Youth BCN offers opportunities amid declining youth participation 

Across Europe, youth participation in civic and political life is in steady decline. Amid this decline, some local initiatives are trying to close the gap. One of them is Youth BCN, a Barcelona-based organization founded in 2017. It works with young people aged 18 to 30, offering them access to international mobility, training, and volunteer opportunities.

The organization provides internships, volunteer activities, and other projects. The organization stresses the importance of its existence in a time and society where youth seem increasingly unreachable.  

This concern is not unfounded. Research by the European Parliament found that young people's participation in civic and political life has been steadily declining. Fewer young people are joining youth organizations, engaging in demonstrations, or signing petitions.

Moreover, political disillusionment among Europe's youth is growing. A 2021 Eurobarometer study conducted by the European Commission showed that although many young people express concern about issues like climate change or unemployment, they feel disempowered and disconnected from institutions that could help address these concerns. 

This disinterest in traditional forms of participation forms a blockage to many opportunities. That's where organizations like Youth BCN come in. Alex Frias, co-founder and president of the organization, is well aware of the difficulty of reaching today's youth.

"Our main mission is empowering youth," he explains, "and we try to do that with all these programs and opportunities. From training courses to volunteering activities. We believe that we can make them improve their skills and help them improve their personal lives. From a work perspective and also a personal perspective." 

One of the main ways Youth BCN addresses this gap is by facilitating mobility projects abroad through the EU's Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programs. These international experiences do not only improve language and intercultural skills but also reintroduce youth to forms of active citizenship outside of their national systems.  

Still, Frias acknowledges the road is long: "Reaching our target group is one of our main challenges. It's really complicated to reach youth. That's why we have young people on our team as well. It's easier for us to understand their needs and how to reach them because this is actually one of the most complicated things," Frias explains.  

He adds that social media plays a big part in reaching this target group. "We're learning how to be media active and doing campaigns. We're trying to be where they are. But even like this we face a lot of difficulties." The organization also tries to reach today's youth through collaborations with universities.  

"We know and we realize that not many people know about us. We see and we realize that they never knew about this program and these opportunities. There are young people in Spain that do know about us and participate. But the community that could benefit is much bigger than the one that is actually benefiting from it," says Frias.  

Despite the challenges, Youth BCN remains committed to ensuring that mobility opportunities are accessible to those who need them most. Each project reserves places for young people with fewer opportunities, including those facing economic hardship, language barriers, or limited internet access. "We often work with institutions that are already in contact with these young people, so they can help spread the word and guide them through the process," Frias explains.  

From refugees to young people with disabilities, many participants have never travelled abroad before. For them, taking part in an international project can be life-changing, opening doors to new skills, connections, and a renewed sense of agency. By forming supportive and inclusive groups, Youth BCN hopes not only to offer opportunities, but also to foster solidarity among participants. 

In terms of a future perspective, Frias just hopes that they can keep doing what they are doing: "Our long-term goal is to be able to continue doing our job and contributing to society. So hopefully we will have more opportunities to help and empower youth."