Y-REC: Regenerating Urban Spaces to Promote Youth and Community Well-being

How can we transform urban spaces into places that support young people's well-being, participation and personal growth?

Parks, squares, cultural venues and community spaces play an essential role in the lives of young people. They create opportunities for social interaction, foster a sense of belonging and encourage active participation in community life. When these spaces are neglected, inaccessible or lack opportunities for interaction, they can limit young people's ability to connect, express themselves and participate in society.

This is the starting point of Y-REC – Youth for Resilient Communities, a European project that connects young people's mental well-being with urban regeneration and environmental sustainability, encouraging younger generations to take an active role in caring for and transforming their local environments.

To explore these issues and encourage new forms of collaboration with the education sector, Y-REC invites teachers, educators and other education professionals to join its workshop on 21 October 2026, as part of EU School 2026 in Palermo.

The workshop will provide an opportunity to discover the project, exchange experiences and contribute to a participatory mapping of urban spaces, educational needs and opportunities to promote well-being and active citizenship.

Join the Y-REC workshop on 21 October in Palermo, as part of EU School 2026, and help imagine more inclusive, sustainable cities that respond to the needs of younger generations.

Event details

Agenda

The workshop will invite participants to take part in a collaborative process of discussion, exploration and idea development.

  • Discover Y-REC: Learn about the project's objectives, activities and resources for promoting youth well-being and community resilience.
  • Share your experiences: Discuss how young people experience, use and perceive the spaces around them.
  • Map needs and opportunities: Identify local challenges, existing resources and educational needs related to urban living, social interaction and civic participation.
  • Imagine new spaces: Contribute ideas for more welcoming, sustainable urban environments that foster well-being and active citizenship.

Why participate

The quality of the spaces we inhabit influences our relationships, opportunities for participation and sense of belonging. Regenerating a place is therefore not just about improving its physical environment: it is also about creating new opportunities for connection, learning and collective growth.

This workshop is designed for people working in education who want to exchange ideas and practices, learn from different experiences and help identify the needs and opportunities that can shape their local communities.

About Y-REC

Y-REC – Youth for Resilient Communities s a European project that promotes young people's mental well-being through urban regeneration, environmental sustainability and active participation.

Partners

Y-REC brings together organisations from seven European countries:

For further information