Article by Emma Genovese – Dypall
On 15 and 16 November, the European Citizenthon brought young people together in Faro, Portugal, for two days of creativity and collaboration. Organised by the DYPALL Network as part of the Erasmus+ European Future Citizens project, the event aimed to inspire active citizenship and new ideas for more sustainable cities.
Two days of learning and collaboration
The event welcomed 30 participants from five partner countries who took part in a range of activities. On the first day, they explored the capacity-building programme and they played the urban game designed within the project, focusing on sustainability and innovative approaches to city development. The second day was dedicated to the co-creation of the Manifesto of the European Citizens of the Future, a document collecting the ideas and recommendations shared by the group.
Participants also had the opportunity to connect with participants of EJA, an annual gathering of young people from the Algarve region, further expanding the exchange of ideas and experiences.
A vision for the future
The manifesto was created through an open and collaborative process that brought together the perspectives of young participants, local teams and project partners. It highlights practical suggestions for addressing key challenges such as social inclusion, environmental sustainability, digital transformation and combating misinformation. By collecting and amplifying these ideas, the manifesto offers a way to help shape a Europe that reflects the needs and hopes of its young citizens.
Building support
On 17 November, the manifesto was presented at the EJA gathering, where it received strong support. Stakeholders signed a letter of commitment, demonstrating a shared determination to bring the document’s recommendations to life.
Moving forward
The European Citizenthon in Faro was a significant step towards creating more sustainable and inclusive cities. By bringing young people together to share ideas and develop solutions, the event encouraged active participation in building a brighter future for communities across Europe.
