We are incredibly grateful to have joined the Civic Lab for Young People (CLYP) project, a dynamic initiative dedicated to empowering youth and youth workers across Europe. In these challenging post-pandemic times, CLYP offers fresh avenues for exploration, growth, and confident leadership.
A Vision for Change
At its core, the CLYP project reimagines how communities support young people and their mentors. It offers innovative tools, methodologies, and inspiring spaces that encourage civic engagement by:
- Equipping Youth Workers: Providing organizations with cutting-edge tools and methods to create Civic Labs—interactive hubs where community-driven projects come to life.
- Building Resilience: Nurturing self-confidence and resilience in young people, empowering them to engage actively within their communities.
- Fostering Youth-Led Initiatives: Creating a supportive environment for civic initiatives and social entrepreneurship, where experimentation, learning from failure, and continuous growth are embraced.
Our Transformative Experience in Cluj
In September 2024, we had the privilege of guesting an intensive co-design workshop in Cluj. This meeting was not just an event—it was a milestone in our journey with CLYP, where ideas converged and innovative strategies were born. During this session, we collaborated on groundbreaking tools, including:
- The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Post-Pandemic Youth Engagement: A comprehensive resource designed to help youth navigate the evolving landscape of civic participation.
- Youth “Self-Incubation” Cards and Journeys: Creative tools aimed at sparking self-discovery, encouraging entrepreneurial thinking, and enabling practical problem-solving.
Gathering Insights and Shaping Ideas
Through design thinking methods, we have already collected data with the support of more than 200 young people and stakeholders from Greece, Ireland, Norway, Romania, and the Netherlands. Their contributions are vital in uncovering the real needs, motivations, and support systems that are essential for fostering sustainable youth engagement.
Looking Forward
The co-design workshop in Cluj was more than just a meeting—it was a testament to the power of collaboration and a shared vision for empowering the next generation of civic leaders. As we continue refining our approaches and developing new tools, we remain dedicated to creating environments where young people can experiment, learn, and lead transformative projects within their communities.
We’re excited about the progress made and can’t wait to share the detailed outcomes of our collaborative efforts in the near future. Join us as we work together towards a brighter, more inclusive future for our youth!
Explore more CLYP initiatives here:
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The Civic Lab for Young People (CLYP) project is co-funded by the European Union through the #ErasmusPlus program and Léargas (Ireland). The project is led by ATU Donegal (Ireland) and implemented in collaboration with C.School for Creative Acts (Romania), Asset Technology (Greece), Gutenberg (Romania), Donegal Youth Service (Ireland), WE organization (Netherlands), and KomPro (Norway).