On 8th September 2024, we held a workshop as part of the YouthEUVision – Empowering Youth for a Stronger Europe project, bringing together 22 young participants. The focus of the workshop was on enhancing youth participation and engagement in democratic processes in Germany, an issue of increasing importance for the future of Europe.
Throughout the day, we engaged in in-depth discussions about how young people can make their voices heard in shaping democratic systems. The workshop served as a space for participants to share their experiences, express their thoughts, and, most importantly, demonstrate their eagerness to learn and contribute to society.
We began by presenting the desktop research we had conducted on youth participation, providing a foundation for the group discussions. In addition, we shared insights from an online survey held prior to the event, which gathered valuable feedback from young people across Germany. These findings helped set the stage for the thoughtful conversations that followed.
One of the workshop’s key highlights was the participants’ curiosity and interest in gender-based youth participation in democratic processes. With non-binary and transgender individuals represented in the group, this topic became a focal point. It was encouraging to see participants openly sharing their experiences and exploring how gender influences access to and engagement in democracy.
The group showed a strong desire to learn more about this issue and contribute to more inclusive participation. As a result, we have begun to explore ways in which gender perspectives can be integrated into our future campaigns. Ensuring inclusivity is essential as we seek to amplify the diverse voices of Europe’s youth.
The participants didn’t stop at discussion alone. Many proposed innovative approaches to make our educational campaign more impactful. They emphasised the importance of showcasing good examples of democratic actions, not just to inform but to inspire others. Their insights underscored the responsibility young people have to stay informed and to raise awareness among their peers about where to access reliable information on democratic participation.
To capture these valuable insights and turn them into tangible action, we recorded statements from several participants. These recordings will play a key role in shaping our online campaigns, ensuring that the voices of young people resonate throughout the broader community.
To support participants in bringing their ideas to life, we were fortunate to have a media advisor and a media designer on hand during the workshop. They provided comprehensive guidance on creating compelling digital content, from social media campaigns to educational posts. The media advisor explained the importance of aesthetics, including the use of colour palettes, fonts, and styles, ensuring coherence across all posts. They also offered valuable insights on how to transform creative ideas into reality while maintaining a unified style and message throughout the campaign. This support was essential in empowering the participants to develop professional and visually engaging content that would resonate with their target audience.
On 17th September 2024, we showcased our online campaign to a group of 24 youngsters as part of the YouthEUVision – Empowering Youth for a Stronger Europe project. The purpose of this session was to gather feedback and see firsthand whether their peers agreed with the content and whether the campaign was effective in being both educational and raising awareness on youth participation in democratic processes.
The results and feedback were overwhelmingly positive! The youngsters provided amazing insights, validating the effectiveness of the campaign. Their responses confirmed that the campaign was not only educational but also resonated deeply with the issues that matter to them.
This workshop marked an important milestone in our project, offering young people a platform to express their thoughts and ideas while equipping them with the tools and knowledge to create real change. We are excited to continue the growth of YouthEUVision and look forward to witnessing the positive impact these young individuals will have in empowering youth for a stronger, more inclusive Europe.
YouthEUVision — Empowering YOUth for a Stronger Europe is an innovative project designed to transform youth participation in democratic processes and active citizenship across Europe. Believing that the future of Europe relies on active youth involvement, YouthEUVision unites organisations from six EU countries—Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, France, and Romania. Together, they aim to empower and mobilise young people by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and motivation needed to shape the future of Europe actively.
