Let’s go Lemesos! Future Generations Lab on the road

The Future Generations Lab at Leuven Town Hall is a project run by the City of Leuven as part of LOV2030 and brings young people together to discuss major social issues.

This year, democracy takes centre stage: what does that concept actually mean to young people? And to their peers in a completely different corner of Europe? To find out, a group of young people from Leuven travelled to Limassol in Cyprus in April 2026, where young people with their own perspectives but a shared curiosity are working on similar projects.

Thanks to Erasmus+ Youth, this exchange became a reality. The group attended workshops, delved into the city archives and had conversations that will be remembered for a long time to come. And the story isn’t over yet: Leuven is expecting a return visit soon. What did our Future Generation bring back from the island? Istar, Jesse, Jonas, Nana and Nina look back on their trip.

Read more below the photo.

What was the purpose of your visit to Limassol in Cyprus?

Nana: ‘As part of our involvement with the Future Generation Lab, we wanted to engage with young people from Limassol. They too have set up a Future Generations Lab focusing on democracy. We looked at and discussed the projects they’ve been working on over the past period and took part in their showcase event.’

What did you do there?

Nina: ‘We attended workshops on democracy and activism: how do you put your goals into practice?’

Jonas: ‘The exchange and discussions with the local team and the young people were very interesting. They told us about the specific problems and developments in their city.’

What was the most interesting part of the visit?

Istar: "The visit to the city archives was really fascinating. It was immediately striking how differently things work there compared to here. Here, the city archives mainly consist of old documents, whereas in Cyprus they also keep all sorts of objects and items that tell a story about the city. Mimis, the chief archivist, was a fascinating person with a strong vision. For example, he wasn’t a fan of states, but he was a fan of cities and local democracy.‘

What did you learn from working with young people from another country?

Jesse: ’The Future Generation from Limassol are very creative young people, with strong ideas of their own and the drive to see their project through to a successful conclusion."

Nana: ‘They were also very enterprising: they worked on several projects at once, often alongside their studies.’

Did you discover many similarities or major differences with the young people from Lemesos?

Istar: ‘The biggest difference is that they are each working on their own project, whereas we are all working together towards the same goal: a podcast about democracy.’

Nina: ‘But despite the fact that they each had their own goal, it was a close-knit group.’

Jonas: ‘There was less diversity in the group than in ours. And their interpretation of democracy was very broad; almost every project was about public space, which is a real issue in Lemesos. They have hardly any squares or places where people can gather, and little space for young people to claim.’

Which moment really stuck with you?

Jesse: ‘The conversations with Eleana from the Lemesos2030 team were really fascinating. I learnt a great deal from them.’

Nina: ‘The workshop on democracy was also very well organised. We had to step out of our comfort zone a bit, but I got a lot out of it.’

Jonas: "I’ll never forget the chance encounter with a group of Indians celebrating the 135th anniversary of Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. Ambedkar is the man who, in the 1940s, laid the foundations for the Indian constitution, which tackled discrimination, established freedom of religion and improved the position of women. I don’t know of any other example in Europe where the constitution is celebrated. And it was also perfectly ‘on topic’ for our exchange.”

Istar: “For me, it’s the city archives that stand out, and archivist Mimis, who showed us around with such enthusiasm.”

Why do you think these kinds of international exchanges are important?

Nina: ‘It’s important to know how young people in other places deal with social issues, to see both the similarities and the differences.’

Would you recommend others to take part in similar programmes?

Unanimously: ‘Absolutely!’

Has this experience changed your view of Europe?

Jesse: ‘Definitely. You often think that we all live in much the same way within Europe, but you do notice differences and realise that we’re doing well here in many respects. I’ve come away with a more positive image of Belgium.’

You’re expecting a return visit from Lemesos to Leuven soon. What will you definitely show the group?

Nana: “I want to show them everything! They have almost no public transport in Lemesos, so our self-driving minibus is definitely going to be an experience.”

Istar: ‘I’d love to show them our city archives, so they can see the difference compared to how things are in Lemesos. But also places like the Stella, Hall 5, Park Abbey…’

Jonas: ‘Our parks and public spaces are a must-see! They’ll be really surprised by how much greenery and space we have all over the city.’