Youth Action Week: Democracy here. Democracy now

Aims & objectives

The Youth Action week is an opportunity to celebrate democracy, the role and contribution made by young people to democratic processes and the contribution made by the Council of Europe to young people and democratic processes.
The objectives of the event include:
• To collect and discuss the results of the activities realised in the framework of the campaign until that point and plan the next steps and priorities for the rest of the campaign.
• To showcase examples of young people’s democratic participation, including the co-management system.
• To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the youth sector of the Council of Europe
• To mobilise and motivate young people to take the campaign’s messages further in their local/national context.

Target group & international/intercultural composition of the group & team

The youth action week brought together 450 participants from the Council of Europe member states and neighbouring countries. Team sonsisted of 10 facilitators also coming form the Council of Europe member states.

Training methods used & main activities

Participants were working in plenaries addressing global issues and joined small working groups for discussing different aspects of democracy and youth participation. As a result they drafted recommendations that became a part of the Campaign Call for Action.

Outcomes of the activity

Young people’s opinions, concerns and proposals about the state of democracy and youth participation and digitalisation, as well as the threats to them were identified;
Spaces for young people to discuss the deficits and backsliding of democracy and the effects of digitalisation in their own terms, thereby revitalising youth participation and expression at the national and European level were created.

Your tasks and responsibilities within the team

1. To attend preparatory meetings online and in person and contribute to the preparations of the programme of the Youth Action Week
2. To prepare the session outline for one of the thematic plenary sessions in cooperation with the general facilitator, other members of the preparatory team and the Secretariat of the Council of Europe
3. To support the facilitators and rapporteurs within the framework of one of the key themes of the campaign: revitalising democracy, meaningful youth participation or digitalization
4. To facilitate working groups or break-up sessions according to need
5. Any other task agreed with the Secretariat of the Council of Europe
6. To lead or co-facilitate informal programme elements including, where relevant, as part of the evening programme
7. To complete a trainer evaluation form for the activity

I worked on this training for 5 days as a full time trainer.