Over the past months, our organisation Youth for youth has been actively involved in the international project GivEUvoice project, an initiative focused on strengthening youth participation, especially among young people coming from rural and underrepresented areas.
The project aims to build a more inclusive Europe by encouraging young people to express their ideas, engage in their communities, and take part in shaping society.
Coming from a rural area in Slovakia, we often see that young people feel disconnected from decision-making processes. Opportunities are limited, and many do not believe that their voice can make a difference.
Through GiveUvoice, we had the opportunity to bring this reality into a European context. Together with participants from different countries, we explored how young people can become more active in their communities and how local initiatives can have a wider impact.
One of the key moments of the project was the youth exchange in Alicante, where participants worked on topics such as community engagement, cultural spaces, and active citizenship.
The experience was not only about discussions or theoretical inputs. It was built on non-formal education – learning by doing, sharing experiences, and reflecting together.
During the activities, we:
- explored how cultural and community spaces can empower young people
- worked in international teams on ideas for local impact
- shared challenges from our own communities
- learned practical tools for engaging youth in civic life
The project showed that participation is not something abstract. It starts with small actions – organising a local event, starting a discussion, or simply creating space where young people feel heard.
What we take back to Slovakia so far
One of the strongest outcomes of this experience is the motivation to transfer what we learned back to our local community.
Through our work in Youth for Youth, we are already:
- connecting young people with municipalities
- organising workshops and discussions
- supporting youth-led initiatives
- creating opportunities for international mobility
