Category Archives: News

Fostering youth participation: May 2024 update from Digital Hub in Estonia

Fostering youth participation: May 2024 update from Digital Hub in Estonia

Learning Library from Estonia hosted its second digital hub meeting on May 17, 2024, gathering 16 participants to explore the concept of youth participation. Through interactive activities and discussions, attendees delved into Roger Hart’s Ladder of Participation and examined the Estonian election system, paving the way for future engagements and initiatives.

 

 

The second topic-based meeting of digital hub hosted by Learning Library in Estonia took place on 17th of May 2024, in duration of 120 minutes. In total 16 participants were present, out of which 13 female and 3 male participants.

 

At the very beginning of the meeting, we prepared short energiser and getting to know each other exercise as we had new participants joining regular meetings of the digital hub.  Then, participants got a task to brainstorm what does “youth participation” means for them, by using Word Cloud Generator option in Mentimeter. After discussing their inputs, participants then got introduced to Roger Hart’s Ladder of participation with description of each of the 8 steps. Then, they shared real-life examples when they were part of different youth-led initiatives and tried to recall how much they were actually involved in the decision-making processes, and trying to put those examples in the rungs on the ladder.

 

In the last part of the meeting, participants got introduced to the upcoming European Elections. Together we analysed election system in Estonia and possibilities for voting online (as one of the rarest countries in the whole Europe). At the end, participants shared their feedback on the meeting and together we made plans for the upcoming meetings and activities inside the digital hub, as well as face-to-face LTTA in June taking place in North Macedonia.

Decision making process discussion as part of the Hub in North Macedonia

Decision making process discussion as part of the Hub in North Macedonia

On 21.05.2024 we had our second Youth Leaders Hub meeting in North Macedonia. 


This workshop served as a stepping stone for young people to increase their willingness for participation in the democratic processes in their local communities.


Through a role-play activity participants got to experience how the departments in society function and depend on each other. Most importantly they practiced budget allocation and decision making together as a team. This helped them expand their horizons on how the community functions and see it through the perspectives of different institutions.

First meeting of Youth Leaders Hub in North Macedonia

First meeting of Youth Leaders Hub in North Macedonia

In May, Youth Council Next Generation established a Youth Leader’s hub that will serve as a platform for young people aged 18-25 to learn, discuss and plan actions related to the topics of democracy and media literacy.

 

Youth Leader’s hub is implemented as part of the EYT “Do you know your democracy?” project, co-financed by the Europan Union and implemented with our partners from Croatia, North Macedonia, France, and Sweden.

This first session of the hub served as a foundation for young people to learn about the fundamentals of democracy.

 

Participants explored the main keywords associated to democracy as well as the different democratic principles that exist.


Through a detailed SWOT analysis on the types of democracy and comprehensive discussion the participants expanded their knowledge on the topic.

ProCivitas Youth Hub Inspires Students to Reflect on Malmö and Democracy

ProCivitas Youth Hub Inspires Students to Reflect on Malmö and Democracy

On May 8, 2024, ProCivitas High School students gathered for a unique Youth Hub session as part of the “Do You Know YOUR DEMOCRACY?” project, facilitated by Well Being LAB. This event provided an interactive and introspective space for students to explore democracy, international opportunities, and their own perspectives on Malmö.

 

In one memorable exercise, students participated in “The Malmö Heart,” a creative activity where they shared their feelings about their city and wrote messages to local decision-makers. This exercise sparked powerful reflections and gave the students a chance to express hopes for Malmö’s future. The session also included a guided meditation, encouraging students to connect with their surroundings and sense of self, accompanied by relaxing music from Austin Farwell.

 

Students left the workshop feeling inspired, with several showing interest in future international training opportunities through Erasmus+, though some were limited by age requirements. This session at ProCivitas highlights the Youth Hub’s mission to reach and engage Malmö’s youth from diverse backgrounds, fostering both civic awareness and a sense of community.

The second workshop of the hub in Croatia

The second workshop of the hub in Croatia

We organised the second workshop in the Young Leaders Hub Croatia as part of the “Do you know YOUR DEMOCRACY?” project!

 

The event took place on May 7, 2024, where we explored the concept of “politics” through interactive exercises and dived into a deeper understanding of two main political theories inspired by Aristotle and Machiavelli.

 

We analysed how politics can be understood and interpreted in various ways, examined the existing ideologies and meta-ideologies, and how to recognise them in political and media messages.

 

The next workshop is already scheduled for May 28, 2024! Don’t miss the new opportunity to discuss important topics. 💬

Establishment of digital Youth Leader’s Hub in Estonia

Establishment of digital Youth Leader’s Hub in Estonia

In April, Learning Library established a digital Youth Leader’s hub that will serve as a platform for young people aged 18-25 to learn, discuss and plan actions related to the topics of democracy and media literacy.

