Latvian Academy of Culture Participates in an International Training Programme on Youth Participation
From 29 September to 31 October 2025, the international short-term training programme “Youth in Action: Young People as Agents of Change in Rural Communities” took place at the Polytechnic Institute of Santarém (Instituto Politécnico de Santarém) in Portugal. The programme was developed within the framework of the European University Alliance ACE²-EU, through cooperation between the Polytechnic Institute of Santarém, Constantin Brâncuși University (Universitatea „Constantin Brâncuși” din Târgu Jiu), and the Latvian Academy of Culture.
Within the programme, from 13 to 17 October, representatives of the Latvian Academy of Culture (LAC) travelled to Portugal: Laura Brutāne, Research Assistant at the Institute of Culture and Arts and a PhD student in the “Art” doctoral programme; Anete Laursone, Elizabete Granta, and Santa Marija Vīnupe, third-year students of the “Cultural Sociology and Management” bachelor’s subprogramme; as well as Andis Daugavvanags, a fourth-year student of the “Cultural and Arts Studies” programme. Together with lecturers and students from eight other ACE²-EU partner universities, they took part in five days of discussions and workshops focused on youth values, contemporary challenges, and life in non-urban areas.
The organisational work from the Latvian Academy of Culture was led by Laura Brutāne, whose doctoral research on authentic youth participation and the role of cultural practices in fostering it directly complements and deepens the thematic focus of the programme.
During the training, participants worked on projects addressing issues faced by rural communities and promoting youth involvement in their development. The project presentations highlighted key problems young people encounter when living outside urban centres - such as limited access to transport and healthcare services, and the need to reduce alcohol consumption among youth - while also proposing ideas for establishing youth associations and encouraging more active engagement in the social life of rural areas.
The programme’s goal was to empower young people to become active agents of change, providing them with the skills, knowledge, and tools to express their views and collaboratively create solutions grounded in their own experiences and aspirations. The approach was youth-centred, positioning young participants as the main actors in identifying real-life problems and designing solutions that reflect their needs and expectations.
Special attention was given to building cooperation between young people, higher education institutions, and stakeholders, creating opportunities to co-design and develop community-based project proposals and to strengthen experiential learning. At the same time, the programme promoted social inclusion by actively involving young people in democratic decision-making and problem-solving processes, while encouraging universities and partners to act as drivers of inclusive community development.
More information about the ACE²-EU European University Alliance and its planned activities: https://www.ace2eu.eu/
The project is co-financed by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia. Funded by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
Project No. 101177596.
