On 29 September 2026, the FLYE Youth Voices Webinar – “Youth Participatory Budgets across Europe” brought together project partners and participants from different European countries to explore how participatory budgeting can empower young people and turn their ideas into concrete initiatives for their communities.
Organised within the framework of FLYE – Financial Literacy for Innovative Youth Participation in Europe, an Erasmus+ project aimed at strengthening young people’s financial literacy and promoting their active participation in democratic and community life, the webinar provided an opportunity to exchange experiences, share good practices and celebrate the creativity of young people across Europe.
A central part of the event was dedicated to presenting the winning initiatives selected through the FLYE participatory budgeting processes in the partner countries. These projects demonstrated how young people can identify local challenges, propose innovative solutions and contribute to positive change in their communities.
From Ideas to Action: Discovering the Winning FLYE Projects
One of the most engaging parts of the webinar was the presentation of the winning projects developed through the FLYE participatory budgeting initiatives across Europe.
Despite their different local contexts and objectives, the projects shared a common ambition: giving young people the opportunity to transform their ideas into meaningful actions for their communities.
Italy – L’Isola che c’è: Fuori dal Fosso
Presented by the Italian partner L’Isola che c’è, Fuori dal Fosso is a youth initiative based in Guidonia Montecelio, Italy.
The project represents an example of how young people can engage with their local communities and develop initiatives through participatory processes.
Its presentation highlighted the importance of supporting youth-led ideas and creating opportunities for young people to become actively involved in shaping their local environment.
Poland – Carpathian Euroregion: Discover Cisna – NextGen Media Project
Presented by the Carpathian Euroregion, Discover Cisna – NextGen Media Project focuses on empowering young people through digital creativity, media production and the promotion of local heritage.
The initiative brings together 15 young participants for a two-day practical learning experience in Cisna and the Bieszczady region of Poland.
Through hands-on activities, participants explore social media communication, mobile photography, short video production and digital storytelling. Working in teams, they create original content showcasing the natural beauty and cultural identity of their region, with the opportunity to share their work through local social media channels.
The project demonstrates how digital skills and youth creativity can contribute to promoting local communities, strengthening regional identity and encouraging active participation.
Italy – EGTC GO: ArtBus and Playground’s Benches
The cross-border partner EGTC GO presented two initiatives focusing on creativity, accessibility and the improvement of shared public spaces in the Gorizia and Nova Gorica area.
ArtBus aims to transform public transport into a space for cultural expression by displaying video artworks and contemporary cultural content on screens installed inside public buses. By bringing art into everyday journeys, the initiative seeks to make culture more accessible and create new opportunities for people to engage with creativity in public spaces.
Playground’s Benches, meanwhile, focuses on improving a public area along the Italian-Slovenian border. Through the installation of benches and a table near an existing sports area, the project aims to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment where people of different ages and backgrounds can meet, interact and spend time together.
Both initiatives demonstrate how youth participation can contribute to more inclusive, accessible and creative urban environments.
Portugal – Caminho Coop: Reimagining Community Spaces
The Portuguese partner Caminho Coop presented an initiative focused on the recovery and revitalisation of underused community spaces.
The project explores opportunities to transform neglected areas, including an abandoned sports facility, into spaces that can once again serve local communities.
By encouraging young people to rethink how existing resources can be used, the initiative highlights the importance of community engagement, sustainability and collective action.
It also demonstrates how participatory budgeting can provide young people with the opportunity to identify local needs and contribute to the development of more welcoming and functional public spaces.
Cyprus – Citizens in Power: Crafting Inclusion
Presented by Citizens in Power, Crafting Inclusion explores how creativity and artistic expression can strengthen social connections and promote more inclusive communities.
The initiative brings people together through participatory creative activities, encouraging dialogue, collaboration and a sense of belonging.
Among the activities presented was Threads of Memory, which uses storytelling and creative expression to explore personal experiences, memories and the meaning of home.
Through shared creative experiences, the project demonstrates how art can become a powerful tool for inclusion, participation and community building, allowing different voices and perspectives to be expressed and valued.
Luxembourg – KEHSIA: Endless Journey
Presented by KEHSIA, Endless Journey is the winning initiative of the local FLYE participatory budgeting call in Luxembourg, developed by Ahmed Gul.
The project centres on the creation of a documentary, using audiovisual storytelling as a means of expression and communication.
Through this creative approach, Endless Journey highlights the potential of filmmaking to give young people a platform to share perspectives, communicate experiences and engage with wider audiences.
The initiative reflects the objectives of FLYE by demonstrating how participatory budgeting can support youth-led creative projects and provide opportunities for young people to turn their ideas into tangible outcomes.
Youth Voices at the Centre of Decision-Making
The diversity of projects presented during the webinar highlighted an important message: young people should not simply be the recipients of policies and initiatives, but active contributors to the decisions that shape their communities.
From digital storytelling and artistic expression to the revitalisation of public spaces, the winning initiatives demonstrated how different interests, skills and perspectives can become valuable resources for local development.
Although the projects addressed different needs, they all reflected the potential of participatory budgeting to connect young people’s ideas with concrete opportunities for action.
Meaningful youth participation requires more than simply inviting young people to express their opinions. It means creating accessible and inclusive processes in which their ideas can be heard, discussed, developed and taken into consideration.
By involving young people in identifying needs, developing proposals and discussing priorities, participatory budgeting can help strengthen their confidence, sense of responsibility and connection to their communities.
Connecting Financial Literacy and Active Citizenship
The webinar also reinforced one of the central objectives of the FLYE project: demonstrating that financial literacy goes beyond managing personal finances.
Understanding budgets, available resources and financial decision-making processes can help young people better understand how their communities function and how public priorities are established.
Participatory budgeting provides a practical opportunity to apply this knowledge.
Through these experiences, young people can develop valuable skills such as critical thinking, communication, teamwork, problem-solving and responsible decision-making.
At the same time, they gain a deeper understanding of democratic processes and the importance of dialogue, collaboration and shared responsibility.
By combining financial education with opportunities for active participation, FLYE aims to equip young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to become more informed and engaged European citizens.
Looking Ahead: The FLYE Final Conference in Luxembourg
The webinar represented another important milestone in the FLYE project, bringing together experiences, ideas and good practices developed across the European partnership.
The journey will continue with the FLYE Final Conference on 14 November 2026, organised in Luxembourg as part of the EU Festival for Youth Sustainable Innovators.
The conference will take place at Forum DA VINCI, 6 Boulevard Grande-Duchesse Charlotte, Luxembourg City, with the possibility of participating both in person and online.
It will provide an opportunity to present the project’s main outcomes, reflect on the experiences gained throughout its implementation and explore how financial literacy and participatory budgeting can continue to support meaningful youth participation across Europe.
The event will also feature the presentation of Endless Journey, the documentary developed by Ahmed Gul, winner of the FLYE participatory budgeting call in Luxembourg.
KEHSIA warmly thanks all project partners, speakers and participants who contributed to the webinar and shared their experiences, ideas and achievements.
The event reinforced a message at the heart of FLYE: young people should not only have a voice — they should also have meaningful opportunities to use it.
Through initiatives such as the Youth Voices Webinar, FLYE continues to encourage young people to become informed, confident and active participants in society, while promoting a more inclusive and participatory future across Europe.