The VoyAGE project aimed to increase young people’s interest and awareness of democratic participation by equipping them with essential skills to make their voices heard. Our goal was to empower them to engage actively in democratic life and take responsibility as global citizens. Through Learning, Teaching, and Training (LTT) activities, Piloting, and Model United Nations (MUN) simulations, we sought to foster critical thinking, communication, and debate skills. We wanted participants to develop an understanding of EU and global citizenship, increase their cultural awareness, and build confidence in public speaking. By engaging in non-formal education, they established connections with civic initiatives, NGOs, and youth organizations. Ultimately, we aimed to prepare young people to participate in democratic processes, negotiate solutions, and become leaders in their communities. The final international VoyMUN in Turkey was designed as a culminating experience to reinforce these skills and inspire lifelong civic engagement.
According to EUROSTAT results (2021), youth participation in formal or informal voluntary activities and active citizenship remains low across Europe. While citizenship education is included in curricula in almost every European country, it is often based on knowledge transfer rather than a competence-based approach. To develop key competences effectively, learning environments must be active, interactive, relevant, critical, collaborative, and participative. Through the Erasmus+ project VoyAGE, we aimed to address this gap by providing students with opportunities to: learn by doing, building knowledge through experiential learning; engage in small heterogeneous groups, working collaboratively toward shared goals; develop critical thinking skills, particularly to enhance media literacy; take ownership of their own learning, becoming creators and directors of their experiential learning journeys (as highlighted by the EC/EACEA/Eurydice, 2017). By implementing this project, we believe we have contributed to strengthening active citizenship and key competences among students, equipping them with essential skills for their future engagement in society. Collaboration with NGOs helped extend learning beyond the classroom.