The Youth Participatory Budget project succeeded in developing a sense of participatory democracy in young people in Cascais (PT). It:

• Brought the voice of young people to policymakers.
• Promoted the personal and social development of the young people of Cascais in the framework of education for citizenship.
• Encouraged young people to become more involved in the culture of their school and to establish a relationship with the community.
• Provided young people with the opportunity to identify common local values.
• Encouraged entrepreneurial dynamism among the youth of the municipality. 

Youth Participatory Budget (YPB) is an educational initiative promoting citizenship, by involving students in public investment decisions.

It is based on Arnstein’s ladder of participation (6th degree: created by adults with decision-making shared with students). The process involves three phases:

• Decision: Designing the years’ edition, identifying YPB classes and teachers, and forming a management council. Rules are revised with experienced students, while YPB classes participate in training sessions on the methodology, and issues such as leadership, gender equality, children's rights, and financial literacy. Teachers receive certified training in citizenship participation. Activities include a teamwork bootcamp, participatory public sessions, proposal analysis, final voting, and a celebratory YPB Festival.
• Implementation: Each school receives EUR  10 000 to implement winning projects. Larger community projects receive up to EUR  350 000, following technical analysis in Cascais’ Participatory Budget process for integration and implementation.
• Monitoring: Involves assessing results, impacts and evaluation, including analysing reports from the external consultant, non-formal education team, students, teachers, and municipal technicians to refine and guide the process. 

Sustainable urban development involves environmental, social, economic, and cultural aspects. In the social domain, participation is a necessity for community interaction to strengthen democracy. 

Cascais' strategy has five axes, focused on the quality of urban life; creativity, knowledge and innovation; environmental values; coherency and inclusivity; and active citizenship. 

The YPB initiative promotes and encourages active and participatory citizenship among young people, giving them due recognition as full citizens with rights and duties. Ultimately, this protects democratic values per see.  

Young people acquire knowledge, tools, and skills that allow for better integration in society, and in facing future academic and professional challenges. The initiative builds relationships between them and various social actors, promoting personal and social development. It reinforces the connection between cultural, educational, and community aspects, and creates opportunities to identify shared values among peers. 

This engagement strengthens the participatory culture, fostering young people's interest in other participatory municipal practices. 

The practice was designed by a multidisciplinary team from the municipality, an external consultant, and students. 

Young people: The projects uses a bottom-up approach, designed by students for students. It actively involves them in the decision-making process for public investments in schools. YPB’s rules were established through a collaborative game named “Experiência C” where students presented the results to the mayor and assembly for approval. They participate in evaluation sessions to refine rules and have successfully advocated for budget increases, from EUR 2 500 to EUR 10 000 for school projects. YPB class students act as participation ambassadors, crucial at all stages. 

Technical team: Including people from municipal services in youth, communication, education and citizenship and participation areas and a non-formal education team. Trains teachers in youth participation, conducts 12 sessions on topics like participatory and representative democracy, sustainable development, human and children’s rights, gender equality, financial literacy and Participatory Budget methodology. Supports young people in managing social media. 

School administration: Defines YPB classes and teachers, participates in technical analyses with students and the technical team, and ensures the timely implementation of winning ideas. 

External consultant: Ensures ongoing process evaluation, collects and analyses participant data, and prepares annual reports on the practice’s outcomes. 

Municipal political body: Shapes public policies supporting YPB, and fosters a close relationship with them based on proximity and mutual engagement. 

The Youth Participatory Budget (YPB) has made a difference in schools and community environments, enhancing physical spaces and increasing youth engagement in community activities.  

In 2023-2024, Cascais has 16 eligible public schools (up from 4 in the pilot year, and with a maximum of 18 in 2018-2019). Students in all participating schools evaluated the proposed ideas for school and community funding. 

Between 2016-2017 and the ongoing 2023-2024 school year, there was a total of 97 school projects funded, with a total of EUR 802 500 allocated to these ideas. 

During the same period, there were 16 community projects, funded by EUR 5 302 950. 

On average, each YPB edition sees three community ideas win in Cascais’ Participatory Budget. A project from YPB, winning first place in the 2022 Cascais Participatory Budget edition, was the most voted project to date.  

Across the 7 editions, 13 572 students participated in public sessions, with 2 339 students in YPB classes and 205 YPB teachers.  

The ongoing presence of young people in various municipal participation practices also empowers them in the political/democratic sphere. 

The practice is relevant for other European cities, as it is framed within common agendas and originates from Cascais’ Participatory Budget, a model replicated nationally and internationally.  

YPB contributes to:

• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): directly to SDG 4 (Quality education) and SDG 16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions), and indirectly to several others.
• The New Urban Agenda’s vision. 

In Portugal, all public schools at basic and/or secondary levels must implement a Participatory Budget, receiving EUR 1 per student or a minumum of EUR 500 from the State. YPB runs alongside, with the largest local public school getting EUR 2 000 from the national participatory budget and EUR 10 000 from the municipal participatory budget. The process follows principles of participation and cooperation outlined in the Portuguese constitution.  

Cascais’ YPB can easily be transferred to other cities upholding participation and transparency principles. Its adaptable methodology has been replicated nationally and internationally. 

A standout feature is project voting, adapted from the national electoral voting process, using ballot boxes and voting booths to teach students how to vote, preparing them for future election as adults. 

Cascais’ YPB thrives on robust political commitment, fostering a participatory culture with an integrated system connecting citizens and governance. 

Key factors for effective transfer are:

• Maintaining an educational focus.
• Engaging youth throughout all the process phases.
• Preventing adult interference.
• Ensuring adequate funding and other resources. 

The YPB methodology is easy to implement, cost-effective, and adaptable to different contexts. Cascais’ municipal team and external consultants have promoted the practice widely, and it has inspired several Portuguese cities, as well as cities in Georgia, Spain, Croatia, Finland, Poland, and Brazil.