Written by Giulia Bartolini
On June 2nd 2025, a new training opportunity for municipality officers took place in Florence, hosted by the Italian National Agency for Youth (AIG), as part of the extensive educational programme of Democracy Reloading. Now in its sixth edition, Municipalities4Democracy aimed to train municipal officers on how to effectively involve young people in local decision-making processes, and to support the development of relevant strategies, structures, and policies.
In the beautiful setting of Florence, participants had the chance to share experiences and good practices related to youth participation in decision-making. They became familiar with the content and functionalities of the Democracy Reloading tools, engaged in self-reflection to identify potential pathways for enhancing youth involvement, and explored how Erasmus+ Youth projects can support the development of local youth participation structures.
The training programme was based on the Democracy Reloading Toolkit, and followed the structure previously tested during the July 2024 edition in Braga, where the participants' workbook was also developed. The course unfolded over five days, combining theoretical frameworks with highly practical, interactive sessions. Participants were guided through the four key competences, from the Toolkit, with each task encouraging deep reflection on their local contexts and practical realities as municipal officers or youth professionals.
From the very beginning, participants embraced the non-formal methodology of the course. They were constantly on the move, walking, reflecting, debating, role-playing. Whether it was dancing during warm-up exercises or positioning themselves on an agree/disagree line in response to provocative statements like “Young people aren’t interested in politics”, the aim was always the same: spark honest dialogue and self-reflection.
One early highlight came when small groups began mapping the power and interest of stakeholders in their municipalities. This led naturally into an eye-opening discussion: What are the real obstacles to youth participation? Are they structural, political, or simply based on outdated assumptions?
Using real-life examples, participants challenged stereotypes, like the belief that youth are disengaged, and developed counterarguments using the advocacy matrix. These moments often shifted the tone from uncertainty to confidence: many participants realized they were more prepared than they thought to defend and support youth participation.
One of the most engaging activities was the exploration of youth empowerment (key competence 2). Through guided reflection, participants examined not only how their municipalities support youth, but also how their own personal values and biases play a role.
The strong focus of the course was undoubtedly on how municipalities can create real, sustainable structures for youth participation, moving beyond symbolic actions to embed young people meaningfully in local decision-making. This aim was tackled from multiple angles: political commitment, organisational capacity, youth empowerment, and strategy development. The Democracy Reloading framework gave participants a structured lens, but the true focus was on translating theory into practice, always grounded in participants’ real-life municipal contexts.
One of the major outcomes was a shift in mindset: from seeing youth participation as a “nice-to-have” to recognising it as a democratic necessity. In a historical moment where democratic principles seem to be constantly wavering, and everything feels so complex and painful, placing the values of democracy and participation back at the center, starting with civil servants, is a meaningful and necessary act of repositioning.
Many reported leaving the course with a stronger sense of purpose, greater clarity about their own roles, and concrete tools to advocate for change back home. The simulation, peer exchange, and reflective exercises helped build both confidence and competence, key ingredients for long-term impact. As one participant put it: “I realised I had more knowledge than I thought. Now I feel ready to act.”
What took place in Florence, the artistic heart of Tuscany, was much more than just a training. It was a collective deep dive into shared challenges, bold ideas, and concrete strategies to empower young people to have a real say in shaping the policies that affect their lives.