DYPALL Network

12/10/2026

Big changes are coming to how local democracy is celebrated across Europe.

For nearly two decades, the European Local Democracy Week has been the flagship campaign for grassroots governance. However, building inclusive communities requires continuous effort. That is why the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe officially transformed the framework into European Local Democracy Action (ELDA), a year-round initiative putting citizens at the heart of decision-making.

At DYPALL Network, year-round action is at the core of what we do. We believe that youth and citizens need permanent, sustainable structures to co-manage their cities every single day.

To mark this new era, we are counting down to October 30. This major celebration will take place in Cascais, Portugal, marking the symbolic anniversary of local democracy.

Did you know this event before?

08/10/2026

The International Training Course “Leadership & Organisational Development in Local Youth Councils”, organised by DYPALL Network, took place from 22nd to 27th September 2026 in Braga, Portugal.

The activity brought together active members and support staff from Local Youth Councils across 11 countries, equipping them with leadership and organisational capacities.

Throughout the week, participants took part in interactive sessions, group work, simulations, case studies, reflection activities and peer learning, all grounded in non-formal education principles. They explored group dynamics within the specific context of LYCs, developed facilitation skills and practised conflict management strategies. Particular attention was given to knowledge transfer and institutional memory, with participants mapping tools to pass on history, resources and expertise as generations of youth leaders change. The programme also covered strategic planning, helping participants learn to design, execute, and monitor long-term goals aligned with local governance frameworks.

The activity is part of the “Engage, Connect and Empower – Local Youth Councils in Europe” (ECE-LYCE), coordinated by DYPALL Network in collaboration with Delta (Croatia), Klaipėdos jaunimo organizacijų asociacija [KLAS] (Lithuania), the National Youth Council of Serbia [KOMS] (Serbia), the Danish Network for Local Youth Councils [NAU] (Denmark), Nuva (Finland) and Romanian Youth Movement for Democracy (Romania), and co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme – KA3, European Youth Together.

07/10/2026

📢 New call for participants for the Final Seminar “IMPACT - European Platform for Quality Development of Local Youth Councils”, organised by DYPALL Network, taking place from 8th - 11th December in Lisbon, Portugal.

This activity is part of the IMPACT project and aims to showcase the European Platform for Local Youth Council Quality Development to a diverse audience of stakeholders.

We are looking for participants who:
- are active member, support staff or other LYC stakeholder
- are resident in Portugal, Spain, Belgium or Finland
- have a good level of English
- are motivated to actively engage, share practices, and collaborate within a European network of local youth councils

⏳ Application deadline: 18th October 2026
Learn more and apply via the link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vtbHzZhErk_E0tpOBk7NtTFU-n0mQhdU/view

01/10/2026

The meeting of DYPALL Network’s Steering Group took place from 13th to 16th September 2026, as part of the 25th University on Youth and Development (UYD) in Mollina, Spain.

The activity brought together the Steering Group members, giving them space to reflect on DYPALL’s latest work and future ambitions and strategies.

Through this meeting, participants had the opportunity to share updates on their organisations' work, review the network's activity plan and strategic direction, while exploring themes such as democratic innovation, youth participation in local governance, membership growth and engagement, the development of new digital tools like the Members Hub, and strengthening their capacity to contribute strategically to DYPALL's Network.

The activity is part of the Civil Society Cooperation 2026, coordinated by the DYPALL Network, and funded by the European Union.

The University on Youth and Development is organised as part of iLEGEND Ill, a joint project co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe.

30/09/2026

📢 New call for participants for the International Conference “European Network of Local Youth Councils (ENLYC) in the Digital Age”, organised by DYPALL Network, taking place from 8th – 12th December 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal.

This activity is part of the “Engage, Connect and Empower Local Youth Councils in Europe” (ECE-LYCE) project and aims to gather 40 local youth council representatives and support staff in Lisbon, Portugal, for three days of dynamic exchange, digital innovation, and strategic collaboration.

