The Future Council U24 was a milestone: Young people were randomly selected to work together across language regions, backgrounds and education levels to address an urgent societal issue – mental health. Over three weekends in autumn 2023, they engaged in intensive discussion and developed 18 concrete recommendations for politics, administration and civil society. The innovative format was scientifically supported, independently facilitated and implemented in multiple languages – a prototype for an expanded democracy.
The project formally concluded in mid-2024. The results and experiences were critically reviewed and evaluated in a comprehensive learning publication. This yielded important insights into representation, the role of knowledge and emotions, and the effectiveness of participation. Two follow-up projects emerged from this foundation: Under the title “LOS jetzt,” former participants (alumni) are committed to carrying the format forward at the local or regional level. At the same time, the “Future Council Center” was founded by former council members with the goal of turning the recommendations into reality.
The Future Council U24 was only made possible through broad support: The Swiss UNESCO Commission and the Swiss Society for the Common Good (SSCG) jointly took on the sponsorship. The Mercator Foundation Switzerland enabled a professional, independent process through its main funding. The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR accompanied the project as a media partner and contributed to its visibility in public discourse. The project also received support from many other experts, organizations and advisory groups. It is an example of what becomes possible when civil society, media, academia and institutions explore new paths together.
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