During this session, we explored different ways to strengthen the involvement of young people within Partos. We discussed three possible scenarios, explored during the session in July, and looked at their potential strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks. The scenarios ranged from low-threshold opportunities for participation to more structural governance changes. The scenarios were not presented as fixed proposals, but as starting points for discussion.
Creating a youth network
The first idea was to create a youth network or platform where young people and youth-led organisations and initiatives can come together to connect, exchange ideas and experiences, and collaborate. One idea was to let Partos host quarterly events, combining a session on a specific topic with time for a borrel. Since young people are a diverse group, each session could focus on a different theme or engage with a different group of young people. The platform could also provide a space to bring together the different youth-focused initiatives that Partos members are already working on, creating opportunities to share lessons learned.
Participants responded positively to the idea of a network that feels accessible, relatable, and organic, without creating too much pressure. They emphasised the importance of creating a space where people can listen and learn from each other. A network could also make it easier to involve a broad and diverse group of young people, including those who are not already connected to Partos or the international cooperation sector, if you use appropriate outreach strategies. Participants highlighted the importance of reaching “unusual suspects” and of asking young people themselves what topics and formats they would like to engage with during events.
At the same time, an important risk was identified. A youth network on its own may not lead to meaningful changes within Partos or its governance structures. While it would create opportunities for young people to participate in events and conversations, there is a risk that this remains separate from where decisions are made. To make the network more meaningful, participants suggested adding a stronger link to Partos and the board.
A youth council or youth ambassadors
The second scenario explored the idea of a youth council or group of youth ambassadors who could advise Partos and help ensure that the organisation is really talking to young people.
Participants saw value in bringing young people together to brainstorm, exchange experiences and strengthen each other. There was also interest in connecting youth councils or youth representatives from different Partos member organisations, creating opportunities for exchange. At the same time, participants emphasised that they did not want to create another youth council where young people are mainly asked to provide advice without a clear feedback loop on how their input is used or what comes from it.
This discussion led to the idea of a fellowship-like structure. Rather than creating a formal youth council, a small group of young people could take part in a programme that combines capacity building and giving advice. For example, a number of Partos members could participate each year and act as mentors, creating opportunities for young people to learn from experienced organisations while also learning from each other. At the same time, Partos and its members would benefit from the perspectives, experiences and advice of the young participants. In this way, the relationship would be reciprocal, with young people not only being asked to provide input but also gain opportunities to develop.
Young people on the Partos board
The third scenario explored having young people represented directly on the Partos board and potentially pairing them with more experienced board members to create opportunities for mutual learning and shared decision-making. A fellowship structure was also discussed.
This raised important questions around representation, recruitment, and the purpose of youth representation. Participants emphasised that meaningful youth representation would benefit from having more than one young person on the board and from ensuring continuity over time. Rather than frequently rotating individual young representatives, one idea was to have several young people join the board for a number of years before a new group takes over. This would allow young board members to build experience, contribute more meaningfully, and develop a better understanding of the organisation and its governance. Participants also highlighted the importance of a transparent recruitment and selection process, with careful attention to who is represented and how diversity and inclusion are taken into account. Should the young people come from the Netherlands, international partners or both? This also raised a broader question about the purpose of youth representation: is the aim to bring in specific expertise and perspectives, to increase diversity within the board, or to achieve both?
At the same time, participants noted that this scenario would only work in combination with some form of scenario 2 (e.g. a youth council or youth ambassador structure), as the two could reinforce each other. There were also concerns about the level of commitment required for board membership, the capacity needed from Partos to support this, and whether there would be sufficient interest among young people to sustain such a model.
Towards a combination of approaches
A key insight from the discussion was that the three scenarios do not necessarily have to be seen as separate options, as some may need each other to work, and that elements of all three could be combined to create a more comprehensive approach to youth participation within Partos. A youth network could provide an accessible space for connection and exchange, while a fellowship-like structure could create opportunities for learning and advice, and representation at board level could create a more direct link to decision-making and governance. Together, these different forms of engagement could help create a more continuous role for young people across different levels of the organisation.
What’s next?
The discussion helped identify several opportunities and questions that can be explored further as Partos continues to think about what meaningful youth participation could look like in practice. We will continue this conversation with a small group of young people who are motivated to stay involved in developing youth engagement within Partos.
More sessions will follow, creating space to further develop ideas, explore what meaningful youth participation could look like in practice, and work towards an advice that is inclusive, sustainable and genuinely valuable for young people as well as for Partos.