ABCDemocracy Toolkit - Political Literacy for Vulnerable Youth

Aims of the tool

The ABC Democracy Toolkit has been developed with the objective of enhancing the political literacy of at-risk youth across Europe. The objective is to cultivate a more profound comprehension of democracy, European values, and active citizenship through engaging and interactive educational resources. The toolkit provides a range of resources with the aim of inspiring and empowering vulnerable young people to become informed and active participants in their communities, thus helping to prevent political and social marginalisation.

Description of the tool

The ABC Democracy Toolkit is a new educational resource designed to help at-risk youth in Europe understand politics better. It provides a variety of engaging and interactive materials to help people gain a better understanding of democracy, European values and active citizenship. The toolkit has a few main parts:

1. Video Testimonies: The videos feature nine interviews with political actors and activists, giving you real-world insights into democracy, European values and tolerance. They make complex ideas easier to understand, inspiring and motivating young people by sharing first-hand experiences.

2. Podcast Series: This five-part series looks at some of the most important issues in democracy, including what democracy means, how it works, what it does for citizens, why it’s important to get involved, and an overview of the European Union. Each episode dives deep into complex ideas to make them accessible and engaging.

3. Microlearning units: The units are split into bite-sized chunks, and they cover the key aspects of democracy, including what it is, where it came from, the social contract, the roles of the constitution, human rights, and the structure and functions of the European Union. The microlearning format is great for flexible, self-paced learning, so it's perfect for a range of educational contexts.

4. Online Escape Room: It's a new and exciting way to learn about democracy and European values. Participants solve puzzles and complete tasks related to these topics in an interactive setting. This fun, gamified approach gets young people engaged and keeps them coming back for more, while also promoting teamwork and critical thinking.

By utilizing the ABCDemocracy Toolkit, youth workers and educators can expect the following learning outcomes for their students:
• Gaining a deeper insight into democracy: young people will learn more about what democracy is, how it began and the key principles behind it.
• Knowing how democracy works: Learners will get to grips with how democracy works, including the roles of different institutions and the importance of the social contract and constitution.
• Awareness of human rights: The toolkit looks at the connection between democracy and human rights, helping young people understand their rights and freedoms in a democratic society.
• Active Citizenship: Students will learn about why it’s important to get involved in democratic processes, looking at different ways to do this, from voting to using digital platforms.
• European Union Insight: The toolkit offers a comprehensive overview of the European Union, its history, institutions, and opportunities, fostering a sense of European identity and involvement.

The ABCDemocracy Toolkit is available at the project website - https://www.abcdemocracy.eu/
ABCDemocracy results are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International.