Vice President Delcy Rodríguez highlights over 37,000 youth-led projects in Venezuela’s first-ever National Youth Popular Consultation, a landmark exercise in participatory democracy.

Related: Venezuela Holds Local Elections and Youth Referendum Amid Tight Security

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7 Transformations, 37,000 Projects: 5 Proven Truths About Venezuela’s Historic Youth Consultation

On July 27, 2025, Venezuela made history. For the first time, the nation launched the National Youth Popular Consultation, a groundbreaking exercise in direct democracy that put over 37,000 youth-led community projects to a national vote—simultaneously with municipal elections. The initiative, championed by Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, marks a bold step in deepening popular participation and empowering a new generation to shape the country’s socialist transformation.

The National Youth Popular Consultation is not just a consultation—it’s a revolutionary mechanism to place decision-making power directly in the hands of Venezuela’s youth.

Rodríguez visited the Exposueños de Caracas in the San Agustín parish, a symbolic hub of communal organization, to witness the culmination of months of grassroots work. There, thousands of young Venezuelans presented their proposals—born in communal councils, communes, and local circuits—aimed at transforming their neighborhoods and the nation.

“These projects began at the most basic level of communal organization,” Rodríguez emphasized. “They passed through councils, communes, and circuits. Tomorrow, more than 37,000 youth-chosen initiatives will go to a popular vote.”

This is democracy in motion: not abstract, not distant, but rooted in the daily realities of barrios, towns, and rural communities across Venezuela.

The National Youth Popular Consultation: A New Chapter in Participatory Democracy

The National Youth Popular Consultation represents a first-of-its-kind national process designed to institutionalize youth protagonism in Venezuela’s political and social life. Organized under the framework of the Plan de las 7 Transformaciones (7T), the consultation aligns youth-driven initiatives with the government’s strategic vision for national development.

This is not a symbolic gesture—it’s a structured, nationwide channel for youth to co-govern and co-create their communities.

The 37,000+ projects fall into two major categories:

• 39% focused on Social Transformation: including education, health, culture, inclusion, and community development.
• 26% dedicated to Economic Transformation: featuring productive ventures, cooperatives, and local economic alternatives.

The remaining proposals address technology, security, environmental sustainability, and democratic innovation, all within the 7T framework launched by President Nicolás Maduro to restructure Venezuela’s economy and society from the ground up.

The consultation allows young people aged 15 to 30 to vote for the projects they believe will most benefit their communities, with selected initiatives eligible for state funding and technical support. This creates a direct link between popular will and public investment.

External Link: Official 7 Transformations Plan – Venezuelan Government Portal
External Link: UNDP Report on Youth Participation in Latin America – 2025

Geopolitical Context: Youth, Power, and the Bolivarian Model

At a time when youth disillusionment with politics is rising globally, Venezuela’s National Youth Popular Consultation stands in stark contrast. While many nations see declining voter turnout and political alienation among young people, Venezuela is institutionalizing youth leadership as a pillar of its revolutionary model.

In a world where youth are often excluded from power, Venezuela is betting its future on their ideas, energy, and commitment.

This initiative reflects the Bolivarian Revolution’s core principle: that true democracy goes beyond elections—it means permanent popular participation. By integrating youth into decision-making at the community level, the government aims to ensure the continuity and renewal of its socialist project.

President Maduro, in a message via Telegram, called the day a “festival of democracy and peace”, urging citizens to vote in both the municipal elections and the youth consultation. He invoked Antonio Gramsci, the Italian Marxist philosopher, to frame the process as the construction of a “historic bloc”—a broad, popular consensus that unites the people around a shared revolutionary vision.

The timing is strategic. Holding the consultation alongside municipal elections amplifies its visibility and legitimacy, reinforcing the idea that local power belongs to the people.

From Barrios to Policy: How Youth Are Shaping Venezuela’s Future

The Exposueños de Caracas was more than a showcase—it was a living laboratory of innovation. Projects on display included:

• Urban gardens and food sovereignty cooperatives in Caracas’ working-class neighborhoods.
• Digital literacy hubs using recycled technology to bridge the digital divide.
• Cultural centers promoting Afro-Venezuelan and Indigenous heritage.
• Youth-led security committees working with local councils to reduce violence.

These are not top-down programs. They are homegrown solutions to real problems—developed, debated, and now being democratically selected by the communities they aim to serve.

National Youth Popular Consultation proves that the most effective policies come from the people who live them.

Rodríguez praised the youth for their creativity, responsibility, and revolutionary spirit, calling the day “an electoral festival and a celebration of peace.” Her presence underscored the high-level political support for the initiative, signaling that youth voices are not just heard—they are central to governance.

Challenges and Criticisms: Ensuring Real Impact

While the consultation has been widely celebrated by government institutions and allied social movements, some analysts urge caution. Questions remain about:

• The transparency of the voting process,
• The feasibility of implementing thousands of projects,
• And whether selected initiatives will receive adequate funding and follow-up.

There are also concerns about political inclusion, with opposition-aligned youth groups questioning whether the process is fully open to all sectors.

Still, supporters argue that the consultation is a work in progress—a starting point for deeper democratization. Unlike traditional top-down planning, this model starts with the people, creating a feedback loop between communities and the state.

Moreover, the fact that public and private media have covered the event widely—including live broadcasts and social media campaigns—demonstrates a national consensus on the importance of youth engagement, even among critics.

Conclusion: A Generation Takes the Steering Wheel

The National Youth Popular Consultation is more than a one-day event. It is a political milestone—a declaration that Venezuela’s future will be built not by distant elites, but by the hands of its youth, organized in their communities, armed with ideas, and empowered by democracy.

With over 37,000 projects on the table, this consultation is the largest youth-led participatory exercise in Latin American history. It embodies the Bolivarian ideal of protagonistic democracy—where citizens don’t just vote every few years, but govern every day.

As Delcy Rodríguez walked among the young project leaders in San Agustín, she didn’t just see proposals. She saw the next generation of mayors, ministers, and revolutionaries.

The National Youth Popular Consultation isn’t just about projects—it’s about power, participation, and the promise of a transformed Venezuela.

This is not the end of a process. It is the beginning of a new era—one where youth don’t wait for change. They lead it.

External Link: Venezuelan Youth Institute – Official Portal

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