faced by Young People’ (12-14 June, Prague)

DYPALL Network’s busy May days – Part 3: Conference / Round Table ‘Youth, Democracy and Local Power’ and opening of the ‘YP Lab’

Video of DYPALL International Conference

International Conference “Developing Our Territories Through Youth Participation in Decision Making”

#hearyourvoices : glimpses of the Conference

#hearyourvoices: glimpses of the Conference

#hearyourvoices : glimpses of the Conference

Starts today the International Conference “Youth Policy at Local and Regional Level”

SAVE THE DATE – International Conference

“Civil Youth Center” Community Development NGO

Civil Youth Center NGO is a dynamic space in Armenia where young people connect, learn, and lead. We empower youth to raise their voices, engage in decision-making, and turn ideas into action for stronger, more inclusive communities. Through non-formal education, civic initiatives, and international cooperation, we inspire active citizenship and show that when youth participate, society becomes more democratic, vibrant, and sustainable.

Besiktas Municipality

Beşiktaş Municipality, located in Istanbul with a daily population of 2.5 million, serves its residents through cultural, social, educational, health, and sports facilities. With a strong focus on youth, education, and EU cooperation, the Municipality develops projects fostering active citizenship, youth and intercultural dialogue. Accredited in the European Solidarity Corps, it has engaged nearly 1,500 young people in almost 20 projects, empowering them through volunteering and mobility.

Municipality of Fyli

Municipality of Fyli is located in the region of Attica and comprises the Municipal Units of Αno Liosia, Zefyri and Fyli. It covers a total area of 109km 2 and the population is 48.157. Municipality of Fyli had a prominent place in ancient times and nowadays a great effort is made to promote our cultural heritage. The Municipality is highly attentive and committed to issues related to sustainable development and energy.

Municipality of Strumica

Strumica is a city with a youthful spirit, building its future through the eyes of young people. Our commitment is to create a progressive, modern, and European municipality by empowering our youth. Through genuine partnership, we ensure they are key drivers of change in our community. Strumica is a small city with a big heart that beats to the rhythm of youth!

Stowarzyszenie Centrum Rozwoju Inicjatyw Społecznych CRIS

CRIS, founded in 2002, is an association of over 20 people with diverse skills, competencies, and perspectives. We are united by our sensitivity to social challenges and our attentiveness to the needs of local communities. We support local leaders, NGOs, social enterprises, and public institutions by providing education, technical support, and financial assistance. Through these activities, we aim to build social capital and empower citizens to take an active role in shaping their communities.

Local action group Zagorje-Sutla

LAG Zagorje-Sutla is a local action group from Croatia that supports sustainable rural development across 11 municipalities. Besides agriculture and rural investment, it promotes cultural heritage, tourism, social inclusion, youth engagement, environmental protection, and civil society development. It also organizes educational activities, fosters local identity, and encourages cooperation between public, private, and civil sectors.

Young Professional Network

Young Professionals Network (YPN) Albania is a youth-led organization dedicated to empowering young people through civic engagement, democratic participation, and leadership development. We foster dialogue between youth and institutions, promote inclusive policymaking, and support youth initiatives that contribute to sustainable community development in Albania and beyond.

ANTALYA METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY

Antalya Metropolitan Municipality (AMM) delivers services in infrastructure, planning, climate, social policy, and smart cities. AMM is active in EU/national projects and global networks like UCLG, UCLG-MEWA, AMF, MedCities, and Cittaslow, where the Mayor serves as Vice President, promoting innovation and sustainability.

Cooperativa Bangherang – Soc. Coop. Sociale

Bangherang is a social cooperative that provides socio-educational activities, training services, facilitation and European project design and management, working with children/adolescents, young people, youth workers, teachers, public administrators. Bangherang develops participative activities capable of adapting to the specific objectives of each context, dealing with a variety of topics and responding to the attitudes and needs of each target group using non-formal educational approaches.

