Inclusive Participation Webinars

How can young people with intellectual disabilities meaningfully participate in democratic life? What barriers limit their engagement, and how can youth work create more accessible opportunities for participation?

Speaker: Sandra Marques, Self-Advocacy Expert at Inclusion Europe

Recorded on 7 May 2026

This webinar explores democratic participation from the perspective of young people with intellectual disabilities, including barriers such as inaccessible information, communication challenges, lack of adapted approaches, and limited opportunities to influence decision-making.

What do we mean by democratic participation? Democratic participation is about young people having the opportunity, space and support to express their views and influence decisions that affect them. It goes beyond voting and can include co-designing projects, consultations, advocacy, dialogue and shared decision-making.

About the series

This webinar is part of a European project on the democratic participation of young people with fewer opportunities, bringing together expertise from SALTO Inclusion & Diversity and SALTO Participation & Information.

👥 Relevant for: Youth workers, trainers, educators, youth organisations, researchers, policymakers, and anyone interested in inclusive democratic participation. Whether you work with Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) or in another youth or education context, this recording offers practical insights and inspiration.

How can young people facing poverty or socio-economic disadvantage meaningfully participate in democratic life? What barriers limit their engagement, and how can youth work help create more inclusive opportunities for participation?

Speaker: Fernando Chironda, Policy and Advocacy Officer at the European Anti-Poverty Network

Recorded on 14 April 2026

This webinar explores democratic participation from the perspective of young people experiencing poverty or socio-economic disadvantage, including barriers such as financial constraints, unstable living conditions, limited access to education and fewer opportunities for civic engagement.

What do we mean by democratic participation? Democratic participation is about young people having the opportunity, space and support to express their views and influence decisions that affect them. It goes beyond voting and can include co-designing projects, consultations, advocacy, civic dialogue and shared decision-making.

About the series

This webinar is part of a European project on the democratic participation of young people with fewer opportunities, bringing together expertise from SALTO Inclusion & Diversity and SALTO Participation & Information.

👥 Relevant for: Young people, youth workers, trainers, educators, researchers, policymakers, and anyone interested in inclusion and democratic participation. Whether you work with Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), or in another youth or education context, this recording offers practical insights and inspiration.

How can young people in rural areas actively participate in democratic life? What barriers limit their engagement, and how can youth work create meaningful opportunities for influence and change?

Speaker: Spyros Papadatos, Secretary General, Rural Youth Europe

Recorded on 5 March 2026

This webinar explores democratic participation from the perspective of young people in rural areas, looking at challenges such as geographic isolation, limited transport, fewer youth services, digital gaps and access to information. It also highlights the potential of local networks and grassroots engagement.

What do we mean by democratic participation? Democratic participation is about young people having the opportunity, space and support to express their views and influence decisions that affect them. It goes beyond voting and can include co-designing projects, taking part in consultations, advocacy, civic dialogue and shared decision-making.

About the series

This webinar is part of a European project on the democratic participation of young people with fewer opportunities, bringing together expertise from SALTO Inclusion & Diversity and SALTO Participation & Information.

👥 Relevant for: Young people, youth workers, trainers, educators, researchers, policymakers, and anyone interested in inclusion and democratic participation. Whether you work with Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), or in another youth or education context, this recording offers practical insights and inspiration.

How can young people in and after alternative care meaningfully influence decisions that affect their lives? What barriers limit their participation, and how can youth work help address them?  

Speaker: Artūrs Pokšāns, researcher and sociologist, University of Latvia

Recorded on 10 February 2026

This webinar explores democratic participation from the perspective of young people in and after alternative care, connecting their experiences with inclusive youth work and practice in Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) and beyond.

Who are young people in and after alternative care? This includes young people living, or who have lived, outside their biological family through arrangements such as foster, residential or kinship care. Those who have left care are often referred to as care leavers.

About the series

This webinar is part of a European project on the democratic participation of young people with fewer opportunities, bringing together expertise from SALTO Inclusion & Diversity and SALTO Participation & Information.

👥 Relevant for: Young people, youth workers, trainers, educators, researchers, policymakers, and anyone interested in inclusion and democratic participation. Whether you work with Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) or in another youth or education context, this recording offers practical insights and inspiration.