ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP IN THE DIGITAL ERA

The training course will gather together 32 youth workers and active members of European youth organizations coming from Germany, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, FYROM Macedonia, Poland, Lithuania, Croatia, Estonia, Italy, Spain and Slovakia. This call is only to fill empty places for participants from Germany (3). It is more than evident that nowadays, we are ushering an era of democratic disconnection. Accordingly, there is a widespread concern by EU about the declining engagement of civic life; citizens are less inclined to vote, to join political parties, to campaign for social causes, and finally to trust political processes. Young people in particular, are frequently described as alienated or apathetic. Hence, the questions have been raised owing to the declining of civic life are multiple and complex. Do the organizations of civil society motivate in a proper way the young people in order to transform them to active citizens? Do they actually use the right tools which correspond to the real and realistic conditions of the ordinary democratic systems? Having in mind the problems and the real situation, this training will focus on providing answers to the above questions, mainly by forming an action plan whereby each of the organizations involved, will eventually be capable to activate all its members in the processes concerning democratic institutions in all possible means. Whilst inevitably the Internet provides the ability to participate in society Online and promotes social inclusion, a special emphasis will be given to the new media society and particularly the Web, as a means of revitalizing civic life and democracy. Believing that just as the education has promoted democracy and economic growth, the Internet has the potential to benefit society as a whole, one of the main ramifications of the project will be based upon the active citizenship in the digital era. The working method will be based upon non-formal education. Particular objectives: • To equip youth workers with necessary skills and competencies in order to address the democratic disconnect of young people • To identify those digital mediums that motivates young people to actively participate Online • To share effective Online tools that the participating organizations are currently being using with the intention to engage young people in democratic processes. • To develop communication techniques interwoven with the social media society that inspires young people to be active citizens. Profile of the Participants: • Age above 18 • Youth workers, youth leaders, activists • Able to work in English • Willing to share the new knowledge with the members of his/her organization once he/she gets back, act as multipliers • Able to attend the entire duration of the course • Motivated to take an active part in all the stages of the training course