This year’s Lab worked with two tracks. Track 1 included youth aged 18-23 who have already taken part in previous programs and now support others. Track 2 included younger participants aged 14-17 who are only starting their civic engagement journey. During the Lab, both tracks worked together in mixed project teams, actively learning from each other.
Throughout the week, participants went step by step through the full cycle of project development. They began by exploring the issues they see around them and learning to identify root causes rather than only visible symptoms. With tools like the problem tree, they practiced breaking complex problems into smaller, manageable parts. They then learned how to turn these findings into a clear and realistic project goal, followed by concrete tasks and a simple timeline.
A core part of the Lab focused on resources and team structure. Participants mapped what they already have in their communities, how to plan a basic budget, how to divide roles inside the group, and how to keep a project moving even when funding is limited. Mentors and Track 1 participants supported the teams throughout the process, helping them sharpen their ideas, test their assumptions, and stay confident when challenges came up. The educational program was combined with art and craft spaces, discussions, and evening gatherings.
By the end of the Lab, teams had developed 14 youth initiatives, each with a defined problem, goal, timeline, and clear next steps for implementation. During the final project fair, participants presented their ideas, received feedback from peers and mentors, and were awarded mini grants for implementing their initiatives after the camp.
For many, the week was not only about creating a project. It was also about learning how to communicate in a group, understanding their own strengths, becoming more confident in expressing ideas, and seeing that youth-led initiatives can start small and still make a difference.
