Conference Program

While the right of children to participate is enshrined in Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), a significant gap remains between theoretical recognition and daily practice. The “Together” methodology, developed by SOS Villaggi dei Bambini in the framework of a EU co-funded project, is designed to transform the right of children and young people to participate from a theoretical principle into a concrete practice within public decision-making processes. The project specifically focuses on strengthening the capacity of children and youth—including those in precarious family situations or alternative care—to influence decisions that affect their lives and local communities.

The methodology is rooted in international legal standards. A core tool used is Roger Hart’s Ladder of Participation, which helps distinguish between "seeming" involvement (manipulation, decoration, tokenism) and "meaningful" participation. The methodology also incorporates the Lundy Model to structure how children and youth are provided with space, voice, audience, and influence in public spheres.

This approach aims to improve the capacity of children, young people, and the professionals supporting them to work in partnership with policy-makers. It seeks to ensure that youth can influence public decisions that impact their lives, moving from mere consultation to active co-design.

Aside from adult supervisors, the methodology relies on two primary levels of youth engagement. The first one is the involvement of peer trainers (aged 18–24), young people who, after receiving specialized training, propose and directly manage workshops for their peers. They act as a bridge between professional facilitators and younger participants, ensuring the language and activities remain relevant and engaging. The second one is the protagonism of workshop participants (aged 11–17), who engage in territorial workshops to deepen their knowledge of children’s rights and improve their awareness of how to influence public policy even when still underaged. The peer-to-peer workshops typically consist of six sessions, guiding participants from understanding their rights to meeting with adults to deliver their messages.

This approach offers unique benefits over traditional adult-led models. Participants often feel freer to express themselves when the facilitators are close to them in age, reducing the hierarchical pressure typical of adult-youth relationships. Also, they have the chance to evolve from "beneficiaries" into "active citizens," practicing participation as a skill. It fosters intergenerational dialogue, proving that young people are competent interlocutors capable of making public policies more inclusive and effective.

“Together” engages children in ongoing dialogue with local, regional and national institutions to promote the creation of effective and shared synergies. This dialogue is, indeed, the culminating moment where children meet with institutional representatives to propose concrete solutions.

Ultimately, "Together" demonstrates that involving young people generates agency, empowerment, and more inclusive public policies that better reflect the needs of all citizens. The methodology's practical insights, based on the feedbacks and experience on the field, are summarized in a vademecum for adults, identifying six pillars for effective participation.