Fostering youth participation through cross-sectoral practices

How do education systems and youth organisations collaborate to enhance participation, skill development, and community impact? What are the common characteristics of good practices, and what can be learnt from the existing successful examples of cross-sectoral cooperation?

This report is produced as a result of the mapping activity within the framework of the New Power in Youth Strategic Partnership (NPiY SNAC). Its purpose is to identify key trends, challenges, and best practices in various types of partnerships, while also providing recommendations for replication as a cross-sectoral practice. The analysis includes 18 cross-sectoral projects in the domains of Youth + School Education, Youth + Adult Education, and Youth + Vocational Education. The projects reviewed highlight innovative approaches to integrating youth participation in educational contexts, aiming to foster collaboration, inclusivity, and capacity-building.

Youth + School Education sectors collaboration

In the Youth + School Education domain, many projects focused on integrating participatory approaches within school curricula, linking classroom learning with real-world applications. Projects such as Participatory Budgeting in Schools provided students with tangible experiences in decision-making by allowing them to vote on school budget allocations. Another major trend was ensuring the inclusion of disadvantaged groups, with initiatives such as Democratic Vaccination expanding debate clubs in vocational schools to promote democratic engagement among underprivileged students. Digital tools were also widely used to increase accessibility, as seen in the On the Way to Parliament project, which used interactive debate platforms and live-streamed discussions to connect students with policymakers. Many projects also successfully combined formal and non-formal learning, integrating storytelling, role-playing, and simulations to enhance engagement.

Despite these successes, several challenges persisted. Schools often resisted non-formal methods due to rigid curricula and assessment-driven education systems. This issue was addressed in On the Way to Parliament, where debate activities were scheduled outside regular school hours to accommodate academic commitments. Varying digital competencies among students also posed difficulties in projects that relied on online tools, as seen in Participatory Budgeting, where basic digital literacy training was introduced to ensure equitable participation. Maintaining engagement throughout long-term initiatives was another concern, requiring interactive learning methods and incentives. Additionally, schools struggled to balance ambitious projects with resource constraints, leading to the need for clear budget guidelines. Lastly, ensuring inclusivity across diverse student groups required tailored communication strategies and mentorship support.

Youth + Adult and Vocational Education sectors collaboration

Empowerment through co-creation was a prominent trend in the Youth + Adult and Vocational Education domain: in NEETs for NEETs project, young people took on the role of trainers and peer mentors, educating the organisations that work with them. Capacity-building for educators and youth was another major focus, as seen in the TUTOR project, which provided teacher training on inclusivity. Policy integration and advocacy also played a significant role, with projects like Algarve Regional Youth Action Plan involving youth in shaping regional policies. Furthermore, non-formal education methods, including forum theatre and digital gamification, were used extensively to foster engagement, as seen in Brave New YOU.

Challenges in adult and vocational education projects included sustaining engagement beyond the initial project phase, which was particularly difficult for NEET participants. NEETs for NEETs responded by developing alumni mentoring networks to maintain involvement. Institutional resistance to non-formal learning was another hurdle, especially in traditional teacher training environments, as experienced in TUTOR, where role-playing exercises were initially met with scepticism. Finally, scaling initiatives across different policy contexts posed difficulties, requiring adaptation of project methodologies to regional variations, as demonstrated in Brave New YOU.

Non-formal education methods in cross-sectoral projects

In the second chapter, the mapping identified non-formal education methods in cross-sectoral projects. Across all domains, non-formal education (NFE) methods were instrumental in fostering engagement and skill-building. Structured dialogue and participatory decision-making were used in projects like Algarve Regional Youth Action Plan, where youth engaged directly with policymakers. Experiential learning was central to initiatives such as NEETs for NEETs, where young people learned by leading training sessions. Peer learning and mentorship proved effective in the Model European Parliament, where senior students mentored newcomers in debate procedures. Role-playing and simulation games were key to the Democratic Vaccination project, enhancing students’ understanding of democratic processes. Workshops and training sessions provided targeted learning opportunities, as seen in TUTOR, where teachers received inclusive education training. Digital and blended learning models, such as Gather.Town’s virtual youth exchanges in Brave New YOU, broadened accessibility. Artistic and creative methods, including storytelling and visual arts, were used in Brave New YOU and Great Minds Meeting. Youth-led campaigns and community engagement empowered participants in European Youth & Sport Platform, while outdoor and experiential leadership training fostered personal growth in PEACE Programme.

Recommendations for replication

The study identifies nine recommendation clusters, drawn directly from successful projects.

The NPiY Mapping Study demonstrates the value of intentional, cross-sectoral collaboration in empowering youth and strengthening democratic participation across Europe. By integrating non-formal education methods, promoting inclusivity, and focusing on real-world outcomes, these initiatives can be replicated and scaled to suit a wide variety of educational and sociopolitical environments.

With careful attention to the report’s nine thematic recommendations, future projects can not only engage youth meaningfully but also create lasting systems of civic involvement, skill development, and institutional collaboration—paving the way for a more participatory and resilient democratic culture.

The preliminary results of the mapping were announced, along with a discussion of two project cases, at the SALTO Participation and Information Participation Forum in November 2024 in Tallinn, Estonia. The finalized results were presented at the NPiY Forum titled “Enhancing Youth Participation through Cross-Sectoral Collaboration”, which took place from April 23 to 26, 2025, in Jurmala, Latvia.