Agenzia per la Promozione dei Giovani APS

APG is a well-established non-profit focused on youth empowerment and non-formal education, working to make Italy a virtuous model of youth participation in Europe. We are a diverse, dynamic community of volunteers, activists, and youth workers creating safe, structured, and stimulating spaces where young people can express ideas, develop skills, and engage in social, civic, and political life. Our projects foster active citizenship and youth-led change.

Pacunet

PACUNET is a cultural organization promoting unity and inclusion through arts. It connects diverse communities via workshops, festivals, and exchange programs, with a strong focus on youth empowerment, peacebuilding, and heritage preservation. By fostering creative expression and intergenerational dialogue, PACUNET inspires mutual respect and leadership. Its vision is a world where cultural diversity and artistic collaboration build a peaceful, inclusive future.

Bright Future Foundation, The Netherlands

Bright Future is a non-profit based in Amstelveen, the Netherlands, working with youth across Europe. We focus on solidarity, non-formal learning and inclusion, especially for young people with fewer opportunities. Our team runs local and international projects under Erasmus+, ESC, local municipalities, etc., creating impact through volunteering, exchanges and community-building activities. We empower youth to grow personally and socially through meaningful and solidarity initiatives.

Local Councils’ Association

The Local Councils’ Association (Malta) promotes inclusive local governance and youth participation. In Malta, young people aged 16+ can vote, contest local elections, and even become mayors. The LCA actively supports youth empowerment and the inclusion of future female leaders, ensuring their voices shape local democracy and community development.

CARE Caucasus

CARE Caucasus is a regional civil society organization based in Georgia, working across the South Caucasus. We focus on empowering rural and underserved youth through non-formal education, civic engagement, and youth-led development. Our work includes youth clubs, mentorship, and peer education, promoting active citizenship and local change through inclusive, community-based initiatives and strong grassroots partnerships.

Udhetim i Lire-Liberi di Viaggiare (Free Travel)

The Association “Udhetim i Lire-Liberi di Viaggiare” created in Durres, Albania in 2015 as non- profit organization. UiL-LdV is focused on tourism, cultural heritage, youth, environment, rural development, good governance, culture, voluntarism, and human rights promotions. Active participation in the local, national, international institutions and authorities for the adaption of the legislative means.

Youth Politics Association

It is a structure that tries to include young people in local decision-making processes for their empowerment in all areas of life. It develops models for participation in local, national and international decision-making processes. It develops models for “youth empowerment programs” and “development of participatory democracy” for the empowerment of young people.

Center for Youth Activism CYA Krik

Center for youth activism KRIK is non-governmental organization whose main goal is including the people with dissabilities in the society. The vision of this organization is to be the voice of the youth that will be heard and will make changes and contributions in the society as well as working for the well-being of the socially excluded groups. KRIK strives to encourage greater youth participation, youth activism and most importantly promote social inclusion for people with dissabilities.

Student-Youth Council

Student-Youth Council is a public union, which aims at solving the problems that youth and students are facing by protecting their rights, promoting knowledge and skills, filling informational gap, realizing youth’s intellectual, creative, cultural and sport potentials.
Our programmes: Youth integration and assistance for their active involvement in public life; Assistance for to promote and develop volunteering; Assistance for to establish and develop democratic govern/self-govern.

Oriel APS

Oriel APS is an NGO based in Verona that promotes youth empowerment and support the personal and professional growth of youngsters, fostering their access to European opportunities as a means to develop European belonging. In parallel, Oriel address the target of youth workers, trainers, facilitators and mentors to develop key skills, knowledge and attitudes to foster youth empowerment, developing innovative learning curricula based on participatory approach and non-formal education.

Coglobal

Coglobal is a social non‑profit with over 12 years of experience in designing innovative, inclusive participatory and deliberative democracy processes. We promote dialogue between governments and citizens (especially underrepresented groups like children and youth) and build alliances to foster open, inclusive governance at the local and international levels.