📍Maison des Associations Internationales, Rue Washington, 40 B-1050 Brussels, BELGIUM
🗓️ 18 September 2025
On 18 September 2025, Brussels (Belgium) will host the Youth Impact Forum, a dynamic and engaging event dedicated to rethinking how young people participate in democratic life. Organised by ALDA – the European Association for Local Democracy, the Forum will bring together youth leaders, policymakers, EU institutions, local and regional authorities, and civil society actors to explore how youth participation can evolve from short-term initiatives into permanent and institutionalised democratic structures.
Across Europe, cities and regions have piloted various models of youth engagement — from youth councils to participatory budgeting and civic co-creation workshops. While promising, these efforts are often fragmented or limited in duration. The Youth Impact Forum will offer a platform to consolidate these experiences and build momentum towards systemic change.
The Forum includes two different thematic blocks:
Morning Plenary – “Youth Participation: From Local Experiments to Systemic Impact”
This session will open with institutional remarks and a panel discussion highlighting the IDEATHON methodology — an innovative participatory format that allows young people to directly shape policy in collaboration with local governments and other stakeholders. Participants will also hear personal stories from young changemakers, engage in interactive policy roundtables, and explore replicable tools through a Marketplace of Youth Participation Initiatives.
Afternoon Policy Dialogue – “Youth Participation in Climate Action: Co-Creating the Climate-Youth Agenda”
The afternoon will focus on the growing role of young people in shaping Europe’s climate future. From the EU 2040 Climate Target to the expansion of the European Climate Pact, young voices are becoming more present in shaping climate ambition and sustainability strategies. Sessions will include a Youth Climate Toolbox showcase, an interactive fishbowl dialogue between youth and decision-makers, and policy labs where participants will co-create a set of climate-youth pledges. These will culminate in the symbolic adoption of the Brussels Climate-Youth Pledge Sheet.
Join us!
By participating in the Youth Impact Forum, stakeholders will not only exchange best practices and tools, but also contribute directly to shaping policy agendas on youth participation and climate governance at European and local levels.
Whether you are a young leader, a policy professional, a local government representative, or a passionate citizen this Forum will offer concrete pathways to strengthen youth impact in democratic life — now and in the future.
Discover the agenda of the event by clicking here. And register clicking on the button below!
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The event is organised within the framework of the CLIMENTINES and ADD Something projects, both funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union.