 

Youth Leader’s hub is implemented as part of the EYT “Do you know your democracy?” project, co-financed by the Europan Union and implemented with our partners from Croatia, North Macedonia, France, and Sweden.

 

During the first meeting, participants had a chance to learn more about the project, get to know each other through several ice-breaking exercises, and already make plans for the upcoming meetings. At the end of the meeting, participants also received small homework tasks in order to prepare for working together during the next month and starting to dive deeper into envisioned topics.

 

This article was originally posted on the partner’s website. This is the link to the post on partner’s website.

 

Call for participants: Do you know your democracy?

Call for participants: Do you know your democracy?

Call for participants: Training course “Democracy, its importance and our local communities as democratic societies” in Struga, North Macedonia

 

14-24 June 2024 | Struga, North Macedonia

 

We are looking for 6 participants per participating country to join the international training course on the project “Do you know your DEMOCRACY?“ in Struga, North Macedonia from 14th to 24th June 2024.

 

DATES: 14 – 24 June 2024

LOCATION: Struga, North Macedonia

PARTICIPANTS: 6 per country

COUNTRIES: North Macedonia – Croatia – Sweden – France – Estonia

 

The working language of the event will be English.

Profile of participants:

  • Young individuals aged 18+ residing in partner organizations’ countries.
  • Possess at least a communicative level of English language, enabling them to actively engage in preparatory meetings, the training course, and subsequent activities.
  • Motivated to work on the development of their personal and professional competencies in an international setting (communication, teamwork, problem-solving, conflict management, facilitation, and presentation).
  • Exhibit a strong interest in the central theme of the project: democracy, active citizenship, civic engagement
  • Be motivated to participate in a mix-intercultural learning environment, and to contribute to successful project implementation.

 

Travel and accommodation:

Travel and all related costs will be fully covered by the organisers. Accommodation is also covered by organisers, 3 meals per day and coffee breaks.

 

Activitiy is implemented as part of the project “Do you know YOUR DEMOCRACY?”. 

 

For more information and application form, check the links below.

 

INFOPACK
APPLICATION FORM

Establishment of digital Youth Leader’s Hub in Croatia

Establishment of digital Youth Leader’s Hub in Croatia

In April, Carousel 8 established a Youth Leader’s hub in the space of the local municipality in Zagreb. Our hub is a dedicated space where young individuals gather to develop leadership skills, learn about democratic processes, and engage in social initiatives.
 
Youth Leader’s Hub is implemented as part of the EYT “Do you know your democracy?” project, co-financed by the Europan Union and implemented with our partners from Estonia, North Macedonia, France, and Sweden.

The first workshop of the Youth Leaders’ Hubs in Zagreb began with activities that helped participants get to know each other. They introduced themselves using associative cards and learned about the project “Do you know Your Democracy?”, and its goals and activities.


Participants shared their views on democracy through interactive exercises and explored what democracy means to them by choosing and explaining photos that represented their views. Participants also learned about the history of democracy and different levels of youth participation in decision-making through Hart’s Ladder of Participation, emphasising genuine involvement.

Youth Hub in Rosengård Empowers Local Youth to Discover Democracy

Youth Hub in Rosengård Empowers Local Youth to Discover Democracy

On April 28, 2024, youth in Rosengård, Malmö, gathered for an inspiring event under the banner of the “Do You Know YOUR DEMOCRACY?” project. This initiative, a collaboration between Well Being LAB and the ZigZag association, aims to empower young people in socioeconomically vulnerable communities by educating them about democratic values and international opportunities. The session, led by Emir Mujezinovic from Well Being LAB, was the first in a series of Youth Hubs designed to spark civic engagement and personal growth.

 

The event brought together 25 participants, primarily from Rosengård, a diverse neighbourhood known for its strong immigrant community. Most participants were between 17 and 25 years old, engaged in youth work within the ZigZag association. This dynamic group engaged in discussions about democracy, listened to an inspirational talk on studying abroad through Erasmus+ opportunities, and learned about upcoming training opportunities in Struga. A storytelling session featuring Bosnian folktales connected participants to cultural wisdom and highlighted the value of shared heritage.

 

Feedback from the event was overwhelmingly positive. In the open and inclusive format, each participant had a voice, fostering a true sense of community and involvement. After the formal presentation, many participants stayed to ask questions, reflecting a genuine interest in learning more about democratic engagement and international prospects.

 

With this successful start, the Youth Hub in Rosengård promises to be a vital space for young people to connect, learn, and envision their roles in shaping the future.