We are looking for participants who:
• are an active member of a LYC or a support staff for a LYC
• have direct experience with LYCs
• have a good level of English
• are motivated to actively engage, share practices and collaborate

⏳ Application deadline: 12th October 2026

🔗 Learn more and apply via the link: https://www.salto-youth.net/tools/european-training-calendar/training/international-conference-european-network-of-local-youth-councils-enlyc-in-the-digital-age.15388/

29/09/2026

25/09/2026

Youth Co-management Bodies are high-level mechanisms in which young people and adults share equal power in decision-making, typically within public institutions or European youth-oriented bodies.

They ensure that young people are not only consulted but are actively co-deciding on policy and resource allocations.
Their effectiveness depends on a true power-sharing dynamic, rather than symbolic participation.

In this short video, we explore the practical impact of this mechanism through the first-hand experiences of:
• Gjorgi Tasev, Former Representative of the Government of North Macedonia to the CDEJ of the CoE
• Gianluca Rossino, Trainer, Facilitator and Consultant

If you want to know more about these mechanisms, visit the Engage Youth platform at the link in bio.

23/09/2026

DYPALL Network’s training course “Strengthening Local Youth Councils in the AI Age” took place from 13th to 20th September at the 25th University on Youth and Development (UYD) in Mollina, Spain.

This Training Course brought together 17 active members of Local Youth Councils (LYCs) from 8 countries, addressing the challenge of turning LYCs’ formal mandates into meaningful and sustained influence on local decision-making. The activity aimed to equip participants with the skills, knowledge, and critical tools to assess and strengthen the quality of the consultative bodies they belong to, while exploring how artificial intelligence can shape civic engagement and youth work.

Through exchanges, practical activities, and collective reflection, participants also had the opportunity to explore ways to make their councils more inclusive, effective, and responsive to young people's needs.

The University on Youth and Development is organised as part of iLEGEND Ill, a joint project co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe.

21/09/2026

📢 New call for participants for the Training Course for Local Youth Councils on Outreach, Promotion and Mentoring, organised by The Union of Local Youth Councils in Finland (), taking place from 7th-12th December 2026 in Kouvola, Finland.

This activity is part of the “Engage, Connect and Empower Local Youth Councils in Europe” (ECE-LYCE) project and aims to empower members and support staff of Local Youth Councils (LYCs) in Europe by providing them with effective outreach strategies, promotional skills, and mentoring frameworks necessary to strengthen their local impact and community presence.

We are looking for participants who:
- are active members of a Local Youth Council (LYC) or a support staff for a Local Youth Council (LYC) in their municipality
- have direct experience in managing, coordinating, supporting, or facilitating the activities of a LYC, or hold a position of responsibility within the structure
- possess a good working knowledge of English
- are motivated to collaborate within a European network of youth council peers

⏳Application deadline: 5th October 2026
🔗Learn more and apply here: https://www.salto-youth.net/tools/european-training-calendar/training/international-training-course-for-local-youth-councils-on-outreach-promotion-mentoring.15351

The "Engage, Connect and Empower Local Youth Councils in Europe (ECE-LYCE)" project is coordinated by DYPALL Network, in cooperation with NAU - Netværket af Ungdomsråd (Denmark), Klaipėda Youth Organisations Association “Apskritasis stalas" (Lithuania), Krovna Organizacija Mladih Srbije (Serbia), Udruga Delta (Croatia), Suomen Nuorisovaltuustojen Liitto ry. (Finland), and Romanian Youth Movement for Democracy (Romania).

Co-funded by the European Union 🇪🇺

18/09/2026

From 7th to 10th September 2026, partners of the “IMPACT – European Platform for Quality Development of Local Youth Councils” project gathered in Helsinki, Finland, for the second transnational partners meeting, hosted by The Union of Local Youth Councils in Finland.

The agenda included finalising the European Platform for Quality Development of Local Youth Councils, advancing final preparations for the international training course on Local Youth Councils Quality Development, and establishing strategies for upcoming local and international dissemination events to share project outcomes.

The project consortium is comprised of (Finland), (Catalonia, Spain), (Flanders, Belgium), and DYPALL Network.
The project is funded by the Erasmus+ programme through the Finnish National Agency.