The project aimed to strengthen the capacity of youth workers and organisations to promote democratic participation, common European values, and active citizenship among young people. A key objective was to equip participants with practical skills, knowledge, and non-formal education methodologies that can be directly applied in their daily work, including creative approaches such as theatre for civic engagement. Another important objective was to support the development of youth-led initiatives, enabling young people to actively design and implement projects addressing local community issues. Through this, the project sought to increase young people’s sense of ownership, responsibility, and engagement in democratic processes. Finally, the project aimed to foster strong cross-cultural collaboration between partners from Portugal and Serbia, encouraging mutual learning, exchange of good practices, and the creation of sustainable international partnerships. By combining different expertise and perspectives, the project contributed to strengthening European identity, solidarity, and shared values beyond national contexts.
The project was developed in response to a growing need to strengthen youth participation in democratic life and promote common EU values, particularly among youngsters and youth workers. In both Portugal and Serbia, we identified a gap between formal democratic structures and the actual level of civic engagement among young people, often reflected in low participation, limited trust in institutions, and vulnerability to polarisation. Youth workers expressed the need for more effective and engaging methods to address these challenges. While Agora Aveiro brought strong experience in NFE and European cooperation, CEKOM contributed expertise in using theatre as a tool for social change. The project responded to the shared need to combine approaches and develop innovative, participatory methodologies that can engage young people in meaningful ways. Additionally, the project addressed the need to build the capacity of a newcomer organisation in Erasmus+, supporting CEKOM in gaining experience in international cooperation, while ensuring mutual learning between partners. Through this collaboration, the project empowered youth workers and youngsters to actively contribute to more inclusive, participatory, and democratic societies.