Our previous experience showed that many organizations hold valuable knowledge on youth engagement, yet this knowledge is rarely shared. With this project, our goal was to explore networking opportunities that would bring us closer to the Bonn Process strategy and encourage cooperation and joint thinking not only on a national but also on a European level. We aimed to create a strategy toolkit that could serve as a practical guide for other organizations working with young people. To ensure wide accessibility, the materials were produced in four languages. In addition to online distribution, we also printed a limited number of copies, mainly for decision-makers and youth leaders, believing that the physical format would increase the toolkit’s visibility and perceived value. Finally, beyond building networks, we wanted to involve young people in this project who had previously been passive in civic matters. We believed that the international character of the project would help us reach and activate them.
Our foundation has been working for years to promote greater civic engagement among young people. Through earlier research and projects, we also connected with the two partner organizations involved in this project. Our shared goal was to understand why many young people in our three countries remain passive in public life, and to develop practical solutions to address these issues. We believed that each organization had valuable experiences worth sharing. By combining our knowledge and involving both young people and decision-makers, we aimed to create useful materials that could support other organizations and youth leaders in increasing youth participation. We’ve seen that many organizations work in isolation, with little knowledge-sharing. This limits cooperation and weakens the impact on young people. This project gave us a chance to change that. It allowed us to exchange ideas at an international level and reach young people who had previously been disengaged. The scale and visibility of the project helped us involve even those who had never taken part in similar initiatives before.