Between Jnauary and June of 2026, 3 partners (Aristotle Univ in Greece, Aga Khan Foundation in Portugal and Frushuset in Sweden) have implemented Local Solidarity activities.

These activities were designed, led and implemented by participants in the trainings held previously, using a “learn-by-doing” approach. The goal was to invite representatives from diverse communities to debate about local needs in terms of solidarity and participation and design solutions and initiatives that could be used to improve the lifes of underrepresented communities.

The activities not only provided moments of refletion, comunity sharing and participation, as also ment a significant visibility for several groups and local leaders, allowing first time access to local municipal resources and reputational and social capital growth. New partnerships are now forged that can go on well further the project end.

Below we present a summary of activities in each country:

GREECE

The first initiative presents a youth-focused “Volunteering Day” organized by university students, which successfully connected young adults with established civil society organizations to promote accessibility, digital literacy, and community volunteerism.

The second action, “Once upon in SKG,” shifted the management responsibility to local non-formal initiatives and civil society organizations, utilizing creative, allegorical storytelling and a Reverse World Cafe format to co-create solutions to operational obstacles. The final action integrated participatory art and social intervention through a historical theatrical reading performance by an amateur theater club, directly linking two-hundred-year-old testimonies of gender inequality and institutional barriers with modern-day civic dialogues.

      

 

Together, these activities form a cohesive portfolio of community engagement that effectively translates overarching European solidarity values into measurable, local achievements.

 

PORTUGAL

1.3×3 Basketball Tournament – Loures 

The group was initially made up of 3 people who were in the training (WP 10), 2 belonging to 2 different local associations (CSI – Capacity for Social Innovation association and Batoto Yeto) and 1 joined as an individual. Another element that collaborates with one of the associations to support the development of this activity was also co-opted. 

The objectives of the local solidarity activity were: 

1. Promote social inclusion and community cohesion among young people from different neighbourhoods and backgrounds through the practice of sports, using the 3×3 basketball tournament as an educational and social tool. 

1. To encourage values of respect, fair play, solidarity and active citizen participation, preventing aggressive or exclusionary behaviour in the sporting and social context. 

The activity is aimed primarily at young people and adolescents, mostly residents of the municipality of Loures, covering participants from different areas and neighbourhoods, with a special focus on promoting youth participation in a community context.  

The evaluation was carried out later, with the organising team and the team of volunteers of the event, who collected feedback during the tournament, and which revealed, for example, that this tournament had effectively been recognized as a different tournament. The players who participate in other tournaments, including those organized by federations, considered that this had a different impact: they felt that in this “it was really to play basketball, only, without anything external, that was there bothering even in terms of competition. It was competitive (…) but a healthy competition”. 

Also on the part of the parents, the feedback collected revealed that they felt tremendous pride in their children, as they saw them helping with concrete tasks, “so concentrated, so committed, doing everything so right. He never had that attitude and here [at the tournament] it seemed like he was in his job executing everything perfectly”. 

       

2. J.A.M.: JOURNEYS FOR THE ARTS IN MOTION – Fundão 

The group was composed by 3 people who were in the CSO & UC training – WP10, 2 belonging to 3 different associations (Coletivo Montanha, Fatela Sónica e Fua Fura).  

The objective of the local solidarity activity was the creation of partnerships that increases the visibility of artistic and cultural entities and with greater impact on the local population. 

This activity arises from the recognition of the weak synergies between local entities (Beira Interior) of the cultural sector. The group decided to host a CSO gathering with the goal of promoting multidisciplinary partnerships between cultural entities, identify skills and resources of the cultural entities involved, increase the number of participants in the events/activities of cultural entities, and also create a transversal online cultural agenda. 

J.A.M.’s satisfaction survey reveals a high level of overall satisfaction, with 55.6% giving the maximum score and 44.4% slightly lower ratings, indicating a very positive perception of the initiative. The participants suggested several cultural organizations in the region for future editions, reinforcing the interest in expanding the network of collaboration and diversity of entities involved.  

3.Workshop on Nonviolent Communication – Fundão

The group was made up of 4 people who were in the CSO & UC training – WP10, 2 belonging to 1 association, 1 belonging to several local associations and 1 individual person.  

