From 5th to 11th October 2025, Limassol, Cyprus, became a meeting point for 25 municipal representatives, including youth participation officers, and young people from 10 different countries across Europe. They gathered for the second edition of the training course “Youth & Municipalities for Democracy”, organised in the framework of the Democracy Reloading SNAC in partnership with the Cypriot National Agency.
This unique format brings together mixed teams of municipal officers and young representatives, learning side by side, exchanging perspectives, and challenging each other’s assumptions about what youth participation really means in local governance. The format has proved both inspiring and thought-provoking and, as several participants put it, a great chance to sit at the same table and learn with, not about, young people.
Throughout the week, participants explored how municipalities can create the conditions for young people to be heard, involved, and influential in local decision-making. They tested and discussed Democracy Reloading tools, such as the Reference Competence Framework, with the support of the Cards and the Change Tracker, using them to analyse their own municipal realities and design strategies for improvement.
Participants shared:
“Learning about a new tool for evaluating the level of youth participation helped me realise how it actually looked in some of the projects I was involved in”
“I’ve learned that youth policy is a long-term plan, not just actions taken by individuals.”
For the first time, the Democracy Reloading Workbook was used to guide and support the learning process on site, a practical resource, that was widely appreciated by participants, for reflection and planning. The week combined structured learning with interactive exercises, debates, and simulations, such as the Alpha City exercise, where participants stepped into the shoes of municipal actors and other local relevant stakeholders to negotiate priorities and resources and decide on next steps to improve structures of youth participations, in this case a Local Youth Council. This simulation sparked discussions about power, influence, and shared responsibility in shaping local policies, but also the following steps after the training.
This week also created space for officers and youth to work separately at times, reflecting on their specific roles, before coming together again to co-create strategies. This rhythm helped participants build mutual understanding and a sense of partnership, as well as agree on future strategies according to the needs.
The week in Limassol proved that democracy is not only a system, it is a relationship built on trust, dialogue, and shared purpose. By learning, debating, and co-creating, municipal officers and young people discovered that meaningful participation starts when both sides truly listen and cooperate. The learnings, tools, and connections forged in this training will continue to inspire stronger, more inclusive local democracies across Europe.