January 27th, 2026
The YoPA spin-off in Portugal reached two important milestones with the visits of local decision-makers, reinforcing institutional support for a youth-led process of co-creation and community transformation.
On 29 December 2025, Paula Simões, President of the Parish Council of Algueirão-Mem Martins, visited CIAPA during a dedicated YoPA session. On this occasion, young participants presented the YoPA project in Portugal and its international dimension, sharing their journey, methodology, and impact. The presentation highlighted how YoPA empowers teenagers to analyse their local context, identify needs, and co-create solutions with real potential for change. This session created a valuable moment of dialogue between young people and local leadership, strengthening mutual understanding and trust.
A second key moment took place on 26 January 2026, with the presentation of YoPA to Francisco Duarte, Councillor of the Sintra Municipal Council, attended by Paula Simões, President of the Parish Council of Algueirão- Mem Martins. During this session, the young people presented the outcomes of the co-creation process and reflected on the work developed throughout the second phase of the project.
The session was followed by a visit to the space selected by the teenagers for renovation, allowing local authorities to better understand the vision and potential impact of the proposed intervention. This visit marked an important step in consolidating institutional support, with Francisco Duarte becoming a new stakeholder in supporting the project and its implementation.
These visits represent a strong recognition of young people as active contributors to local development. By creating spaces for dialogue and collaboration with decision-makers, YoPA continues to demonstrate how meaningful youth participation can influence local decision-making and lead to concrete, community-based change.
Learn more about the YoPA spin-off in Portugal on this page.