Douzelage Youth
Where the youth of Europe work together to make their towns a better place and become better versions of themselves.
Slieve League – Donegal, Ireland
This photo was taken on a trip around the Donegal Castle and Slieve League, organized by Discover Bundoran and Study Abroad Ireland, when we visited our twin-town Bundoran for St. Patrick’s in 2022.
Gleniff Horseshoe – Sligo, Ireland
Photo taken on a trip around Bundoran and Sligo organized by Shane Smyth, when we visited our twin-town Bundoran for St. Patrick’s in 2022.
General Meeting in Škofja Loka, Slovenia – 2022
About Douz Youth
What is Douzelage?
Douzelage is a multi-town twinning organization consisting of 28 towns belonging to each EU member state and the UK. It was founded in 1991 with just 12 towns and has grown ever since. The aim of Douzelage is to create opportunity and friendship across Europe through economic, tourist, sporting, educational and cultural exchanges. There is one main event each year where delegates from all the Douzelage towns meet, divided up into three workshops: a general meeting, an education meeting, and a youth meeting. Other smaller events and sponsored projects take place throughout the year.
What is Douz Youth?
Douz Youth is the youth program of Douzelage, where young Europeans from every town come together every year to discuss exciting topics and network with each other to foster the European spirit and discover the cultural diversity of the European Union.
What do we do?
Once a year at the general meeting, we host a workshop for the youth delegates of Douzelage. At this, representatives share stories, experiences, and findings from their town on the assigned theme, forming the basis of our discussions with a view to learning from each other and working collaboratively to develop recommendations and solutions so that we can ensure the best for our future and the future of our towns and their people.
Aside from the workshops the youth have the opportunity to explore a new country and culture from a local perspective, while sightseeing, trying new foods, listening to traditional music, and learning traditional dance or games, etc. allowing us to form stronger connections across Europe. Douz Youth also presents opportunities for young people outside of the general meeting, throughout the year through visits, smaller projects, student exchanges, sporting, and music events, etc.
Our mission and goals
Douz Youth aims to offer the opportunity to discover the cultural diversity of the European Union and make young citizens aware that European values and cultural heritage constitute the foundation for a common future.
On the other hand, our focus is on networking, which we believe is really important for youngsters not to get stuck in the same place, and feel more comfortable exploring the world, deepening and intensifying the cooperation between municipalities and their citizens in a long-term perspective, developing more thematic activities.
Douzelage Youth
Where the youth of Europe work together to make their towns a better place and become
better versions of themselves.
About Douz Youth
What is Douzelage?
Douzelage is a multi-town twinning organization consisting of 28 towns belonging to each EU member state and the UK. It was founded in 1991 with just 12 towns and has grown ever since. The aim of Douzelage is to create opportunity and friendship across Europe through economic, tourist, sporting, educational and cultural exchanges. There is one main event each year where delegates from all the Douzelage towns meet, divided up into three workshops: a general meeting, an education meeting, and a youth meeting. Other smaller events and sponsored projects take place throughout the year.
What is Douz Youth?
Douz Youth is the youth program of The Douzelage, where young Europeans from every town come together every year to discuss exciting topics and network with each other to foster the European spirit and discover the cultural diversity of the European Union.
What do we do?
Once a year at the general meeting, we host a workshop for the youth delegates of Douzelage. At this, representatives share stories, experiences, and findings from their town on the assigned theme, forming the basis of our discussions with a view to learning from each other and working collaboratively to develop recommendations and solutions so that we can ensure the best for our futures and the futures of our towns and their people.
Aside from the workshops the youth have the opportunity to explore a new country and culture from a local perspective, while sightseeing, trying new foods, listening to traditional music, and learning traditional dance or games, etc. allowing us to form stronger connections across Europe. Douz Youth also presents opportunities for young people outside of the general meeting, throughout the year through visits, smaller projects, student exchanges, sporting, and music events, etc.
Our mission and goals
Douz Youth aims to offer the opportunity to discover the cultural diversity of the European Union and make young citizens aware that European values and cultural heritage constitute the foundation for a common future.
On the other hand, our focus is on networking, which we believe is really important for youngsters not to get stuck in the same place, and feel more comfortable exploring the world, deepening and intensifying the cooperation between municipalities and their citizens in a long-term perspective, developing more thematic activities.
Top Recent Sights & Events
Travel, Learn, Explore & Develop
Douz Youth is really something special! It empowers young people to be more active European Citizens through meeting other young people from across Europe, traveling to new places, learning new skills, and experiencing new cultures etc. Check out some of our latest events below:
Bundoran, Ireland
View photos from our youth members, and learn more about this event.
Škofja Loka, Slovenia
View photos from our youth members, and learn more about this event.
Kőszeg, Hungary
View photos from our youth members, and learn more about this event.
Bad Kötzting, Germany
View photos from our youth members, and learn more about this event.
What’s next?
Rovinj/Rovigno, Croatia
In 2023 we met in Rovinj, a city in Croatia, situated on the north Adriatic Sea, a spectacular place surrounded by water.
Sherborne, United Kingdom
In 2024 we met in Sherborne, a very beautiful and charming honey-coloured town in England full of history and heritage.
Preveza, Greece
In 2025, we are expected to meet in Preveza, a city in northwestern Greece, known for its beautiful beaches and a scene of great events.
What Our Youth Says
Our Blog
Free Press Under Pressure: A Beacon of Collaboration and Truth in Europe
Free Press Under Pressure: A Beacon of Collaboration and Truth in EuropeDate: November 2023In a world saturated with information, the ability to discern between factual news and disinformation has become an indispensable skill. Recognizing the significance of this...
Douzelage Youth Board Gathers in Altea to Shape the Future
Douzelage Youth Board Gathers in Altea to Shape the FutureDate: August 1, 2023The Douzelage Youth Board, a dynamic group of young individuals from various European towns, recently convened in Altea to strategize and discuss the future of the Douzelage youth and set...
The Preservation of Tradition and Cultural Heritage
The Preservation of Tradition and Cultural HeritageRovinj-Rovigno, Croatia - General MeetingSept 28 - Oct 1 (2023)About our partner town, Rovinj-Rovigno Rovinj-Rovigno is a charming coastal town located on the western coast of the Istrian peninsula in Croatia. It is...