On February 26th, we will engage in a dialogue about how we can balance youth participation with the challenges of today’s society. Register now for the inspiring colloquium “Youth Participation in Balance.”

Youth participation is ubiquitous these days: in municipal policy, education, and research. But what are the real benefits? When does it empower young people to make their voices heard—and when is it in their best interest for others to take action? How do we ensure that young people are not overburdened, and where is the line between participating in discussions and actually participating in decision-making?

During this colloquium, we will explore these questions from different perspectives: from academia and from organizations that work with young people daily. We will conclude the afternoon with an inspiring call to action: how do we make youth participation truly meaningful?

The event will be held in Dutch.

The programme

The afternoon will be chaired by Karim Amghar, author of ‘Dat begrijp jij toch niet’.

Speakers

		Prof. dr. Catrin Finkenauer Catrin Finkenauer works at Utrecht University as a Professor of Social Sciences, Social Sciences, and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences. Professor Finkenauer’s research combines social, clinical, experimental, biological, and developmental research and focuses on the costs and benefits of relationships for the health and well-being of young people. Her research focuses on interpersonal dynamics and examines how partners influence each other. She is interested in a wide range of relationships: parent-child relationships, intimate relationships, and friendships. Finkenauer is also the program director of the Dynamics of Youth research theme at Utrecht University.
		Lysanne te Brinke Lysanne te Brinke is a University Lecturer at the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioral Sciences of Erasmus University Rotterdam and Lead of the Healthy Start Ambition “Youth Engagement and Participation.” Her research focuses on understanding how adolescents can contribute to societal challenges. Young people growing up in the current decade face various societal challenges, such as increasing social inequalities, performance pressure, and climate change. In her research, Lysanne focuses on the need for adolescents to contribute to society as “agents of change.” By actively involving young people in policy and research, they can be empowered to shape a better future for themselves and future generations. Lysanne is also co-founder of the YoungXperts platform for youth participation, in which young people themselves, rather than scientists, are seen as the true experts in mental health.
		Karim Amghar Karim Amghar is the author of the bestseller “Maar dat begrijp jij toch niet,” which criticizes the undervaluation of vocational education and emphasizes its indispensable importance for our society. Karim is also a Dutch writer for Trouw and NRC, among others, author of the books “Van Radicaal Naar Amicaal” and “HOOR MIJ ZIE MIJ” (Listen to Me, See Me), and a program maker, television presenter, education professional, trainer, and teacher of Moroccan descent. He created a six-part series for HUMAN about mental health in different cultures, a series for NTR about a special primary school in Maastricht, and he presented the program “Villa Ramadan” on NPO2.

What can you expect?

• Inspiring opening remarks by Catrin Finkenauer.
• Two Pecha Kucha presentations featuring best practices from the Healthy Start Ambition Youth Participation, presented by Judith van de Wetering and Charlotte van Tuijl.
• Table discussions where participants follow their own route through various discussion points. Each table explores one facet of meaningful youth participation. By changing route points, various insights emerge.
• An in-depth reflection discussion with Lysanne te Brinke to bring together perspectives.
• Our information market & product showcase:
  • Meet experts: discover innovative products and services that relate to the theme of youth participation.
  • Interactive demonstrations: experience the latest solutions and ask your questions directly to the providers.
  • Networking opportunities: combine knowledge sharing with informal drinks and expand your network.

Do you have a project, product, service, or idea you’d like to share? We offer the opportunity to reserve a spot at the information market. Please indicate this in the registration form below.

Location and Accessibility

The colloquium will take place at Baanhof in Rotterdam (Baan 159, Rotterdam).

Paid parking is available in the area surrounding the venue or at a ParkBee parking lot (Baan 74).

It is a five-minute walk from Leuvenhaven station (trams 3 and 5, metro D and E).

Healthy Start Colloquium Series

This colloquium is linked to our ambitious project “Youth Participation for the Society of the Future” and is part of the Healthy Start colloquia series. Each event in the series is organized by one of the Healthy Start ambition teams and showcases the latest developments and breakthroughs in our field.

Registration Form

Are you excited and eager to attend our wonderful colloquium? Register below before January 15, 2026!