Our previous experience showed that many organizations hold valuable knowledge on youth engagement, yet this knowledge is rarely shared. With this project, our goal was to explore networking oppor...

Our previous experience showed that many organizations hold valuable knowledge on youth engagement, yet this knowledge is rarely shared. With this project, our goal was to explore networking opportunities that would bring us closer to the Bonn Process strategy and encourage cooperation and joint thinking not only on a national but also on a European level. We aimed to create a strategy toolkit that could serve as a practical guide for other organizations working with young people. To ensure wide accessibility, the materials were produced in four languages. In addition to online distribution, we also printed a limited number of copies, mainly for decision-makers and youth leaders, believing that the physical format would increase the toolkit’s visibility and perceived value. Finally, beyond building networks, we wanted to involve young people in this project who had previously been passive in civic matters. We believed that the international character of the project would help us reach and activate them.

During the project, we successfully implemented all activities planned in the original application. These included: – Local-level focus group discussions in all three participating countries, three times each (total: 9 sessions), covering: Local Bonn Roundtable, Local Offline Participation Forum, and Local Digital Participation Forum. – One professional visit per partner country (3 in total). – Development of three publications in Hungarian, English, Slovak, and Romanian: "Active Youth", "Cooperation Strategy", and "Digital Strategy" – all available in both digital and printed form. – Three municipal forums in each country (9 total), where we shared the latest publication with local decision-makers and discussed its content. – Organization of an International Offline Participation Training in Hungary. – Organization of an International Digital Participation Forum in Romania. – Final conferences in each participating country. – An online campaign via the partner organizations’ Facebook pages. We continuously communicated all activities and progress via our platforms and other public events.

During the project, we reached several hundred young people directly or indirectly. In all three countries, we held 3 focus group discussions each, with a total of around 180 participants (including some overlaps). Approximately 70 people participated in the international visits. The forums in Romania and Hungary attracted 68 participants combined. In addition, our social media outreach reached tens of thousands of young people through regular posts. Participants reported increased interest in civic engagement and improvement in various skills (e.g., public speaking, teamwork, social sensitivity). They also became familiar with YouthPass. Several youth participants launched local initiatives after the project, such as planning a youth day in Kecel. The main result of the project is a strategy toolkit of over 70 pages, presenting key challenges and proposed solutions, available in English, Hungarian, Slovak, and Romanian. Through meetings with decision-makers, we established valuable new connections and linked young people with individuals who can influence local issues.