Austria expands youth engagement initiatives in Styria and Carinthia

Regional authorities in Austria are launching new initiatives to increase youth participation in social and political life. In the Styrian Central Region, the “Jugenddisco” project has seen significant success, reaching approximately 900 young people across seven municipalities, including Raaba-Grambach, Feldkirchen bei Graz, and Frohnleiten. These non-commercial events provide a safe space for teenagers to socialize and participate in event planning. Due to high demand, organizers plan to expand the program in 2027 to include more municipalities and new formats such as youth roundtables and pub quizzes.

In Carinthia, the state government has announced the first “Kärntner Jugenddialog” (Carinthian Youth Dialogue), scheduled for late November in Klagenfurt. The event will bring together 100 participants aged 14 to 25 to discuss societal and political issues directly with the state government. The initiative aims to provide a platform for young people to propose concrete solutions regarding education, job opportunities, mobility, and affordability, specifically targeting those who have not previously engaged in political processes.