The event, promoted by AIDGLOBAL, in partnership with the Youth Centre of Lisbon (CJL) from the Portuguese Institute for Sport and Youth, I.P. (IPDJ), took place on November 4 in Lisbon and marked the closure of the project "Youth in Politics - Participate for Global Citizenship (2nd Edition)".
The Meeting aimed to alert young politicians to the importance of using their voice for a fairer, more equitable and sustainable society, intervening in local and global agendas.
It gathered 70 participants, among young activists from different political ideologies (BE, IL, Livre, PAN, PCP, PS and PSD), young people interested in politics, members of the project's partner entities, members of municipalities, among other guests from academia, public entities and civil society, to discuss and reflect on themes such as Gender Equality, Peace and Conflicts and Climate Change.
The session developed four very significant moments: the opening session, the dinner where the young people had the opportunity to dialogue and make recommendations around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on the themes mentioned above, and which, at the end of the dinner, were shared by the other guests and, finally, the celebration of the 17th anniversary of AIDGLOBAL.
The opening of this Dialogue included speeches by Eduarda Marques, Regional Director of Lisbon and Tagus Valley of IPDJ and Director of the Lisbon Youth Centre, Ana Patrícia Fonseca, Chair of the Board of the Portuguese Platform of Non-Governmental Organizations for Development and Susana Damasceno, Chair of the Board of AIDGLOBAL, who stressed that the "Youth in Politics" project is a symbol of renewal and empowerment and that the participation in projects of this scope "means believing in a fairer, more equitable and sustainable world".
The dinner took place in a format of tables dedicated to the above described themes and composed of young people from different parties and interested in politics. Each table was led by a facilitator, allowing everyone to have a space for dialogue and reflection on these current topics, and therefore to share recommendations to be taken to the Youth and youth groups of their respective political parties.
The final considerations and recommendations of this memorable "Dialogue Dinner" were presented and focused on the following strategic points:
The project "Youth in Politics" proved to be, once again, an initiative of sharing, empowerment, teamwork and filled with conscious and sustained ideas for a youth more committed to sustainable policies, in the areas of Gender Equality (SDG 5), Climate (SDG 13) and Peace (SDG 17).
The promotion of initiatives of this nature provides the debate between different party colours, through the voice of youth, which is crucial for a true social transformation, in favour of Human Rights and Sustainable Development.
At the end of the event, to the sound of the guitar and a lot of joy, all the young people and other participants were invited to celebrate the anniversary of AIDGLOBAL, which is already 17 years old, with stories to tell, challenges and achievements to share, investing, since its foundation, in a Quality Education, in Portugal and Mozambique, promoting the active Citizenship that we want to be Global, because we believe that change happens through Education.
A special thanks to the partners and to all involved in the project "Youth in Politics" that walked, throughout two years of work, arm in arm with AIDGLOBAL, in this journey that intends to contribute for the Human Rights and Sustainable Development, from the involvement of Portuguese youths in the mechanisms of political participation.
See here the recommendations resulting from the event.The event is part of the “Jovens na Política — Participar para a Cidadania Global (2ª) Ed.” (Youth in Politics – Participate for Global Citizenship (2nd edition), project, promoved by AIDGLOBAL and co-financed by Camões – Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua, I.P.. This project has as partners the Conselho Nacional de Juventude (CNJ), the Federação Nacional das Associações Juvenis (FNAJ), the Dypall Network, the Centro de Estudos Internacionais – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, the Instituto Português do Desporto e Juventude (IPDJ), the Centro de Juventude de Lisboa (CJL) and the Câmara Municipal de Santarém, and has the support of Mypolis.
