Ponte di Piave Mayor attends Youth-LEAP conference in Ankara

Matteo Buso, the Mayor of Ponte di Piave, traveled to Ankara on October 2, 2026, to attend the closing conference of the European project Youth-LEAP (Youth Leadership and Empowerment through Active Participation). The initiative, funded by the Erasmus+ program and coordinated by S.I.D.E.S. APS, aims to increase youth involvement in public decision-making and develop a European model for youth participation.

During the visit, Mayor Buso met with Mansur Yavaş, the Mayor of the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, alongside Angel Dzorgov, the Mayor of Samokov, Bulgaria. The discussions focused on methods to bridge the gap between young people and political institutions. Buso shared local initiatives from Ponte di Piave, including a youth city council, school-work alternation programs, internships in municipal offices, and civil service opportunities for those aged 18 to 28.

The 27-month project involved local authorities, associations, and universities from Italy, Turkey, Spain, and Bulgaria.