Com’ON City is an URBACT Transfer Network that brings together Cluj-Napoca as lead partner and the cities of Leeuwarden (the Netherlands), Piacenza (Italy), Veszprém (Hungary) and Valongo (Portugal) with the aim of adapting the Cluj model to different local realities and helping more young people shape the communities they live in.
This shared journey started in Cluj-Napoca, where representatives of the partner cities came together for the network's kick-off meeting. Over two days, partners explored the principles behind the Com'ON model, exchanged perspectives on youth participation and reflected on how these ideas could take shape in very different local contexts.
At first glance, Com'ON City is about transferring a youth participatory budgeting model. However, as partners explored the model in greater depth, the conversations naturally expanded beyond funding community initiatives to the conditions that encourage young people to get involved in the first place: lowering barriers to participation, keeping bureaucracy to a minimum, supporting informal groups through mentoring and creating an environment where young people feel confident to turn their ideas into action.
These principles will look different in every city. Throughout the network, partners will adapt the model to their own realities, resources and communities, while learning from one another and continuously refining their local approaches.
Over the next three years, the network will learn together by testing ideas, sharing what works (and what doesn't) and continuously improving the model, creating more opportunities for young people to shape the communities they live in.
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