Facing a growing youth mental health crisis, Rybnik’s innovative support program is delivering accessible therapy—giving adolescents the support they need to heal, grow, and thrive.
Programme: The Innovation in Politics Awards
Open Schoolyards
Bilbao is transforming schoolyards into inclusive community hubs that promote informal learning, intergenerational connection, and youth employment.
Prevention of Child and Youth Conflict Program
This community-based initiative in Villaverde is helping children and young people avoid gang involvement through early education, targeted support, and long-term reintegration strategies.
The Baltic’s First Bioregion: A New Model for Sustainable Place-Based Development
The project introduces the first bioregion in the Baltics, aiming to create a replicable model for regenerative, place-based development that prioritises environmental sustainability, community well-being, and economic resilience.
DoCHECK! Fighting Disinformation through Technology and Non-Formal Education
DoCheck empowers teenagers with media literacy skills to recognise and resist online disinformation, fostering a safer and more informed digital environment across Europe.
Empower Young Voices
Empower Young Voices is a youth-led initiative enhancing civic engagement and local influence among young people aged 12 to 29, shaping municipal policies through skills-building, participation, and dialogue.
E-library
Finland’s shared E-library provides free, equal access to digital library resources across all public libraries and municipalities, fostering literacy and cultural engagement.
Greece’s First Eco Island
Halki’s initiative leverages renewable energy and smart solutions to achieve energy self-sufficiency, reduce costs, and foster sustainable development on the small Greek island, serving as a replicable model for green transitions in isolated communities.
Be Safe, Be Cool in Your School – Protecting Children from Violence in Schools
Be Safe, Be Cool in Your School combats violence against children in Romania through early intervention, education, and child-led solutions that create safer school environments and empowered communities.
Hello Bundestag (Hallo Bundestag): Electoral District Days
This project reimagines Germany’s electoral districts as spaces for inclusive, structured dialogue between citizens and their elected representatives to rebuild trust in democracy.
EurHope: The Youth Agenda for a Democratic Europe
EurHope empowers over 1.5 million young Europeans to shape EU policy through a multilingual, participatory campaign that bridges the gap between youth priorities and political leaders.
Public Nurseries as Ambassadors of Food Waste Prevention
In Halandri, toddlers become food-saving ambassadors through storytelling, performance, and a nursery-wide movement to fight food waste and promote sustainability.
Paloma Project: AI for the Detection of Unwanted Loneliness
The Paloma project uses artificial intelligence and natural language processing to detect and respond to cases of unwanted loneliness among elderly people through realistic, human-sounding phone conversations.
Green Urban Bus Shelters: A Sustainable Revolution in Ostrów Wielkopolski
The Green Urban Bus Shelters project in Ostrów Wielkopolski replaces traditional bus stops with eco-friendly shelters featuring year-round vegetation that cools waiting areas, improves air quality, and supports the city’s broader goals for sustainable urban transport and climate resilience.
School Gardens for Learning, Healing, and Community Resilience
Rybnik’s school gardening programme uses hands-on environmental education to support Ukrainian refugee children, promote sustainability, and foster community cohesion.
Rybnik: From Coal to Hydrogen – A Just Energy Transition
Rybnik is transforming from one of Europe’s most polluted coal-dependent cities into a clean energy leader through hydrogen technology and community-driven emissions reductions.
From Waste to Resource: Rybnik’s Circular Model
Rybnik’s circular economy project transforms food waste into social value, creating a comprehensive system that repurposes surplus food, supports vulnerable groups, and fosters sustainable consumption practices.
Free Republic of Vienna
Free Republic of Vienna is a pioneering cultural initiative that radically democratises decision-making within Europe’s largest cross-over festival by empowering citizens to co-shape its future.
Water Over Gold – Environmental Screening of Underground Waters in Rovinka Municipality
Slovakia’s citizen-driven initiative sets a new standard for groundwater protection through transparent monitoring, public engagement, and long-term state collaboration.
Project DENN – Trustworthy News, Powered by Citizens
Project DENN combats misinformation and strengthens journalism by enabling citizens to create and share verifiable content through a blockchain-based mobile platform.
