The official kick-off of the Sound of Diversity Network of Towns
The official kick-off of the Sound of Diversity Network of Towns was marked through the event “Launching Digital Citizenship: The Óbidos Gaming Village Experience” held on 9-11 May 2025. This meeting was hosted in Óbidos, a town increasingly recognised for its innovative use of digital culture, particularly gaming, as a vehicle for civic participation and youth engagement. The event was organised in close cooperation with the Óbidos Gaming Village, a dynamic hub dedicated to interactive storytelling, game-based learning, and digital creativity.
The event brought together municipal practitioners, local activists, and representatives from partner towns across Europe. All together, the participants represented 14 EU countries. The primary objective was to create a shared space for the exchange of models and strategies aimed at promoting diversity, combating discrimination, and enhancing minority participation at the local level. This was achieved through cultural, social, and inclusion-based initiatives that reflect and reinforce European democratic values.
“Launching Digital Citizenship: The Óbidos Gaming Village Experience” contributed to the EU’s priority area of fostering citizens’ understanding and involvement in the EU decision-making process, aligning closely with EU policies, priorities, and values. Specifically, it was linked to the 2025 European Year of Digital Citizenship Education and thematic discussions around The Future of Youth Policy in the EU.
The event featured at least five structured working sessions, using a variety of participatory and creative formats designed to support knowledge exchange and local capacity building. Among these:
• Sound of Diversity Stage with a panel discussion on local policy practices
• Lightning talks showcasing innovative approaches from partner towns
• Artistic and creative performances reflecting diverse cultural identities
• Exchange of good practices: participants initiated sharing local solutions and approaches to inclusion and (minority) participation
• Reflection groups and internal workshops: closed sessions facilitated peer learning, strategy development, and transnational networking among municipal stakeholders
#EuropeanUnion #EUproject #YouthPolicies #SoundofDiversity #activeyouth
“Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.”
