SAYP 2026: Georgian and Swedish Stakeholders Meet for a Roundtable in Tbilisi, Georgia

To mark the end of the 2026 Swedish Institute Academy for Young Professionals (SAYP) programme
«Inclusive Leadership and Youth Work in the Eastern Partnership», a roundtable will take place on September 24 in Tbilisi, Georgia. The event will bring together young people, youth work practitioners, SAYP alumni, and representatives from Swedish and Georgian institutions to discuss how meaningful youth participation and inclusion can be strengthened in Georgia. Erik Malmberg, First Secretary and Head of Political Affairs and Sweden Promotion at the Embassy of Sweden in Georgia, will also participate in the roundtable.

Building on the experiences of the 2026 SAYP programme implemented by Fryshuset and Armenian Progressive Youth, the event will create a space for dialogue around the challenges, opportunities, and practices shaping inclusive youth work today. Participants will highlight local perspectives, share experiences from practice, and explore opportunities for continued exchange and cooperation between Georgia, Sweden, and the wider Eastern Partnership region.

Participants will reflect on how different actors can contribute to stronger and more inclusive youth work, with particular attention to groups of young people facing the greatest barriers to participation. They will share and learn from existing practices, discuss the role that organizations and youth workers can play in increasing opportunities for young people, identify new approaches to support youth participation, and explore opportunities for continued engagement and cooperation.

The event is co-hosted by the University of Georgia’s Youth Work and Development Centre. Funded by the Swedish Institute.

SAYP programme «Inclusive Leadership and Youth Work in the Eastern Partnership» is offered by Fryshuset, in partnership with Armenian Progressive Youth (APY), with the support of the Swedish Institute (SI) for participants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.

The programme is designed to strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries to develop and implement innovative solutions to youth inclusion. It fosters cross-border collaboration, supporting EU integration efforts and democratic resilience in the EaP region.

Participants highlight the programme’s strong combination of theory, practical group work, case studies, peer learning, and networking opportunities. They reported gaining concrete tools for inclusive leadership and youth participation, while structured reflection and exchanges with peers from different countries were particularly valuable.

One participant described the experience by saying:

“SAYP has been a valuable learning experience that combined professional development with meaningful peer exchange. I especially appreciated the openness of the facilitators and participants, the practical focus of the sessions, and the opportunity to build connections across the region.”