Empowering Youth – Countering Populism

Rising far-right populism and right-wing extremism is characterising Europe`s political and civic landscape. While traditional political parties in Western Europe constantly loose members and political support, populist parties on the right-end of the political spectrum gain ground in many European countries, even reaching political decision-making in governments. What is more, the mainstream public discourse is challenged by alternative right media and radical movements questioning fundamental values of diversity, democracy and political freedom across Europe. This being true for Western Europe, the political landscape in Eastern Europe sees political populism since the independent from Soviet Union, and a rise of nationalistic and chauvinistic narratives and policies that come along.

In this context, civil society has a great role in countering populism and chauvinistic narratives that are anti-European, anti-diversity, and especially anti-immigration in contemporary Europe.

Therefore, this training programme aims to contribute to strengthen the youth sector to counter (right wing) populism and dismantle chauvinistic narratives from a progressive, inclusive and participatory vision for a united European civil society.

The programme pursues the following objectives:

• To reinforce the competences in supporting young people to lead civic initiatives countering populism and chauvinistic narratives, initiatives and movements
• To create a resource pack for youth workers and youth community leaders on countering political populism
• To foster transnational cooperation and partnerships between youth stakeholders in Europe

The training programme is composed of the following activities:

• Activity 1 – Online Training Course I: Understanding Populist Challenges – Framing Civic Responses (18 February – 08 April 2022)
• Activity 2 – Distant learning phase II – Community research (April-June 2022)
• Activity 3 – Training Course II: Designing grass-root civic responses to counter populism and chauvinism (16 – 24 June 2022 Kobuleti, Georgia)

Please note, the online course will consist of 7 Modules each composed of a self-study component with a workloda of 1,5 to 2 hours and a webinar with a duration of 2 to 3 hours.

The programme will address the following topics:

• Understanding the rise of populism in Europe and the mechanisms populist movements rely on for gaining support
• Concepts, principles and practices of youth-led grass-root civic activism for countering populism and right-wing extremism
• Methods for community research and analysis
• Project planning framework for civic movements and grass-root initiatives countering populism locally
• Approaches and measures for inclusive and participatory project development processes with young people