Navigating the Polarities of Democracy for Empowered Youth Participation

Navigating the Polarities of Democracy for Empowered Youth Participation is an international training course that brings together 40 youth leaders and youth workers from Bulgaria, Türkiye, North Macedonia, Croatia, and Hungary. The activity is part of an Erasmus+ Youth Participation project designed to empower youth leaders to become active democratic leaders in their communities. The approved project focuses on developing the capacities of participants who will, after the training, design and implement local democracy campaigns and peer-learning activities targeting other young people in their communities. Therefore, the learning methodology, peer-learning approach, follow-up activities, and expected project outcomes have been specifically designed for participants who are actively involved in youth organisations, volunteering, community initiatives, or non-formal education and who wish to strengthen democratic participation among young people.

The training responds to current challenges facing democratic societies, including political polarisation, misinformation, declining trust in democratic institutions, and limited youth participation. Through the Polarities of Democracy framework, participants will explore how seemingly opposing democratic values can be balanced constructively to foster dialogue, cooperation, and inclusive decision-making.

Using non-formal education methods - including interactive workshops, simulations, group discussions, teamwork, experiential learning, and reflection sessions -participants will develop competencies in critical thinking, media literacy, conflict transformation, facilitation, and democratic leadership. They will also exchange good practices in youth work and gain practical tools to engage young people in civic and democratic life.

Following the training, participants will work in national teams to design and implement local democracy campaigns, applying the knowledge and skills acquired during the course to promote democratic participation, media literacy, and active citizenship in their communities.