The objective of the local solidarity activity was to foster active listening skills and non-judgment attitude towards students and families in the school context through a Nonviolent Communication workshop. 

The activity initially had as its target audience teachers, educational assistants, parents of the Fundão School Group and political decision-makers, but ended up being limited to teachers and educational staff working at the school. 

This activity arises from the group’s observation that there are still communication barriers in the territory and that it is urgent to promote a more inclusive and non-judgmental school environment.  

The feedback obtained at the end of the session demonstrated the importance of this type of session in the continuous training of teachers and the willingness to continue these exchanges.

4.M.I.C. Community Day (Community Intervention Method) – Loures 

The group was composed of several people who were in the training (WP 10), part of them belonging to 2 local associations (Mocho + e Social Innovation Sports) part belonging to an informal collective belonging to the Catholic Church and part participating individually. This group is interesting, from the point of view of its diversity, both in terms of ages and in terms of the vision they had for the implementation of the activity. 

The objective of the local solidarity activity was to contribute to increasing participation and civic activity in the community and, at the same time, to create a co-constructed method with the community, to increase citizens involvement and ensure more appropriate responses to local needs. 

The specific objectives were: 

• Strengthen the potential of citizens to build activities that respond to their needs and ensure their well-being, allowing them to take on more active roles in the community and in society, contributing for the Common Good.  

• Create an annual plan of local intervention to set a community structure using participatory methods 

• Create spaces to increase residents’ participation in decisions that affect their well-being in line with their needs, skills and talents  

• Strengthen relationships between organizations operating in the territory, residents and informal groups.  

• Create a community project management method (KPI, Baseline, Outputs, Outcomes).  

• Form a core team for the organization and administration of the project hat ensures the representativeness of the existing diversity in the community  

On the day of the event, more than 250 people were involved, from children to seniors.

In addition to the exceptional involvement of people of various ages who joined the activities, it was interesting to witness that some of them spontaneously supported the organizators of the event as the day went by, thus revealing high levels of community mobilisation and solidarity. 

SWEDEN

Training of trainers for youth leadership training in Arvika Municipality, Sweden, 28-29 April 2026

Between 2025 and April 2026, Fryshuset developed and delivered a Training of Trainers programme in Arvika Municipality to prepare youth professionals and educators to facilitate Leadership Training for Young People. The training brought together professionals and volunteers from different municipal services working with young people as well as from local civil society organisations/groups and aimed to strengthen their capacity to support youth leadership, participation, and personal development through structured leadership education.

The process highlighted a strong local commitment to creating opportunities for young people to take responsibility, become positive role models, and actively contribute to their communities. It also demonstrated a need for practical, accessible tools that can help youth workers in public and non-profit programmes facilitate leadership development among young people in a consistent and engaging way.

Eleven participants completed the evaluation following the training. Overall, the feedback was highly positive. Participants reported that the training was well-structured, engaging, practical, and highly relevant to their professional roles. Several participants highlighted that the balance between theory, practice, discussion, and movement-based activities contributed to a positive learning experience and made it easier to remain engaged throughout the programme.

Participants expressed strong confidence in the trainers, describing them as knowledgeable, supportive, and well-prepared. The opportunity to actively test exercises and experience the programme from a participant perspective was repeatedly identified as one of the most valuable aspects of the training.

Many participants reported that the material provided practical tools that they could directly use when training young leaders. Several also stated that the programme strengthened their confidence in facilitating leadership development and gave them concrete methods to help young people take greater responsibility and leadership roles.

Another theme emerging from the evaluation was the value of meeting colleagues from different services and organisations within the municipality. Participants appreciated exchanging experiences, learning from different perspectives, and developing a shared approach to youth leadership development.

Local Activity Festival, Sweden, 11-14 June 2026

Fryshuset supported the implementation of an activity festival designed to promote participation, inclusion, and community engagement among children and young people. The initiative brought together local associations, clubs, youth leaders, and community stakeholders to provide free activities in a neighbourhood setting, creating accessible opportunities for young people to discover new interests and strengthen their connection to community life.

