Study Visit to Copenhagen

Study Visit to Copenhagen: Exploring Best Practices in Youth Participation and Civic Engagement

From April 20 to 24, 2026, Artur Ghazaryan, President of the Youth Cooperation Center of Dilijan NGO (YCCD), participated in an international study visit to Copenhagen, Denmark. The visit brought together representatives from Eastern Partnership countries with the aim of exploring advanced approaches to youth participation, civic engagement, and democratic inclusion.

The Study Visit was organized within the ‘EU4Youth: Youth Engagement and Empowerment’ (EU4Y) programme, co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) as part of the BMZ project ‘Strengthening Civil Society in the Eastern Partnership’.

Among the delegation from Armenia in the visit were Laura Poghosyan, President of AlteraLab NGO, and Lusine Karapetyan, Board Member of the Union of Youth Organizations NGO.

Learning from the Danish Experience

The programme offered a comprehensive insight into the Danish model of youth engagement, widely recognized for its strong institutional support, participatory culture, and effective collaboration between civil society and public authorities.

Participants had the opportunity to engage with a range of leading organizations and institutions, including:

• The Danish Youth Council (DUF) – a national umbrella organization representing more than 70 youth organizations and actively advocating for youth interests;
• Youth Democracy House (Ungdommens Demokratihus) – an innovative civic space fostering youth dialogue, debate, and participation;
• New Democracy Fund – supporting democratic resilience and civil society development in Eastern Neighbourhood countries;
• SILBA – Initiative for Dialogue and Democracy – promoting civic engagement and intercultural dialogue through youth-led initiatives;
• Crossing Borders NGO and the National Union of Students in Denmark, among others.

These visits were complemented by meetings with the Youth Red Cross, the Copenhagen Youth Council, and the Danish Network of Local Youth Councils, offering a multi-level perspective on how youth participation is embedded in both national and local governance systems.

Key Takeaways and Insights

One of the most valuable aspects of the study visit was the opportunity to observe how youth participation is not treated as a separate activity, but rather as an integral part of democratic governance and community development.

Key insights included:

• The importance of structured platforms that enable continuous dialogue between young people and decision-makers;
• The role of youth councils and networks in representing youth interests at municipal and national levels;
• The effectiveness of open civic spaces that encourage participation, creativity, and youth-led initiatives;
• The value of volunteering and peer-to-peer engagement in strengthening social cohesion and inclusion.

The Danish experience demonstrates that meaningful youth participation requires not only active young people, but also supportive systems, trust-based relationships, and long-term investment in youth structures.

Relevance for YCCD and Local Communities

For the Youth Cooperation Center of Dilijan NGO, the study visit provided both inspiration and practical approaches that can be adapted to the Armenian context. Strengthening youth participation remains a core priority of YCCD’s mission, particularly in regional and rural communities where opportunities for civic engagement are often limited.

The insights gained during the visit will contribute to:

• Enhancing the work of the DUCO Youth Center as a platform for youth engagement;
• Designing more inclusive and participatory programmes for young people;
• Strengthening cooperation with local authorities and stakeholders;
• Promoting active citizenship and youth-led initiatives in Dilijan and beyond.