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From Voting to Participation: How Young People Can Shape Their Communities

15 Oct 2026

An interview with Alin Gramescu, INTERFACED Fellow and founder of Station Europe

Democratic participation goes beyond casting a vote. For Alin Gramescu, INTERFACED Fellow and social entrepreneur, it means creating opportunities for citizens, especially young people, to influence the decisions that affect their lives.

Through his work with communities, Gramescu explores how libraries, schools and digital spaces can become places where citizens engage with public life and connect with decision-makers.

Three key insights from the conversation

• Start with what matters to people. In one school project, young people chose to create a wildlife garden. By engaging with their local municipality, they helped turn their idea into a concrete investment.
• Create spaces for participation. Libraries, educational institutions and online platforms can help citizens move from discussing issues to shaping solutions.
• Make participation meaningful. The challenge is not simply to invite people to contribute, but to ensure their input can reach decision-makers and influence outcomes.

The key issue is making sure that people understand the value of the process. Alin Gramescu