9 Novembre 2026
“Voices of Change” closes at the European Parliament
Voices of Change closes at the European Parliament: what needs to change for young people to be heard?
On 3 November, Voices of Change concluded with a conference at the European Parliament in Brussels, organised by the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) and the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM).
The conference brought together young people, policymakers and civil society representatives to consider what needs to change for young people’s participation to influence decisions, and how institutions can create more inclusive spaces for dialogue and civic participation.
One question at the centre
The conference was built around a single question: what needs to change for young people to know that speaking up can influence a real decision?
The opening panel went beyond the idea of consultation. It looked at who sets the agenda, how decision-making power is shared, and how institutions should show young people what happened to their contributions.
Two years of Voices of Change, and three fishbowls
Participants started with a gallery walk through two years of the project, then split into three parallel fishbowl discussions:
- When organisational neutrality protects dialogue, and when it becomes silence.
- Who shapes what young people see, trust and believe online.
- Which financial, administrative and personal barriers determine who can lead change, and whether youth-led action lasts.
YMCA Europe contributed its experience of youth participation through Olga Lukina, Executive Secretary for Strategy and Movement Strengthening, who led the third fishbowl on youth participation and sustainability. The session explored who gets to take leadership roles and what support is needed to sustain youth-led initiatives over time.
Participation in practice
The fishbowl format put the conference theme into practice. Participants could take the open chair, challenge assumptions and bring their own experiences into the conversation. There was no single answer at the end, but the discussions highlighted that meaningful participation needs to connect to decision-making, include transparent follow-up and be supported by the resources young people need to take part.
Bringing it back together
In the closing reflections, observers from each fishbowl shared their main takeaways and the questions that remain open. The conversation then continued at the networking reception, where participants made new connections and considered what needs to happen next to ensure young people’s contributions are heard and taken into account.
YMCA Europe thanks the organisers, ESN and WOSM, and all the young people, speakers and contributors who made the conference a valuable space for dialogue, learning and collective reflection.
Event photo albums here:
Please feel free to download and share the pictures. If you post them on social media, we would appreciate it if you could tag Erasmus Student Network, World Scouting and European Parliament Youth, so that we can see and reshare your posts.
The post “Voices of Change” closes at the European Parliament appeared first on YMCA Europe.
Fonte: YMCA EUROPE
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