"Empowering Youth: Democracy in Action"
Priorities: Development of civic engagement, strengthening intercultural dialogue, and supporting social inclusion. Fostering a responsible and conscious generation.
Coordinator: Public Organization “Educational and Social Initiatives”
Partners:
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West Ukrainian National University, Ukraine
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University of Rzeszów, Poland
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Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic
The goal of the project "Empowering Youth: Democracy in Action" is to engage young people in democratic processes through education, practical initiatives, and international cooperation.
Project objectives:
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Development of democratic values – promoting youth understanding of the fundamentals of democracy, civic engagement, and the role of personal responsibility in society.
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International cooperation – bringing together young people from Ukraine, Poland, and the Czech Republic to exchange experiences, enhance intercultural dialogue, and jointly address democratic challenges.
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Support for active citizenship – providing participants with practical tools and skills to implement initiatives in their communities.
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Response to contemporary challenges – helping youth counter threats to democracy such as political apathy, low trust in institutions, and populism.
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Sustainable impact – ensuring long-term benefits through the creation of local initiatives, educational materials, and an international network of active youth.
Key mobility activities:
Participants took part in two main modules:
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First module – "Foundations of Democracy", held in Prague (December 7–10), included thematic lectures, interactive workshops, and discussion sessions. Participants gathered in Prague to deepen their understanding of democratic principles and practices.
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Second module – "Civic Engagement and Social Initiatives", held in Rzeszów (December 10–13), provided a practical component of the project. Participants worked in teams to develop projects addressing current challenges in their communities.
Project results:
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Youth engagement – 28 participants from three countries completed training and participated in practical activities, enhancing their understanding of democratic processes.
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International cooperation – a network of young leaders was formed to continue collaborative work on addressing social challenges.
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Awareness raising – participants gained knowledge and skills necessary to implement democratic initiatives through lectures, discussions, and practical workshops.
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Social impact – local initiative plans were developed to involve citizens in democratic processes and address pressing community issues.
The project was implemented with financial support from the governments of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia within the Visegrad Grants of the International Visegrad Fund, as well as with the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea. The main mission of the Fund is to promote sustainable development of regional cooperation in Central Europe.