P2P Project Results and Lessons Learned

During the P2P project, several important results were developed to support youth participation in sport governance and democratic processes. These include research and a manual on youth participation through sport, a practical guide for the development of Sport Youth Councils, member selection guidelines, strategies and action plans, the Youth Leadership Program, international and local trainings, as well as regular meetings of young people within Sport Youth Councils and Sport Youth Boards.

Together, these results form a complete model for involving young people in sport organisations, clubs, associations and federations. The project provided both knowledge and practical tools that can be used by youth organisations, sport structures, trainers, youth workers and young leaders who want to create more meaningful opportunities for young people to participate.

One of the main lessons learned through P2P is that young people are ready and willing to participate when they are given a real opportunity, a clear structure and proper support. Sport proved to be a powerful entry point for youth engagement because it already brings young people together, creates a sense of belonging and encourages teamwork, responsibility and cooperation.

At the same time, the project showed that it is not enough for young people to be only participants in activities. They should also be included in planning, decision-making and evaluation. When young people are trusted and supported, they can develop valuable ideas, propose realistic solutions and contribute to positive changes in sport organisations and local communities.

Another important value of the P2P project is the possibility to transfer the developed model to other contexts. The approach is flexible enough to be adapted to different sports, local realities and organisational capacities. It can be especially useful for smaller clubs and local communities that want to involve young people more actively but do not yet have a clear structure for doing so.

By combining Sport Youth Councils, Sport Youth Boards and leadership training, P2P offers a model that can support youth participation not only during the project, but also after its official end. The developed tools, guides and training programs can help other organisations start this process in a practical and realistic way.

P2P is more than a project. It is a call to recognise young people as important actors in sport and community life. Through sport, learning, cooperation and structured participation, young people can develop skills, express their needs and contribute to more open, democratic and inclusive sport organisations.

The project has shown that sport can be a powerful tool for participation, leadership and social change. When young people are given the chance to participate meaningfully, they can become active contributors to their clubs, organisations and communities. The results of P2P show that structured youth participation in sport is possible when organisations are willing to create space, provide support and listen to young people.