Bottom Up Needs Identification Workshops in Italy

Workshops Videos

Democracy Co-creation Labs in Italy

National Youth Campaign Events in Italy

Campaigns Videos

“Solidarity and Inclusion” Youth Democracy Summit

“Solidarity in the EU” Illustration Contest

EU-CHILDOCRACY
EU Programme: CERV-2023-CITIZENS-CIV
Reference: 101147767
Start date: 01/09/2024
End date: 31/08/2026

The project EU-CHILDOCRACY recognizes the key role that children and young people have as active citizens. Relying on the ‘glocalisation’ approach (contextualizing local issues in a European perspective), the project will make EU values more relatable to local contexts and stimulate a greater sense of belonging to the EU.

The project will pilot mechanisms for child participation in campaigning for EU values and amplify children’s voices in the democracy discourse. Its activities will increase transborder cooperation, transnational networking, and support youth activism in the participating schools.

Objectives

  • Popularize EU values among 180 children & identify local needs.
  • Strengthen the children’s capacity to develop & promote local campaigns & engage them with decision-makers.
  • Support 15 local campaigns in 3 countries contextualized in EU values.
  • Strengthen participants’ knowledge on EU values through transnational debates.
  • Raise public awareness & trust in EU and stimulate increased sense of belonging and public trust to the EU among citizens.

Activities

  • 3 national workshops on EU values & local needs in each of the 3 countries – with 180 children.
  • 3 democracy labs on campaign development, implementation & communication in working groups with decision-makers – with 180 children.
  • 15 youth campaign events in 3 countries using local narratives.
  • 3 transnational contests and exhibitions in each of the 3 countries: photography exhibition in Bulgaria; social media contest in Greece; illustration contest in Italy – with 50 children in each of the contest/exhibition.
  • 3 youth democracy summits in each of the 3 countries: summit on freedom of expression and rule of law in Bulgaria; summit on democracy, citizen participation and institutions in Greece; summit on solidarity, inclusion & non-discrimination in Italy – with 100 participants in each summit.

Resources

  • 3 training kits on EU Values in each of the 3 national languages (Bulgaria, Greek, Italian).
  • 3 needs assessments reports for each of the 3 national contexts.
  • 3 democracy co-creation labs.
  • 15 campaigns.
  • 3 summits.
  • 3 exhibitions/contests.

Results

  • Increased awareness of EU values: 180 children will gain a deeper understanding of EU values, democracy, and citizen participation, while identifying local needs and challenges.
  • Enhanced capacity for civic engagement: children will develop skills to design, promote, and implement local campaigns, engaging with decision-makers to advocate for change.
  • Successful implementation of 15 local campaigns: 15 locally-contextualized youth-led campaigns across 3 countries will promote EU values, addressing pressing local issues and fostering community involvement.
  • Strengthened EU knowledge through debates: participants will deepen their knowledge of EU values and democracy through transnational debates, building a more informed youth network.

Co-experts

  • High Schools: general and technical secondary schools.
  • Universities: faculties of education, humanities, and social sciences; departments focused on European studies, or civic engagement.
  • Students-Related Institutions: youth associations and councils; student unions and representative bodies; university residences and student housing associations.
  • Education Professionals: school leaders such as principals and administrative staff; teacher educators and trainers.
  • Youth Organizations: local and national youth associations promoting civic values; NGOs focused on youth development and participation.
  • Educational and Community Centers: cultural and educational centers focused on youth engagement; centers offering non-formal education programs.
  • Local Stakeholders: municipal councils and local government institutions; community leaders and local interest groups.
  • NGOs and Advocacy Groups: organizations promoting European values, social inclusion, and human rights.

Partnership

Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law (Bulgaria)

European Public Law Organization (Greece)

PRISM Impresa Sociale s.r.l. (Italy)

Keywords

Active Citizenship; Democracy; Youth; EU Values; EU understanding; EU belonging; EU knowledge; Civic Education.

Website

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Tags

Youth.


Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. The European Union cannot be held responsible for them.