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Democracy Camp 2023 - Democracy, Sustainability, and Intersectionality

2023-1-DE04-KA154-YOU-0001453662023Youth participation activitiesongoing
Countries: DE|PL|CZ|FR|AT · Grant: €27,643
Democracy and inclusive democratic participationPromotion of alternative forms of participationEnvironment and climate change

Objectives

The Democracy Camp was an intercultural exchange on democracy, sustainability, and intersectionality. It brought together approximately 50 young people under 25 from six countries, fostering networking among youths from various EU states. The project's main objectives were to enhance the political participation of young individuals by exploring opportunities and tools for promoting sustainability and inclusion. Participants identified democratic best practices in sustainability, broadened their understanding of political levels and the role of the EU, and engaged in knowledge transfer on skills for effective participation, including fundraising and public speaking. Project partners disseminated the results, contributing to a positive narrative about democracy. Amidst concerns of societal division and threats to democracy, the Camp highlighted successful applications of direct and participatory democracy, especially in environmental protection and equal access. The goal was to showcase the importance of such knowledge for young people and counter potential disenchantment with politics. The project emphasised the emergence of new and promising forms of political participation across Europe, specifically tailored to young people. It served as an exchange platform, enabling young people to exchange ideas, pick up best practices, and contribute to shaping sustainability and inclusive societies. The Democracy Camp complemented existing programmes by focusing on best practices of youth participation for sustainability and inclusion, driven by young people for young people in a multilateral exchange. The second edition continued the successful establishment of a long-term exchange platform, building on the demands identified by young people in the first camp. The outcomes included an intercultural exchange, networking among young people from different European countries, identification of best-practice examples, bottom-up knowledge gain with expert support, transfer of knowledge on successful projects, and the promotion of a culture of discussion and understanding of democracy among young people.

Project partners (6)