Youth Participation
Classification of Youth Participation Mechanisms Based on Roger Hart's Ladder of Participation
January 2025 – December 2026
About the mapping of youth participation
The current mapping of youth participation follows Roger Hart’s Ladder for Youth Participation which is applied to youth engagement in projects, policymaking, or community initiatives. The ladder illustrates different levels of youth involvement, from tokenism to shared decision-making between young people and adults.
The present distribution is based on the assessment of the participation mechanims as per the information available in the respective source and, as such, it can differ according to the information available at a given moment and be subject to individual interpretations.
Likewise, it is not the objective of the model to imply that the “top” level is always the most desirable. Depending on the context, such as specific objectives, available time and resources, or degree of interest, it may be more suitable to take part in a consultative role or as a representative in equal footing with decision-makers.
As youth participation mechanisms are constantly evolving, this mapping will be continuously updated. Interested parties are welcome to submit their suggestions and/or youth participation mechanims to ENGSO Youth Managing Director, Tiago Guilherme ([email protected]).
Level
8
JOINT DECISION MAKING
Advisory Council on Youth (CoE)
CoE
Youth NGO representatives with decision-making influence
ENGSO Youth Committee & Young Delegates
Europe
Elected or selected representatives involved in strategy, working groups and implementation
Level
7
Youth-initiated and Directed
Youth Committee
Germany
Own budget, own decisions, elected roles, often voting rights on board
IOC Young Leaders
International
Selected through multi-step application, implement own social sport projects
Commonwealth Youth Council
Commonwealth
Elected executive body by youth assemblies, structures across regions
Nordic Youth Council (UNR)
Nordic countries
Youth political body with direct decision-making
National Federation of Youth Associations
Portugal
Elected youth association representatives with political influence
Panathlon Junior Club Trieste
Italy
Local club created bottom-up, youth board elected by members
German Sports Youth (dsj)
Germany
National youth board with elected representatives, real co-decision-making
Level
6
Adult-initiated, Shared Decisions with Youth
Youth Delegate in Sports Club
Germany
Youth spokespersons represent youth interests within the club
State-level Sports Youth
Germany
Democratically elected youth structures within state sports federations
EUSA Student Commission
European
Nominated and appointed students, participate in advisory and representation at executive level
Eurohockey Youth Leadership Committee
Europe
Nominated by national associations, involved in leadership and programme support
Level
5
Consulted and Informed
European Solidarity Corps (ESC)
European Union
Volunteering in civil society projects, often predefined
IOC Young Olympic Ambassadors
International
Selected via NOC, attend training and implement outreach projects
Youth Sport Trust – Youth Board
UK
Appointed through open call, advisory and governance involvement
Youth Sport Trust – Young Ambassadors
Wales
Young leaders from schools/regions, shape programme and lead events
Youth Consultative Bodies
Portugal
Advisory councils composed of youth reps and organizations
FISU Student Committee
International
Nominated students participate in policy shaping and representation
Level
4
Assigned but Informed
UNESCO Fit for Life Accelerator
International
Youth selected to receive training, implement community projects, participate in global symposium
GSW Paris – Young Sports Makers
International
Selected young people speak on panels, attend workshops and events
FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy
International
Students attend training and implement projects as ambassadors
Projects or ideas are initiated by young people, who invite the adults to take part in the
decision-making process as partners.
Projects or ideas are initiated and directed by young people; the adults might be invited to provide necessary support, but a project can be carried out without their intervention.
Projects are initiated by adults but young people are invited to share the decision-making power and responsibilities as equal partners.
Projects are initiated and run by adults, but young people provide advice and suggestions and are informed as to how these suggestions contribute to the final decisions or results.
Projects are initiated and run by adults; young people are invited to take some specific roles or tasks within the project, but they are aware of what influence they have in reality.
Young people are given some roles within projects but they have no real influence on any decisions. There is a false appearance created (on purpose or unintentionally) that young people participate, when in fact they do not have any choice about what is being done and how.
Young people are needed in the project to represent youth as an underprivileged group. They have no meaningful role (except from being present) and, as with decorations, they are put in a visible position within a project or organisation, so that they can be easy for outsiders to spot.
At this level, adults use young people to support a cause—as tokens—without allowing them real understanding or influence over decisions. Their involvement is not genuine participation, but rather a way to create the appearance of youth involvement.
The last three levels of the youth participation ladder cannot be considered as youth participation. As such, they are not included in the present mapping.