The project aimed to motivate more young people to engage in their local communities and show them that their voices matter. Existing recruitment methods are no longer effective at reaching new and diverse groups of youth. Our objective was to explore and test new approaches to youth council recruitment and participation, making them more representative of the youth population. By sharing experiences and methods between youth councils in Norway and Germany, we wanted to develop new strategies for increasing participation. Through physical meetings, workshops, and digital discussions, we shared knowledge on communication, organisation, public presence, and advocacy. This would enhance the capacity and professionalism of youth councils and raise awareness of their work and results in the public and political spheres.
The background for this project was a shared concern among the youth councils in Trøndelag and Stuttgart: a noticeable decline in youth participation and interest in democratic processes. Both regions have well-functioning youth councils with democratic elections and structures, yet we experience decreasing engagement and challenges with recruitment. This development poses a threat to youth democracy and long-term civic engagement. Youth councils play an essential role as a bridge between young people and elected officials. They are arenas for participation, learning, and influence. However, many young people feel that their voices are not heard, or that bureaucratic obstacles prevent their ideas from being implemented. This causes frustration and lowers motivation to participate in democracy. Another key need identified was the lack of innovation in the way youth councils operate. Recruitment methods often remain unchanged year after year, and new approaches are needed to reach a broader and more diverse group of youth, especially those who do not typically engage with democratic structures. Smaller, rural youth councils also struggle to maintain activity and visibility in their communities.