How Young People Envision the Future of Lusatia: Insights from RFLL Workshops 1 and 2.

How can young people shape the sustainability transition of their region? What do they value most in their daily environment—and what worries them about the future? 

These were central questions explored in the first Regional Futures Literacy Labs (RFLLs) held in Lusatia, facilitated by BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg and Humaju – Humanistisches Jugendwerk Cottbus. 

In Lusatia, we did things a little differently. Due to the scheduling of participants and a more action-intensive approach, RFLL workshops 1 and 2 were combined in one day of in-depth collaboration. Rather than separating the two workshops, participants moved seamlessly between reflecting on their daily experiences and imagining what Lusatia might look like in the years to come. This created a grounded and honest conversation about what really matters to residents. 

Everyday sustainability and local transitions 

The starting point for the combined workshop was a set of sustainability themes pre-determined by the team. These ranged from countryside living and polycentric settlement patterns to youth leisure centres, new neighbourhoods, public spaces, mobility, and green areas. 

A short quiz helped spark conversation, and participants quickly highlighted the themes most visible in their daily lives: 

• closing local shops and the rise of delivery services, 

• mobility constraints—especially unreliable or slow public transport, 

• lack of alternative mobility options in rural areas, 

• difficulties accessing childcare, youth work, or social services, 

• new anchor projects such as the train station and university developments, 

• concerns about how regional resources and structural-change funds are being used. 

  
  

Mobility, affordability, access to services, and the liveability of neighbourhoods consistently reappeared as cross-cutting concerns. 

How these changes are experienced 

Participants linked these themes not only to infrastructure but to deeper issues of belonging, identity, and future prospects. Many young people expressed: 

• dependence on private mobility to access education and jobs, 

• worries about rising prices and housing shortages, 

• a desire to stay rooted in their communities while keeping access to opportunities, 

• concern about ageing populations and the loss of social facilities, 

• strong appreciation for youth spaces, community groups, and local cultural identity—especially Sorbian heritage. 

  
  

Interestingly, no major disagreements emerged. Instead, participants shared a surprisingly consistent sense of what the region needs and what feels at stake. 

From this reflection, participants discussed which theme should shape the second part of the workshop, which revealed one overarching theme: Mobility, accessibility, and the liveability of the region. This became the starting point for the “probable futures” and “preferred futures” work done in the second part of the workshop. 

Imagining Futures Together 

In the second part of the workshop, participants were able to develop three “probable” futures that reflected current dynamics—ranging from a highly Cottbus-centred region to a more balanced polycentric landscape to a greener, naturalised Lusatia. 

They then articulated their preferred future: 

 A region where rural areas remain vibrant, where housing is affordable, where public spaces strengthen social cohesion, and where mobility enables—not limits—youth opportunities and regional identity. 

Across all futures, participants saw themselves as experts of their own everyday experiences, not passive recipients of planning decisions. 

What We Learned About Participation 

The combined workshop offered several lessons for designing RFLLs: 

• Participants engage more deeply when discussing everyday realities, rather than abstract policy language. 

• Tools for co-constructing narratives are essential; open questions alone are not enough to produce shared future stories. 

• Clear explanation of the method helps avoid expectations of a “training session” and instead emphasises co-creation. 

• Trust was strong, largely because participants already shared community ties through youth centres and local initiatives. 

• More diverse representation—including policymakers—could broaden perspectives in future workshops. 

  
  

Looking Ahead 

The combined WS1–WS2 workshop produced rich local insights grounded in daily life. These perspectives shaped the next RFLL sessions in Lusatia, helping ensure that future visions reflect the region’s lived realities: its mobility challenges, its youth perspectives, its cultural identity, and the deep desire for a more connected and liveable future.