On a 2 days event in September 19-20 2024, organized as part of the Youth DemocrAID project under the CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights, and Values) programme, an international seminar and a Training of Trainers were organized in Trnava, Slovakia.
Day 1: International Seminar on Youth, Democracy, and Europe
The first day was dedicated to the international seminar titled “Youth, Democracy, and Europe: Shaping Our Future Together.”
Participants included international volunteers, representatives from the partner organizations involved in the project and special guests from European Dialogue (a Slovak NGO), the European Parliament, and Youth for Equality who met to explore critical issues related to democracy, youth engagement, and media literacy education.
The seminar started with a presentation by YouNet, introducing the CERV programme and outlining the main objectives of the Youth DemocrAID project, followed by a two-part panel discussion:
- The Importance of Voting: The first part of the discussion delved into the responsibility that comes with voting in democratic societies, particularly in the context of European elections. Speakers emphasized that the European Parliament plays a significant role in shaping national laws, highlighting how European elections impact both national and local decision-making processes.It was also discussed why many young people feel disconnected from politics, noting that the average age of EU Parliament members could be a contributing factor.
- Media Literacy and Democracy: In the second half of the panel, the relationship between media literacy and democracy was explored, particularly in light of modern threats such as misinformation and artificial intelligence. It was emphasized the importance of teaching media literacy in schools, equipping young people with the skills needed to critically evaluate information, allowing them to support older generations in navigating the complex digital landscape.
Day 2: International Training of Trainers on Non-Formal Education and Gamification
The second day, representatives from the partner organizations, YouNet APS (Italy), Youth for Equality (Slovakia), Klaster Innowacji Społecznych (Poland), Citizen Crossroads (Greece), and GloUni (Portugal), gathered together for a training session aimed at building the capacity of educators, trainers, and youth leaders in the field of non-formal education. Led by a trainer from YouNet APS, the Training of Trainers (ToT) focused on the role of gamification and innovative educational methods in citizenship education.
Key Topics Covered
- Principles of Non-Formal Education
The session began with an overview of the principles of non-formal education, emphasizing its flexibility and learner-centered approach. - Best Practices in Citizenship Education
Participants shared examples and best practices from their respective experience, highlighting successful non-formal education initiatives that promote active citizenship. - Gamification in Citizenship Education
One of the key elements of the training was gamification—using game-based strategies to enhance engagement in educational settings. Participants learned about different gamification methods and tools that can be used to make citizenship education more interactive and effective. - Leading a Debate
Another important skill covered during the training was how to structure and lead a debate. Trainer discussed different types of debates and techniques to foster engaging, respectful, and meaningful discussions, a vital component of citizenship education. - Workshop Design
The training also provided participants with guidelines and tips for organizing effective workshops. - Podcast Production
Lastly, an overview of podcast production was shared, outlining common rules and best practices to support the creation of podcasts for the project’s upcoming series.
The two-day event was a crucial step in the Youth DemocrAID project’s mission to engage young people in shaping Europe’s democratic future. The knowledge shared during the seminar and training will be instrumental in the next phase of the project, which includes creating workshop materials and launching a podcast series to further citizenship education.