A total of 68 participants took part in the activity. Participants included children and young people from the local community, with young people (youth and children, who are the youth of tomorrow) identified as the primary target groups. This is a clear link to outcomes of previous project activities, such as the assessment (WP3), CoPs (WP2) as well as the national think tank (WP16), where local associations, local public officers, and primarily young people themselves, have expressed the need to engage in formal activities as a first step to participation, and that those activities need to reach young people in places where they already are. Through the project activities mentioned above, and compounding Fryshuset’s previous experience and knowledge, it was clear that young people are best reached through credible messengers, such as local role models and other young people who they can look up to. Thus, the majority of the youth workers at the festival were in those categories.

According to facilitators and participants, the activity festival successfully created an environment where participation felt easy, welcoming, and enjoyable. Youth leaders described the value of following young participants from their first encounter with an activity through to longer-term engagement in local clubs and organisations.

One recurring observation was the strong sense of community that developed among both participants and youth leaders. Returning youth leaders noted that relationships continued to grow across events, creating a culture of familiarity, trust, and mutual support.

Facilitators highlighted increased confidence as one of the most significant outcomes. Children became increasingly comfortable engaging with youth leaders, while youth leaders themselves grew in their ability to lead activities, make decisions, and promote participation. This change became particularly visible during longer activity periods, where relationships and trust had more time to develop. The initiative also generated practical outcomes, including stronger relationships between participants, greater collaboration between groups, increased motivation to participate, greater visibility of community needs, and the identification of new engagement opportunities. Participants expressed strong appreciation for the initiative, with some wishing the festival could remain longer in their neighbourhoods. Facilitators further observed that the accessibility of the activities, combined with the free-of-charge format, helped reduce barriers to participation and enabled more children and young people to become involved.

 

Youth Participation in Almedalen Week and National Participation Mechanisms, Sweden, 22-25 June 2026

Fryshuset implemented a youth participation initiative combining local trend scanning, youth leadership development, participation in Almedalen Week, and structured dialogue with decision-makers. The activity was designed to strengthen young people’s participation in democratic processes while testing existing national participation mechanisms and identifying opportunities for their improvement.

Almedalen Week is a unique annual democratic forum in Sweden on the island of Gotland, where people from across society come together to discuss public issues, strengthen participation, and promote inclusive decision-making. Prior to attending Almedalen Week, Fryshuset’s youth ambassadors conducted a youth-led trend-scanning process involving 170 young people from different regions and programmes across Sweden. Through local consultations, environmental scanning, and facilitated discussions, young people identified key societal issues affecting their lives, including employment and economic security, trust in institutions, social inclusion, participation, belonging, mental health, and future opportunities. The findings formed an evidence base that the youth ambassadors brought into national discussions during Almedalen Week.

According to participants and facilitators, the combination of local trend scanning and national-level participation created a particularly strong learning process. Young people reported feeling more confident entering discussions because they were not only representing themselves but were also carrying the perspectives and experiences collected from a broader group of young people. Participants described an increased understanding of democratic systems, public institutions, and the roles different societal actors play in shaping policy. Several also expressed a renewed motivation to engage in civic and political processes. One participant reflected: “I feel like I understand the actors in society better and what their roles are, and how they can collaborate.”

Another participant described a renewed interest in political engagement after previously feeling disconnected from formal democratic processes.

Facilitators observed that one of the most significant outcomes was the increased confidence participants developed in making their voices heard and representing the needs of the young people and communities they spoke on behalf of. This became visible both on stage during public discussions and in direct meetings with politicians and institutional representatives. Participants demonstrated an ability to engage in constructive conversations even when disagreements emerged. In one dialogue with a politician, youth participants and decision-makers held significantly different perspectives while maintaining a respectful exchange throughout the discussion. Facilitators highlighted this as an important example of meaningful democratic participation in practice.

The activity generated new network connections, strengthened partnerships, improved communication between stakeholders, increased visibility of youth perspectives through young credible messengers participating in all structured discussions within the scope of the project, and created opportunities for continued engagement between young people and decision-makers. Participants also reported receiving positive feedback from policymakers and other stakeholders who were moved by the experiences and stories shared during the event.

The past 11th of May all Solidarity4all partners gathered in Brussels for our final seminar. The partner, together with national and local authorities, youth representatives, people with a migrant and refugees background and other underrepresented groups, discussed the learnings of the project and the recommndations for public policy that steemed from the several project activities.

