Democracy Explored

This Seminar will bring together 34 participants from 17 countries (Ireland, Denmark, France Greece, Belgium(FR), Switzerland, Croatia, Spain, Romania, Norway, Turkey, Estonia, Poland, Netherlands, Hungary, Lithuania and Austria) with the aim of creating Partnerships for Youth Democracy Projects What is a Youth Democracy project? Youth Democracy projects allow young people to increase their participation in democratic practices. The projects are for young people, aged 13-30 - and their leaders and enable participants to make their voices heard on issues that affect them. A project involves working with a partner organisation from your own country and that national partnership will cooperate with a duo partnership elsewhere in Europe, carrying out activities that are linked to active youth participation and democratic issues for 3 to 18 months. Aim of the Contact Making Seminar The aim of the CMS is to establish partnerships for Youth Democracy Projects and to develop projects and skills to apply for this action in the YIA programme. Objectives • To find partners and develop an International Youth Democracy Project • To gain an in-depth understanding of Youth Democracy Projects and how to apply for grants from Youth in Action programme • To develop a project plan and identify the competences needed to implement an international project • To reflect on the added value and impact of international projects, particularly Youth Democracy Projects, for local communities. • To get ideas and inspirations on activities that can be implemented in the local community to deepen the dialogue between young people and decision makers.   Profile of participants:
 Participants have to be residents of one of the following countries: Ireland, Denmark, Greece, Belgium(FR), Switzerland, Croatia, Spain, Romania, Norway, Turkey, Estonia, Poland, Netherlands, Hungary, Lithuania or Austria The programme is designed for (youth) workers who represent youth organisations, local authorities, or work in local governments or other public institutions that are already active in the area of youth participation or have an interest in getting young people involved in democratic processes. Participants are expected to spend time before the seminar preparing a project proposal together with their National project partner and a group of young people. Participants are expected to: • Have ideas and potential partners to develop a 1.3 project • Have interest and the possibility within their organisation/group to set up a 1.3 project after the seminar • Are able to communicate and work in English • Are at least 18 years old • Participants are expected to have basic knowledge of the Youth in Action Programme Lots more information will be available on the seminars Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/DemocracyExplored