City-to-City Exchange – Exploring and Learning from Youth Centres and Youth Policies in Milan, Braga and Barcelona

The study visit to Braga took place between 15 and 17 December 2025 and proved to be a key moment for learning, reflection, and exchange among European cities.

Over the course of three days, municipal representatives, youth professionals, youth organisations, and European partners explored Braga’s youth policy ecosystem, with a particular focus on non-formal education, youth participation, social innovation, and coordination between local, national, and European levels.

Day 1 – Youth Policies and Multilevel Governance

The first day took place at the Braga Youth Centre, beginning with a welcome session and a presentation of the city of Braga and its main urban challenges. This was followed by a guided visit to the Youth Centre, focusing on its programme, its alignment with municipal and national youth policies, and the process of obtaining the Council of Europe Quality Label for Youth Centres.

In the afternoon, a World Café on Youth Policies brought together representatives from IPDJ, the Municipality of Braga, and the Portuguese Youth Council (CNJ), fostering dialogue between different levels of governance and institutional perspectives. The day concluded with a joint reflection session on key learnings and emerging challenges.

Day 2 – Youth, Innovation, and Local Good Practices

The second day was dedicated to direct contact with different dimensions of Braga’s youth ecosystem. The morning included a visit to the University of Minho, with meetings with ESN and AAUM, highlighting models of student participation, integration support, and youth associations.

This was followed by visits to Gnration, Youth Store, and Startup Braga, showcasing the connection between creativity, youth policies, and technological entrepreneurship.

In the afternoon, the focus was on the session “Good Practices of Youth Programmes in Braga”, during which Juventude Cruz Vermelha, Synergia, and the local Parretas Team Association presented projects related to non-formal education, social inclusion, and youth participation. The day ended with the Braga After Dark initiative, combining culture, participation, and exploration of the city.

Day 3 – Municipal Strategy and Social Impact

The final day included an institutional visit to the Municipality of Braga, providing direct contact with municipal representatives and a strategic overview of the city’s priorities in the field of youth.

A visit to the Human Power Hub allowed participants to learn about incubation and acceleration models for social impact projects focused on inclusion, employability, and community innovation. The study visit concluded with a final session for sharing learnings and reflections at the Braga Youth Centre.

The visit to Braga thus contributed to strengthening cooperation between European cities in the field of youth policies and to deepening the role of youth centres as strategic spaces for participation, non-formal education, and social innovation.