Participants representing municipalities, NGOs, universities, migrant-led organisations, youth initiatives, embassies, community mediators and civil society actors from various countries such as France, Belgium, Hungary, Egypt, Sweden, Syria, and South Sudan. Key outcomes included strengthened networks among diverse stakeholders and identification of practical approaches to enhance participation, democratic resilience, migration, inclusion, and social cohesion in European communities.

The event aimed to transform local experiences and grassroots realities into practical policy reflections and recommendations. Through interactive discussions, panel debates and stakeholder exchanges, participants explored the relationship between institutions and underrepresented communities, with particular attention given to migrants, minorities and socially excluded groups across Europe.

A central theme throughout the day was the idea that democratic participation cannot be reduced solely to formal political mechanisms such as voting. Participants repeatedly stressed that participation also takes place through everyday community life, volunteering, cultural activities, sports, neighbourhood initiatives, youth work and informal solidarity practices. Several speakers highlighted that these local and informal forms of engagement often create stronger trust and more sustainable inclusion than institutional consultation mechanisms alone.

Discussions also revealed a significant gap between institutional participation frameworks and the lived realities of many communities. Participants described public institutions as bureaucratic, difficult to access and often disconnected from everyday social realities. Language barriers, administrative complexity, limited feedback mechanisms and the use of institutional language were repeatedly identified as significant barriers preventing people from engaging with local authorities and public services.

Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of trust, representation and belonging as preconditions for meaningful democratic participation. Many participants noted that migrants and minority communities frequently do not feel heard, represented or welcomed within existing institutional systems. Several interventions stressed that participation becomes ineffective when individuals perceive themselves merely as targets of projects rather than active contributors capable of shaping decisions and community development.

Conference strongly highlighted the role of community mediators, grassroots facilitators and local leaders who already hold trust within communities and can therefore act as bridges between institutions and residents. Examples presented by participants from Portugal, Denmark and Greece demonstrated that direct dialogue, informal community spaces and person-to-person approaches often generate stronger engagement than formal top-down participation structures.

Another major conclusion concerned the need to move beyond symbolic participation toward genuine co-creation and co-decision processes. Participants argued that underrepresented communities should be involved from the earliest stages of policy development and implementation rather than being consulted only after decisions have already been prepared. The discussions further emphasised that long-term inclusion cannot be achieved solely through short-term projects, but requires sustainable structural approaches capable of addressing inequalities connected to housing, employment, education, legal insecurity and access to services.

The reflections, experiences and recommendations collected during the Brussels conference day will contribute to the development of the Sol4All policy recommendations and future dissemination activities at local, national and European levels.

During the months of May to August, national seminars will occur in all 5 countries, to share the results and the learnings of the project so far, ensuring dissenination and inspiring other projecats and organisations.

 

Sweden

In total, 36 people from diverse communities and Civil Society Organisations took part in several trainings.

Dialogue for Peaceful Change (DPC) training

During February 2025, a targeted capacity-building training was delivered by Fryshuset to strengthen dialogue and conflict management competencies among representatives of faith-based civil society organisations. A need that was visible already early on in the project, due to increased polarisation between different groups in Sweden, which has been observed as a challenge to participation for people from different cultural and religious backgrounds.

The training brought together members and active representatives from the Interreligious Council of Sweden (Sveriges interreligiösa råd, SIR), representing diverse faith communities. Participants were individuals engaged in interfaith collaboration and community-based dialogue work, seeking to strengthen their ability to manage tensions constructively and foster trust across religious boundaries, and through that increase solidarity and possibilities for participation for young people from different religious faiths on the diverse community they live in. The facilitators introduced practical tools for conflict understanding, analysis, and mediation, drawing on a peacebuilding approach originally developed in Northern Ireland.

Participants reported increased confidence in approaching sensitive or conflict-prone situations and highlighted the value of structured tools for understanding underlying dynamics in intergroup relations. The interactive format supported peer learning and reflection, contributing to strengthened trust and shared understanding among participants from different religious backgrounds.

Training on Participation & Democracy

Between March and September 2025, the project team also contributed to the design, planning, and facilitation of a training on participation and democracy for youth workers and managers of youth centres ran by Fryshuset in partnership with Nacka Municipality. This process revealed a knowledge gap among participants regarding democratic tools that can support meaningful youth participation, which the final training programme aimed to contribute towards.

