On the 11th September 2025, the Cembra Valley kicked off its first online youth meeting as part of the OUT4INGOV project. Thirteen young people, aged 16–35, joined in—four from the valley itself, and nine dialing in from Austria, Switzerland, France, and Germany.
The session began with icebreakers and word games, sparking conversations about identity, belonging, and the choice between staying or leaving the valley. What followed was a heartfelt exchange: those who remained highlighted the importance of community and civic engagement, while those abroad admitted that returning home seemed unlikely, despite their strong emotional ties.
At the heart of the discussion was one big question: what should a local youth network look like?
Some key ideas emerged:
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Opportunities & growth – a space for advice, training, and knowledge exchange, possibly even consultancy connected to local needs.
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Bringing skills home – using international experience to strengthen local policies and initiatives.
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Concrete problem-solving – providing fast, practical answers while injecting fresh perspectives.
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Community spirit – fostering creativity, innovative projects, and a stronger social fabric.
One challenge was also clear: how to connect highly specialized skills developed abroad with the realities of a small mountain valley. Therefore, rather than focusing strictly on skills, the group seems to converge—at least for now—on a perspective of civic commitment. This is seen as a way to involve even those who, like many participants, have built their growth and future elsewhere but still feel tied to their homeland—not only through nostalgia and memory, but also through a sense of commitment and responsibility.
The second meeting, which will take place between the end of September and the beginning of October, will therefore focus on skills. Together, we will try to understand whether these skills are only professional ones, and we will also identify which stakeholders — both public and private — we can involve to activate a dynamic and virtuous flow of information, both into and out of the valley.