Tag: Democratic Participation

Opposition & Youth-Led Movements in the Euromediterranean Region
Proposal: Research on Opposition, Building Trusts, and Youth-Led Movements in the Euromediterranean Region

Implementation: 2024 to 2027

Call: HORIZON-CL2-2024-DEMOCRACY-01 – Past, present and future of democracies

Type of Action: HORIZON-RIA – HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

Proposed Budget: 2 999 036,25€

Keywords: Participatory/Participation, New participatory democracy models, Youth, Political participation, Democracy, Engagement.

Objective: In the Euromediterranean region, countries with varying degrees of democratic tradition coexist alongside those with authoritarian regimes. Despite this diversity, a key sector of the population – the youth – developed new ways of engaging with politics.

However, they remain one of the most underrepresented groups and are susceptible to manipulation due to their extensive use of social media and the digital world. Despite the role that young people tend to play in democratization processes, such as the one experienced 10 years ago in the countries of North Africa, the political elite does not attempt to align with their positions. Instead, they tend to delegitimize the points of view and actions carried out by young people.

The main objective of the project is to encourage young people to participate in the electoral and democratic processes in different political systems, challenging the status quo. This will contribute to changing the mutual perception between youth and the political elite. This can be achieved by fitting into the existing culture of opposition and convincing the rest of the population of the need for new forms of participation while respecting the rights of all.

Thanks to the actions that will be implemented in this project, young people will be trained to abandon the use of violence and equipped with tools to detect radicalization. At the same time, the political leaders will also recognise the importance of embracing these new methods of comprehending society and the desires of young people.

This will generate fresh forms of participation that will strengthen democratic processes in countries where democracy is weak or non-existent and enhance and modernise fully democratic systems. The previous experience of the members of this consortium, combined with the presence of several partners in European university networks, will enable the scale and optimisation of the results to reach a large proportion of young people in the Euromediterranean region.

Partners:
- Universidad De Burgos
- European Institute for Human Rights (Young Educators)
- Panepistimio Dytikis Makedonias
- Universidad Del País Vasco/ Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea
- Associacio Novact
- Institutul Român Pentru Acțiune, Instruire Și Cercetare În Domeniul Păcii
- IM Cultural Institute
- DAMJ
- Cairo Institute For Human Rights Studies
- Kaakkois-Suomen Ammattikorkeakoulu Oy
- The Civics Innovation Hub Ggmbh
2023-11-06
Promoting Democratic Participation
Proposal: Virtual AdvOcacy for PosItive DemoCraciES

Implementation: 2024 to 2026

Call: CERV-2023-CITIZENS-CIV – Citizens’ engagement and participation – 2023

Type of Action: CERV-LS – CERV Lump Sum Grants

Proposed Budget: 168 860,00€

Keywords: Promoting democratic participation, debating the future of Europe, future, europe, youngsters, positive narratives, debate, opinion, democracy, speak-up

Objective: The project will give a voice to young people on the one hand and support them in change on the other. Indeed, participation is an essential element of citizenship in a democratic society and culture. In fact, youth participation is not an end in itself, but a means of achieving positive changes and building a better democratic society.

The project will give young people a space to lead the discussion in all areas and in particular those that contribute to positive democracy, including the prevention of extremism, the fight against violence, gender equality, justice, equity, etc. because what they think and decide today will affect not only their own lives, but above all their future.

The project also aims to strengthen young people’s commitment to solving global and local problems, by promoting their innovative ideas capable of initiating social change and generating positive results. Indeed, involving the younger generation in decision-making can strengthen social cohesion and living together, which is the only way to bring about and maintain peace.

Due to the fact that many young people are living in low-income nations, few opportunities are available for them to participate and approach decision-making. The lack of willingness in attending traditional participation activities is because the topics are not attractive and many engaging activities fall into tokenism. They may think the participation process is long and boring. Racisms and gender inequalities are also factors that impede participation.

The accessibility to information and the lack of appropriate engagement platforms are blocking their way to participate as well. Thus, the vast majority of young people are unable to participate in global talks and have no chance to voice and contribute in the social arena. The aim of the project is to analyse, understand and tackle these obstacles by proposing ways and means of overcoming them.

Partners:
- Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
- European Institute for Human Rights (Young Educators)
- Association Militants Des Savoirs
- Universita Ta Malta
- Fachhochschule Salzburg Gmbh
- Media Actie Kuregem Stad
2023-11-05
Promoting Democratic Participation Through Debate
Proposal: Engaging Youth in EU Politics in the Aftermath of Elections

Implementation: 2024 to 2026

Call: CERV-2023-CITIZENS-CIV – Citizens’ engagement and participation – 2023

Type of Action: CERV-LS – CERV Lump Sum Grants

Proposed Budget: 657 525,00€

Keywords: Promoting democratic participation through debating the future of Europe, Youth Participation, European Civic Education, Future of Europe

Objective: The project aims to enable true citizens’ contribution to the democratic and civic life of the European Union by learning [about] Europe and by shaping Europe, which are its two main pillars. While the first pillar of the project will focus on European Civic Education and raising awareness on EU values and opportunities for European youth from all backgrounds, the second pillar will enable youth to put into practice what they have learned through the knowledge-building pillar, and debate relevant topics surrounding their hopes and dreams for the future of Europe.

The overall objectives of this project are to encourage youth to remain involved in European Democracy in the aftermath of EP election 2024, and to inform young people about the EU through non-formal education methodologies and to empower them to use their voice to actively engage with decision-makers.

Furthermore, it will equip teachers and educators with the skills to become multipliers of spreading EU values among their pupils. The project will additionally strengthen meaningful participation among European youth organisations, given their prominent role as connectors between European youth and stakeholders/institutions. Finally, it will inspire European youth to become catalysts for change in developing a future European Union that is inclusive and representative of young voices.

Partners:
- Jeunes Européens Fédéralistes
- European Institute for Human Rights (Young Educators)
- European Youth Forum
- Les Jeunes Européens-France Association
- Rural Youth Europe EV
- Organizing Bureau Of European School Student
- Assemblee Des Regions D’europe Association
- Federación De Asociaciones Jóvenes Europeístas
- Evropeisko Mladezhko Dvizhenie
- Jaunieji Europos Federalistai
- Young European Federalists (JEF Malta)
2023-10-18