Meaningful participation does not follow a single path. Depending on your goals, it can take many forms — from influencing public policy and contributing to institutional processes, to building community initiatives or developing international cooperation projects. 

This section introduces a Participation Map to help you understand different entry points for engagement. It is not about a fixed “ladder” of participation, but about different pathways where young people can contribute, lead, and collaborate. 

A. High-Level Advocacy: Formal Delegation and Policy Participation 

If your goal is to contribute directly to policy discussions at national or international level, there are structured programs that allow young people to engage with decision-making spaces and institutional processes. 

UN Youth Delegate Programme 

Through this programme, selected young people join their country’s official delegation to the United Nations General Assembly, usually within the Third Committee focusing on social, humanitarian, and human rights issues. Youth delegates contribute perspectives on youth-related priorities and participate in international discussions alongside government representatives. Entry is typically managed at national level, often through National Youth Councils or Ministries of Foreign Affairs, depending on the country. 

Youth Delegates to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (Council of Europe) 

This programme brings young people into the work of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Strasbourg. Youth delegates engage with local and regional leaders on issues such as democracy, participation, and community development, bringing youth perspectives into discussions on local governance across Europe. 

EU Youth Dialogue (National Working Groups) 

The EU Youth Dialogue is a structured participation process that connects young people with policymakers across the European Union. In each member state, National Working Groups bring together youth representatives and institutional stakeholders to discuss priorities that are later fed into EU-level discussions, including meetings with Youth Ministers in the Council of the EU.  These groups serve as a bridge between local youth perspectives and European policymaking processes, helping ensure that youth input is included in structured policy dialogues.   

These formal pathways are only one part of the participation ecosystem. In the next sections, we will explore project-based forms of engagement that often allow for more direct experimentation and innovation.  

B. Project Cooperation: Building Your Consortium 

Participation is often based on collaboration. Very few youth initiatives are implemented alone — most rely on partnerships between individuals, organizations, and institutions. Building a consortium helps you combine complementary skills, access funding opportunities, and increase the impact and credibility of your project. 

National Youth Councils (NYCs) 

National Youth Councils act as umbrella platforms representing youth organizations at national level. They often play a key role in connecting youth initiatives with public institutions, supporting advocacy processes, and helping disseminate opportunities within the youth sector. 

NGOs & Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) 

Established organizations can provide structural, legal, and educational support for youth-led initiatives. They often act as applicants or partners in funded projects, especially when administrative or financial capacity is required. Working with NGOs can help scale small ideas into structured international cooperation projects. 

Informal Youth Groups 

Many European funding schemes also allow informal groups of young people to apply directly without formal registration. In such cases, a group of peers can take the lead on designing and implementing a project, often with the support of a coordinating organization or fiscal agent. 

C. The Multilevel Funding Ecosystem for Youth Initiatives 

Once a project idea and partnership structure are in place, the next step is identifying suitable funding opportunities. In Europe, youth initiatives can access a diverse ecosystem of funding programmes depending on their scale, objectives, and thematic focus. 

I. Erasmus+ Programme (Education, Mobility & Cooperation) 

Erasmus+ is the main EU programme supporting education, training, youth, and sport. Within the youth field, different actions support cooperation at various levels: 

KA152 – Youth Exchanges  
Supports short-term international exchanges where young people from different countries meet, learn together, and develop joint activities through non-formal education. 

KA154 – Youth Participation Activities 
Focuses on youth engagement in democratic life and structured dialogue with decision-makers at local, national, and European level. 

KA210 – Small-Scale Partnerships 
Provides simplified funding for grassroots organizations or informal partnerships to develop educational or capacity-building projects with reduced administrative requirements. 

KA220 – Cooperation Partnerships 
Supports larger, long-term cooperation projects that aim to develop innovative practices, tools, or educational approaches at European level. 

II. European Solidarity Corps (ESC) 

The European Solidarity Corps is an EU programme that supports young people in engaging in solidarity activities that benefit communities in Europe and beyond. It promotes volunteering, inclusion, and youth-led action addressing social, environmental, and community needs. 

ESC offers opportunities for young people to take part in both local and international activities. This includes youth-led community projects, where groups of young people design and implement initiatives in their own local context, as well as volunteering opportunities with organisations working in areas such as inclusion, environment, education, and social support. 

Through these formats, ESC enables young people to turn ideas into practical action, contribute to their communities, and develop skills through real-life engagement. 

III. European Youth Foundation (Council of Europe) 

The European Youth Foundation supports youth-led activities that promote Council of Europe values such as human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. 

Pilot Activities 
Small-scale, fast-response projects addressing emerging youth needs or social challenges at local or international level. 

International Activities 
Support for seminars, training courses, and networking activities that bring together young people from across Europe to exchange practices and develop cooperation. 

IV. Cross-Sectoral and Thematic Opportunities 

Beyond the main programmes, additional EU initiatives can support youth innovation depending on the nature of the project: 

European Youth Together 
Supports large-scale networks of youth organizations across multiple countries to strengthen cooperation and participation. 

Creative Europe 
Funds cultural and creative projects, including digital innovation in arts, media, and cultural expression. 

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs 
A mobility programme that allows aspiring entrepreneurs to learn from experienced business owners in another country, supporting the development of sustainable social or innovative ventures. 

Closing note 

This section has explored different pathways for youth participation at European and international level — from formal advocacy spaces such as UN and Council of Europe mechanisms, to project cooperation and funding opportunities within the EU youth sector. 

These structures provide ways to engage beyond the local context, connecting youth initiatives to broader European and global processes. 

At the same time, participation is multi-layered. European and international opportunities often build on local experience, and many young people begin their engagement through schools, universities, youth organisations, or community initiatives before moving into wider transnational cooperation. 

As you continue your journey, you are encouraged to look not only at European programmes, but also at how local, national, and international opportunities can complement each other in shaping your own path of participation.