A space where young people could help structurally embed youth voices in city policymaking, strengthen democratic participation, and explore new ways to reclaim and reimagine public spaces in the city. European Future Generations Lab was implemented by the City of Leuven, European Capital of Culture (ECoC) in 2030, and Lemesos 2030 ECoC Candidate City empowering young people to imagine a more democratic future.
10 young people from Lemesos or living in Lemesos were brought together through an open call. They entered a workshop process with a number of early project ideas related to public space, artistic expression, social dialogue and youth visibility in the city:
- a participatory public campaign inviting youth expression in public space
- the reclaiming of the Molos amphitheatre as a place for dialogue
- a 48-hour short film contest in public space
- a proposal for making art more visible and democratic in everyday life through an open exhibition space
- a Theatre of the Oppressed-inspired mobile public performance
While different in format, all of these ideas were connected by a shared interest in public space as a place of encounter, expression and participation.
From ideas to actions, from actions to exchange, from exchange to reflection…
Two groups of young people, one from Lemesos and one from Leuven, took part in workshops, focused sessions and practical trials looking for ways to position themselves in their city, its public spaces and engaging in processes of knowledge-sharing and shaping city life and policymaking. They also travelled in each other’s cities, exchanged experiences, knowledge and visited municipal spaces and landmarks.
European Future Generations Lab is an Erasmus+ project funded by the EU and implemented by the City of Leuven, European Capital of Culture in 2030, and Lemesos 2030 ECoC Candidate City, empowering young people to imagine a more democratic future.
Project Coordination in Lemesos:
Lemesos 2030 European Capital of Culture - Candidate City
Coordination and Reporting Team:
Eleana Alexandrou, Michalis Karakatsanis, Sara Mariza Vrionidi
Workshop facilitators in Lemesos:
Sara Mariza Vrionidi, Natasa Ioannou
Lemesos Youth Participants:
Maria Agisilaou, Anna Dimosthenous, Kyriakos Filokratous, Katerina Kaisidou, Artemis Karamani, Argyro Kontekaki, Christos Loizou, Simela Marapa, Eleni-Despina Orfanoudaki, Kyveli Papantoniou
Graphic Design:
Georgia Demetriou
Text Translations:
Georgia Droussiotou
Photographs:
Pavlos Vryonides, Katerina Kountourioti, Kyriakos Filokratous and mobile snapshots from team and participants
