“DemoCr8: Democracy and youth participation in EU”

This training course provides an opportunity to explore youth participation and democratic engagement in youth work settings, equipping youth workers with the knowledge and tools to support young people's connection to democratic life and European citizenship. Through non-formal education methods and experiential learning, the training will introduce participants to key concepts such as youth participation, democracy, co-management, and connections between youth participation and decision-making processes. Training will also focus on the facilitation and design of educational processes that empower young people to become active citizens and democratic contributors in their communities and beyond.

The training goes beyond theoretical input by engaging participants in interactive exercises, workshops, structured reflections, and collaborative learning experiences aimed at building practical skills for supporting youth participation. Special attention will be given to the development of local-level follow-up activities that promote youth engagement, connect young people with European-level opportunities such as Erasmus+ and the Youth Dialogue, and foster democratic values. By the end of the course, participants will have developed concrete action plans, deepened their knowledge of democratic youth work practices, and strengthened their ability to support youth-led participation processes.

The training course is developed in line with Youth Goal 1: Connecting EU with Youth and contributes to:

• Supporting youth workers in strengthening young people's sense of belonging to the European project and democratic values.
• Empowering young people to engage in shaping Europe and democratic life through youth-friendly educational tools and participatory processes.
• Enhancing cooperation among youth organizations at European and international levels for promoting democratic engagement and citizenship education.

The training course will be based on non-formal education methods and experiential learning principles. The program is designed to provide youth workers with the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to foster youth participation, promote civic engagement, and link local-level youth work to wider European democratic frameworks.

The first days of the training will be dedicated to building a safe and collaborative learning environment, fostering group trust, and aligning expectations. These initial sessions will focus on understanding participation, exploring its relationship with youth work, and presenting the Erasmus+ Program and Youthpass as key tools for engagement. As the training continues, participants will examine youth realities across Europe, reflect on democratic principles and co-management, and explore the links between citizenship, participation, and education.

In the later stages of the training, participants will work in groups to develop concrete local follow-up activities aimed at engaging young people in democratic processes. They will receive feedback on their draft ideas, explore challenges and solutions, and finalize youth-friendly strategies to support participation within their own contexts.

On the final day, participants will present their follow-up plans, evaluate their learning outcomes, and reflect on their professional growth. The course will conclude with a structured evaluation process and the Youthpass certificates ceremony to acknowledge and celebrate participants' achievements.

Objectives:

• To explore concepts of democracy, youth participation, and European citizenship, and raise knowledge of participants about Youth Goal #1: Connecting EU with Youth.
• To develop understanding and knowledge of participants about the role of youth work in fostering democratic engagement and participation of young people in decision-making.
• To develop participants' competences for facilitating non-formal learning activities related to youth participation, co-management, and civic education.
• To improve skills of participants in developing and implementing local-level follow-up activities that empower youth to participate in democratic life and connect with EU opportunities.