November 2025
Governance, Participation and Empowerment
The Coordinators' Meeting brought together project coordinators from all over Europe from November 13-19 in Porto and Viana do Castelo, Portugal.
The Autumn 2025 Coordinators’ Meeting began on Thursday, November 13, in Porto, where participants gathered for the official opening. The afternoon program included an introductory and welcome session, followed by team-building activities to strengthen networking within the organization. Participants then attended the session “Recognizing Connections: Who We Are and Why We Are Here,” which provided an opportunity to reflect on the shared goal, before continuing on to Viana do Castelo in the evening.
On Friday, November 14, the focus of the program was on network exchange and ongoing strategic developments. The day began with country reports, in which the coordinators presented the progress of their national teams. In the afternoon, participants received an update on the Strategic Framework, followed by the joint session “Solutions in Times of Challenge,” in which current obstacles and approaches to solutions within the network were discussed. The day concluded with a consultation session and a shared dinner.
Saturday, November 15, was dedicated to governance and participation. The program began with an introductory session on youth participation, empowerment, and support, followed by a session on participatory decision-making processes and decision-making within the network. In the afternoon, participants discussed inclusive leadership and representation before continuing their deliberations in smaller working groups.
Sunday, November 16, the final day of the meeting, offered an opportunity for open exchange and reflection. Participants began the day with an open discussion, followed by a workshop on self-care and mutual support in their role as coordinators. The meeting concluded with a final feedback and closing session before the participants departed for Porto.