1. Executive Summary
From June 29 to July 5, 2025, the city of Segovia (Spain) hosted a new edition of the transnational training course “Municipalities for Democracy” (M4DEM), an intensive program aimed at municipal officers and decision-makers working in the field of youth policy. The course brought together 23 participants from 17 countries, all sharing a common goal: to strengthen youth participation in local decision-making.
Organised under the Democracy Reloading (DR) Erasmus+ Youth cooperation program by the Spanish National Agency (INJUVE) in collaboration with the French National Agency (Service Civique), the course offered a practical non-formal education experience. Over five days, participants explored various methodologies and tools, shared best practices, and developed key competences, following the DR competences framework to build more participatory, inclusive, and democratic municipal environments with and for the participation of young people.
Motivation
In a time when political disengagement among young people is on the rise, Municipalities for Democracy seeks to shift the narrative: youth are not a problem to manage, but a strategic asset to revitalise local democracy. As Maja Björkebäck (municipality of Jönköping, Sweden) put it, “Listening to young people and ensuring their perspective influences municipal decision-making builds hope, trust, and strengthens our democracy.” The training focused on the Democracy Reloading Reference Framework, structured around four key tasks/competences:
- Creating a supportive municipal environment
- Empowering young people and their organisations
- Designing solid strategies and structures
- Managing youth participatory processes effectively
A dynamic methodology
The course stood out for its experiential approach and collaborative atmosphere. Activities were based on the Democracy Reloading Reflection Cards, peer learning and exercises from its Workbook in order to facilitate discussions on stereotypes and prejudice, analysis of common challenges (representation, inclusion, evidence, and engagement), using planning tools like the Advocacy Matrix and experience the “Alpha City” simulation to put in practice all the learning.
Participants also had the opportunity to present their inspiring local practices and receive feedback on their participation strategies (you can find them here). All of this took place in a setting that combined practical work, team building and cultural discovery, including guided visits to Segovia’s old town, city hall, and local youth centre.
Inspiration
The training was led by an international team of experienced trainers and facilitators: Bernard Moreau from Belgium with Monia Izabela Wisniewska, and Pablo Castiñeiras from Spain. Together with the Democracy Reloading coordinator, Laszlo Foldi from BIJ (Bureau International Jeunesse), they gather years long experience in designing and facilitating participatory training sessions, accompanying group processes, providing tools and methods facilitating learning, and promoting participation, inclusion and diversity within youth work, non-formal education, and municipal settings.
Municipalities for Democracy was not just a week of learning—it was a call to action. Each participant left with a comprehensive workbook filled with ideas, reflections, and tools to transform their municipality into a place where youth have a real voice and influence.
The course is part of a broader European strategy to consolidate sustainable participatory structures and foster a culture of active citizenship. The opportunities for youth participation offered by the Erasmus+ Youth and the European Solidarity Corps programmes were also presented, reminding participants that Europe supports local change with concrete resources.