Tuesday 17th March, Maribor, Slovenia
At the 3rd meeting of the Maribor Youth Consultative Body, held within the OUT4INGOV project, young people developed concrete proposals for increased youth participation in local decision-making processes.
The central part of the meeting was a presentation of the participatory budget of the City Municipality of Maribor for 2027–2028, delivered by Marja Guček, Director of the Maribor Youth Cultural Centre. The presentation sparked a discussion on how the participatory budget could become more accessible and relevant to young people.
Key message from the youth: “Young people in Maribor are not only permanent residents – many study, work, or live here temporarily. These young people also help shape the city and must have the opportunity to participate in decisions about its development.”
Participants particularly highlighted the potential of involving international students and other young people from abroad, who can contribute new ideas and approaches based on their experiences.
The youth proposed broader inclusion of those temporarily residing in Maribor and greater accessibility and visibility of the participatory budget for young people. They identified key areas where young people can contribute most, including networking, developing youth services, and organizing events.
Such an approach would allow for a wider range of ideas, increased participation, and better addressing of the actual needs of young people in the city. The Maribor Youth Consultative Body thus remains an important space for dialogue between youth and decision-makers, as well as a generator of concrete proposals for city development.
The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, 8th April, 2026.