Fryshuset Foundation aims to enable every young people to feel included in society, to see themselves as part of it, and to actively contribute to social development. A key element of this ambition is strengthening democratic awareness and participation among young people through the work of youth professionals.

The purpose of this training programme was to increase the knowledge and capacity of youth workers and managers in three youth centres in Nacka Municipality in Sweden, regarding democracy and civic influence. By strengthening their understanding of democratic processes and societal participation, the programme seeks to enhance their ability to support and promote young people’s influence, engagement, and active citizenship within their daily work.

According to participant evaluations, the training helped strengthen inspiration, knowledge, and understanding among youth leaders and coordinators. One of the tools that several participants mentioned as most useful was a list with suggestions of how to support young people’s influence, participation and advocacy. Another part was an inspirational session from a youth activist working to increase youth influence regarding climate issues, but also providing the training participant with knowledge regarding how to engage voluntarily for different causes and issues, where the participants learned about platforms for engagement that were new to them.

Building on these insights, the training concept will continue to be further developed within Fryshuset, drawing on knowledge generated through Sol4All, with the aim of scaling and disseminating it to additional programmes both within and beyond the network.

Throughout the project, dialogue was also initiated with organisations and municipal representatives beyond the primary implementation areas. For example, discussions were held with associations in Haninge Municipality regarding needs and aspirations for strengthening youth participation. Due to an ongoing organisational restructuring within the municipality, no formal training activities could be implemented during the expected period. However, joint design and planning processes were initiated to enable future capacity-building efforts once the new organisational structure is fully established.

Greece

In Greece, 33 people took part in training for Civil Society.

Two capacity-building trainings for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) were conducted in Thessaloniki, Greece under the framework of the Solidarity4All project, based on the priorities and needs identified through the Communities of Practice meetings. Both trainings followed the same agenda and were delivered in a hybrid format, allowing participants to join either in person or online. This format was selected to ensure broad participation, particularly for representatives living in other cities or those unable to attend physically.

Attendees included representatives from various NGOs and community groups, some of whom joined from different cities via a hybrid format. The group was characterized by a need to address fragmentation within the civil society ecosystem, overcome barriers faced by informal groups and strengthen skills in community mobilization and local project design.

Each training took place from 09:00 to 19:00, with a total duration of 10 hours, including scheduled breaks. The agenda covered a wide range of thematic areas essential for strengthening CSO operations and supporting their role in designing and implementing local solidarity actions.

In response to the perspectives shared through the Communities of Practice, the training agenda was developed to address both foundational and practical dimensions of civil society work. The sessions included thematic modules on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; the formation of stereotypes and unconscious bias; administrative and partnership management for CSOs; financial management and fundraising; communication and social media strategies; and the design and planning of local solidarity projects to be carried out by April. This structure ensured that participants not only gained theoretical understanding of inclusion and discrimination dynamics but also acquired concrete tools to strengthen their organizational capacity, collaboration methods, and project implementation skills.

The training demonstrated high effectiveness in meeting participant expectations and enhancing their self-perceived competencies. Comparative analysis of the pre- and post training surveys revealed a notable increase in confidence across all measured areas, with the most significant gains observed in participants’ ability to encourage community activity and effectively use group activities for decision-making directly addressing core learning desires related to mobilization and participation. Furthermore, the overall training execution was rated exceptionally high, with participants expressing strong satisfaction concerning the supportive learning environment, the constructive group dynamics, and the clarity facilitated by the practical exercises. Future sessions can be strengthened by integrating qualitative feedback, which suggested reducing text on presentations and encouraging trainers to rely less on structured reading in favour of more illustrative examples

The evaluation revealed a significant and noticeable increase in participants’ self-perceived skills, particularly in the areas that CSOs had prioritized: community mobilization and the ability to use group activities for effective decision-making. This strong outcome confirms that the training successfully equipped participants with the action-oriented skills necessary to increase community engagement and implement local solidarity projects.

The overall quality of the training execution was exceptionally high. Participants expressed strong satisfaction with the supportive learning environment, the constructive

group dynamics, and the clarity facilitated by the practical, interactive exercises. The trainers’ approach and the creation of a safe atmosphere were particularly well-received. Furthermore, the strategic use of a hybrid format ensured maximum accessibility, successfully including representatives who could not attend in person.

