Involving young people from the beginning

In youth participation projects it is important to include the participants in every step that it is possible. Depending on the project and the participants, some frames should guide the process, for example, if organizing an international youth meeting, the participants can start planning the project, but it is the role of the youth worker to set the frame which the participants will work with.

We have learnt also that in youth work we work with young people as equal partners. The “We do nothing without them” principle is crucial when planning to deal with youth participation. In our experience, one of the best ways to help young people learn about youth participation is the projects. 

We recommend a step-by-step process to follow:  

1. Identify the needs and importance of the project - this need can come from e.g. the young people themselves, society or the youth workers
2. Reaching out to more young people to plan together the project
3. Planning the project - to whom it is for, when it takes place, what is the goal etc.
4. Implementing the project with participants
5. Communicating the outcomes and results
6. Evaluating the project
7. Closing