APPJuventude partners with Portuguese regions to boost youth participation

The Portuguese Association of Youth Professionals (APPJuventude) has signed cooperation protocols with two intermunicipal communities, Baixo Alentejo (CIMBAL) and Lezíria do Tejo (CIMLT), to increase youth involvement in public decision-making.

These partnerships are part of the CRJ+ (Regional Youth Councils) project, which is funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Youth program. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between young people and regional policy-making, particularly in areas facing challenges such as low population density, geographic dispersion, and limited mobility.

The project, which runs until July 2027, focuses on several key areas: training youth professionals and municipal teams, strengthening Municipal Youth Councils, and creating mechanisms for listening to and co-creating policies through academies, caravans, and laboratories. In the Lezíria do Tejo region, the agreement covers 11 municipalities, while in Baixo Alentejo, the focus includes addressing local opportunities for study and work alongside regional identity and heritage.