Within the Youth Placemaking Balkans (YPB) project, ISA organised two National Youth Structured Dialogues in Croatia to empower young people to actively participate in shaping inclusive and accessible public spaces.

The dialogues were held in Osijek in February 2026, bringing together young people, youth workers, educators, civil society representatives, local stakeholders, and institutional actors. These events created a safe and participatory environment where youth could openly discuss their experiences using community and sport spaces while contributing ideas to improve public spaces.

Connecting Youth Participation with Real Community Contexts

The first structured dialogue took place on 20 February 2026 within the wider community sports event Štarkomanija. This setting enabled participants to reflect on placemaking concepts through real-life experiences in sport and recreational environments.

Approximately 30 participants took part in the dialogue, including youth activists, representatives of youth organisations and associations working with persons with disabilities, and community stakeholders. Discussions focused on accessibility, mechanisms for youth participation, and the role of sport environments as important social spaces for young people.

Participants highlighted that public sports facilities, such as playgrounds, sports halls, and recreational areas, are central to youth interaction but are often overlooked in urban planning processes.

Promoting Inclusive Dialogue and Cooperation Between Institutions

The second structured dialogue was organised on 24 February 2026, in cooperation with the Centre for Education “Ivan Štark”, the Faculty of Kinesiology Osijek (KIFOS), local municipality representatives, and active citizens.

This event placed a strong focus on inclusion and accessibility, particularly regarding participation opportunities for young people with fewer opportunities. Around 30 participants engaged in interactive group discussions exploring how educational institutions, sport environments, and community initiatives can better support youth engagement and active citizenship.

The dialogue highlighted the need for stronger cooperation between schools, municipalities, universities, and civic organisations. Participants proposed concrete actions, such as organising regular, inclusive consultations within educational institutions, supporting youth-led community projects, and developing accessible activities that combine sport, education, and social inclusion.

Identifying Key Challenges in Youth Engagement

Across both dialogues, several important challenges were identified. Young participants emphasised that structured opportunities for youth participation in urban planning and public space development are still limited. They also noted a communication gap between young people and institutions, which can reduce motivation to engage in decision-making processes.

Accessibility remained a central theme, with participants highlighting physical, social, and organisational barriers that can prevent equal participation in community life. Discussions reinforced the importance of recognising sport and recreational environments as key public spaces where youth identity, social interaction, and well-being are developed.

Building the Foundations of a National Youth Placemaking Network

Both dialogues contributed to strengthening cooperation among organisations working at the intersection of youth engagement, sport, inclusion, and community development.

Participants expressed strong interest in organising follow-up meetings, developing youth-led placemaking initiatives in their local communities, and sharing project methodologies with municipalities and educational institutions. These steps represent an important move toward integrating youth perspectives into local development processes and public space design.

From Dialogue to Action

The National Youth Structured Dialogues demonstrated that when young people are given meaningful opportunities to share their experiences and ideas, they can offer valuable insights to improve community environments. By combining participatory methods, real-life community contexts, and cross-sector collaboration, the YPB project strengthened youth voice in Croatia and promoted inclusive approaches to placemaking.