GPB + Youth is a participatory democracy mechanism with a deliberative nature, giving young people in Gaia – aged 13 to 30 – the power to decide how municipal public funds should be invested.
EMPOWERING YOUTH THROUGH DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION
GPB + Youth strengthens democratic engagement and promotes youth participation at the decision-making level in the municipality of Gaia. With a total budget of €240,000, this participatory budgeting project enables young people to propose and vote on initiatives across three key areas: Arts & Creativity, Well-being & Environment, and Youth Empowerment. GPB + Youth has already involved nearly 5,000 young participants, helping to foster civic engagement, build essential life skills, and celebrate the city's diversity. The initiative directly supports the Municipal Youth Plan for All Youth(s) 2.0 and contributes to the holistic development of the city.
YOUTH-LED INITIATIVES AND COMMUNITY IMPACT
In the first phase, the Youth Office organises a series of participatory meetings throughout the city, guiding youth in developing and submitting their own project proposals. Examples of funded projects include:
- Sensorial Garden, a space that promotes inclusion through sensory experiences
- City’s First Animal Park, focused on animal care and education
- STOP Bullying, a campaign to prevent bullying in schools
- Accredited Future, connecting students with companies for career development
- Mar Arte, turning marine waste into artwork to raise environmental awareness
- Recycling is Ageless, an intergenerational recycling initiative involving older adults
These projects reflect the creativity and commitment of young people to address real community needs while gaining technical skills and civic confidence.
FROM IDEAS TO IMPLEMENTATION
In the second stage, participants are encouraged to refine and defend their ideas, preparing them for the technical evaluation phase. Once projects are selected, young proposers lead promotional campaigns to mobilize votes from other youth—only young people can vote—highlighting the project's democratic foundation. All winning proposals are fully implemented by the municipality with ongoing participation and oversight from the youth who proposed them. Even non-selected ideas are reviewed by a dedicated steering group, ensuring every voice is heard and considered.
