The document outlines the findings from the first phase of the NextGenC project in Manizales, focusing on youth participation and the use of technology in local governance. Using a qualitative methodology that included 16 interviews and 15 observations, the project characterized young people in a university city known for its high educational coverage but also facing challenges related to employment and inclusion. The conclusion indicates that youth participation is split between the institutional sphere, which includes platforms, councils, and cabinets, and is hindered by political rivalries and limited real-world impact, and the non-institutional sphere, represented by independent collectives. In the non-institutional sphere, young people actively seek safer and more structured spaces that facilitate direct community impact.