Portugal

In total, 39 people participated in the trainings for Civil Society Organizations.

The training was designed based on an analysis of the training needs raised in the WP3 – assessment. In Portugal, it is recognised that training can strengthen the sustainability of associations, but the lack of time available limits participation. More than themes, the importance of training adjusted to the level of maturity of organizations and taught by trainers with real associative experience, capable of understanding the context and avoiding inappropriate content, was highlighted.

Therefore, AKF prepared a training entitled ”Community Development and Leadeship”, covering subjects such as Participation and Solidarity; Diversity and Inclusion, Mechanisms and models for participation and solidarity; Planning and designing local projects; Monitoring and evaluating projects.

In Fundão, in conjunction with the local authority, a training modality of 2 consecutive days was chosen. The training had 7 participants and was facilitated by 3 members of the Aga Khan Foundation. The municipality of Fundão and AIMA (online) were also invited for a detailed presentation of participation and solidarity mechanisms. The groundstigator accompanied the entire training.

At the end of the training, the participants were invited to brainstorm ideas for Local Solidarity Activities (WP 7

A final pitch was presented by each group to the Local Authorities representatives, generating great enthusiasm on the part of those present in the implementation of the projects. The groups pitched their proposals for local solidarity activities, to be developed in the following months, with LA – Local Authorities giving their feedback and ensuring their commitment and involvement in the projects presented.

In Loures the training had 32 participants and was facilitated by 3 members of the Aga Khan Foundation. The municipality of Loures and AIMA were also invited for a detailed presentation of participation and solidarity mechanisms. The groundstigator accompanied the entire training

In conjunction with the local authority, a training modality for CSO & UC of 6 days, spread over several weeks, was chosen.

Despite the conditions of the space, they were decorated with training and pedagogical materials that helped to visualize the contents presented, as well as being examples of already tested resources to be used in the mobilization and participation of the community, as happened in Fundão, and therefore, in its likeness. The various posters and sheets resulting from the dynamics carried out were placed, reinforcing the identity of the group and the themes that were addressed.

Although the group was larger than expected, it was decided to accept all the people who wanted to participate and the environment of great expectation on the part of participants was essential to create an atmosphere of trust.

Considering the wide variety of participants’ profiles and their attendance, it was necessary to review the dynamics and reduce the time of some content, ensuring the sharing of the minimum information that would allow them to present a project at the end of the session and learn about local and national mechanisms that would allow them to increase the participation of the communities.

In Loures it was possible to have 3 guests – from the municipality, from AIMA and from the municipal assembly. The latter is a person who lived and is recognized in the neighbourhoods in Loures and who inspired with his history of activism and civic participation.

As with the previous group, at the end of the training the participants were invited to think of ideas for Local Solidarity Activities (WP 7): 3 ideas from 3 groups were presented through a pitch with the proposals for local solidarity activities to be developed in the following months.

For the pitch, Local Authorities were invited, as well as an entity based in the territory, generating great enthusiasm on the part of those present in the implementation of the projects and allowing the immediate exchange of contacts to support the activities presented.

The involvement of municipalities and groundstigators in the mobilization phase was decisive in reaching different audiences, namely people who do not normally participate (and even harbor some mistrust towards institutions), such as young people and women from different backgrounds living in contexts of social exclusion.

The participation of groundstigators in the trainings was essential to create a sense of belonging and closeness with all trainees and groups, essential for the implementation phase of local solidarity projects (WP7). In addition, they supported the recording of images and videos and the management of work with the group. The trainings were considered a success with most participants considering moving on to the implementation of local solidarity activities (WP 7). The presence of guests such as the municipalities and AIMA allowed the understanding in detail of local and national participation opportunities, and also the exchange of contacts. The participation of Local Authorities, as guests in the presentation of the pitches was a very significant moment as it demonstrated the interest of the municipality’s staff and other public and private entities in the project, and mobilized them as a resource for the implementation of the project, and eventually,  after the project, reinforcing the local network of CSO partners.

The use of dynamic methodologies, practical examples and group work were appreciated by the trainees. The possibility for AKF to mobilise 3 staff with different backgrounds created an even more appealing learning environment.