About the Project

Background

Active participation in democratic processes, from voting to community involvement, is fundamental to the health and vitality of any democracy. However, recent research and surveys have highlighted a significant decline in political participation among young people, particularly those aged 15-25, across various countries in Europe and beyond. Low voter turnout, disengagement from institutional politics, and a lack of civic awareness have become pressing issues.
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In response to this critical issue, there is a growing recognition that education plays a pivotal role in addressing the challenge of low civic engagement among young people. Citizenship education, which aims to empower individuals with knowledge, skills, and values necessary to participate actively and responsibly in democratic societies, is frequently proposed as a solution. Furthermore, research on citizenship education emphasizes the effectiveness of non-formal methods and open environments for discussion, as these methods are more likely to induce behavioral and attitudinal changes than formal educational approaches.

Given the pressing need to address the decline in youth political participation and civic engagement, we have undertaken the creation of a project ―Youth DemocrAID: Education, Debate, Action focused on citizenship and democratic education. The project’s main focus is on aiding and supporting democracy, particularly as it pertains to youth involvement, since youth participation is essential for the health and vitality of democratic societies.

Youth DemocrAID seeks to prepare engaging learning materials with the use of non-formal education methods, provide workshops specifically tailored for young people aged 15-25 and connect them with their peers from partner countries by organizing international youth forum.  The project’s target group: young people aged 15-25, was defined due to their pivotal role in the future of Europe, as they represent the emerging generation of citizens whose active engagement is essential for strengthening democracy and shaping a more inclusive and united European Union. The primary aim of this initiative is to empower young individuals with the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes necessary for informed civic participation and allow them connection and exchange with their peers from project partner countries (IT, PL, GR, SK, PT). 

“Youth DemocrAID: Education, Debate, Action” is driven by a set of overarching objectives aimed at empowering young people, fostering democratic values, and actively engaging them in shaping the future of Europe through inclusive citizenship education and participatory initiatives. 

Youth DemocrAID emphasizes practical, hands-on approaches to democratic participation, including the use of digital tools, and aims to enhance the democratic legitimacy of EU decision-making processes while fostering a sense of belonging to the European Union and its values among young citizens. Through the creation of involving and participant-oriented workshops connected with debates, providing a platform for young voices to be heard, the project seeks to address the gap in youth participation as identified in various studies by actively promoting belief and action in European democracy.

Through this project, we aspire to contribute to the creation of an informed, engaged, and active generation of citizens who are not only well-prepared to participate in democratic processes but also to make meaningful contributions to their communities and society as a whole.