CLab engages networks of educators and learners nationally and internationally. Since establishing as a German NGO in 2020, we have been focused on developing the CLab Berlin hub and launched new CLab Learning Journeys in Germany. We identified a number of emergent learning needs which we transformed into the following learning objectives. Objective 1 : Acquisition of new pedagogical frameworks for developing innovative, coherent and systematic curricula better able to enhance effective democratic participation. Objective 2 : Increased and improved pedagogical methods and approaches to building inclusive, accessible, equitable and cohesive learning environments, and by extension, networks and societies. Objective 3 : An improved range of specific and applicable skills and tools in Effective Collaboration and Sustainable, Regenerative Praxis, to support active citizenship and democracy building at learner level. Objective 4 : Improved and diversified organisational capacities, via new digital education approaches and broadened networks of adult educators/organisations working on regenerative democracy education.
CitizensLab (CLab) develops experiential learning environments for agents of social and cultural transformation in the service of democratic life. We bring social actors together to deepen expertise and acquire new skills to co-create pathways towards democratic regeneration, via a range of mixed-mode and international training and education programs. CLab uses action-research, peer-learning and prototyping to enhance active citizenship and personal/collective empowerment. We seek solutions through new practices of personal and collective participation. We observed significant challenges facing democracy in Europe. We witnessed the decline of citizens' trust in governments, public institutions and the European Union. This posed significant dangers to democratic life, with increasing apathy and paralysis around pathways for participation. We also saw tendencies toward social fragmentation, polarisation and instability, as well as loss of common purpose and praxis in the building of a sustainable, fair and beneficial Europe. To enhance our work we needed to establish ourselves more substantially at a local level and strengthen the impact of our work through closer and more meaningful collaboration with communities on the ground.