Call for Partners: KA154 Youth Participation Activities Projects

About Us
The Croatian Association of Political Science Students (USPZ Hrvatska) is seeking partner organisations for four KA154 Youth Participation Activities projects who would act as applicants, with our organisation as partners. As an organisation experienced in coordinating and partnering in KA154 projects (two projects in Croatia), we are now looking to expand our international partnerships through transnational KA154 projects.

What we offer
- experience in KA154 project implementation both as coordinator and partner
- a broad and strong network of youth organisations and decision-makers in Croatia
- project management team with expertise in youth work
- track record of successful project delivery in the field of civic education, democracy promotion, and youth engagement

What we’re looking for
- organisations with some experience in youth participation projects, preferably in democracy/EU/youth work, not necessary in KA154 format (we are glad to help newcomers to get expertise in KA154)
- commitment to youth-led project implementation
- strong local networks for participant recruitment and dissemination

PROJECT 1. “Sweet 16: Lowering the Voting Age”
Duration: 18 months
Partners needed: 1 organisation (as applicant)
Theme: Youth suffrage and democratic participation
Context: The debate about lowering the voting age to 16 has gained momentum across Europe, with a few countries already allowing young people to vote at this age in various elections. This represents a shift in our thinking about youth participation in democracy and citizenship. While voting at 16 is not currently implemented in Croatia, this project seeks to engage young people in understanding and discussing this important democratic evolution. Lowering the voting age raises questions about political maturity, civic education, and youth engagement in democratic processes. Currently, most European countries set the voting age at 18, but countries like Austria, Malta, and parts of Germany have moved to allow 16-year-olds to vote in certain elections. This has created a natural experiment in youth democratic participation, producing insights about young people’s political engagement. Research suggests that when young people start voting earlier, they are more likely to develop lasting habits of democratic participation. However, this topic remains controversial, with arguments for and against lowering the voting age. Critics worry about political maturity and susceptibility to influence, while supporters emphasise giving young people a voice in decisions that will affect their futures. Youth themselves often have nuanced and thoughtful perspectives on this issue but rarely have structured opportunities to explore and express their views. Additionally, the topic of voting age connects to broader questions about youth civic engagement, political education, and the role of young people in shaping democratic societies. By engaging with this topic, young people can develop a deeper understanding of democratic systems, rights, and responsibilities, regardless of their position on the specific issue of voting age.
Activities:
a) Initial 5-day training in the applicant country for 24 young people (12 from each country, ages 15-17) plus 2 facilitators
- Participants will gain expertise in youth (suffrage) policy, public speaking, and workshop facilitation.
- Post-training, participants will work in cross-national pairs to deliver peer workshops in their respective countries.
b) Organisation of 6 roundtables (3 per country) featuring structured dialogue between young people and decision-makers
c) Implementation of a youth-led social media campaign about youth voices on voting age
d) Hybrid final conference presenting project outcomes and policy recommendations
e) Continuous online engagement and experience sharing between participants
Target participants: 24 young people (12 per country, aged 15-18) plus 2 facilitators

PROJECT 2. “Democracy Podcasters”
Duration: 24 months
Partners needed: 1 organisation (as applicant)
Theme: Youth media and democratic engagement
Context: In today’s digital age, young people increasingly consume and share information through new media formats, particularly podcasts and video content. This shift in media consumption patterns presents both challenges and opportunities for democratic engagement and civic education. While young people are highly skilled at using digital platforms, they often struggle to find reliable, engaging content about democracy and citizenship that speaks to their experiences and interests. More often than not, traditional civic education fails to connect with young people where they are – on their phones, tablets, and laptops. Podcasting has emerged as a powerful medium for storytelling and sharing ideas in an accessible format, allowing for in-depth exploration of topics while maintaining a personal, conversational tone. This project recognises that young people are not passive media consumers but can be active creators of meaningful democratic content. By learning to produce their own podcasts and vlogs about democracy and citizenship, participants develop critical media literacy skills while also building their understanding of democratic processes. The project addresses the growing need for youth-created content that can explain democratic concepts and institutions to their peers in relatable ways. Furthermore, the skills developed through podcast and vlog production – including research, interviewing, storytelling, and digital production – are increasingly valuable in today’s job market. Creating content about democracy also naturally leads to deeper engagement with the subject matter, as participants must thoroughly understand concepts before they can explain them to others. Through this project, young people will only learn about democracy and become digital civic educators themselves, reaching peers who might not engage with traditional civic education formats.
Activities:
a) 4-day initial training for 16 young people (8 per country, ages 18-26) plus 2 facilitators, covering podcast production, interviewing techniques, and digital storytelling
b) Production of 30 democracy-themed podcast episodes (15 per country)
c) Creation of 10 behind-the-scenes vlogs documenting the project journey (5 per country)
d) Three study visits:
d1. 3-day Brussels visit recording with EU decision-makers
d2./d3. 3-day cross-country exchange visits for youth perspective recordings
e) Online mentoring and technical support throughout the project
f) Final dissemination conference showcasing best episodes and project impact
Target participants: 16 young people (8 per country, aged 18-29) plus 2 facilitators

PROJECT 3. “Swipe Right on Democracy: A Sneak Peak Inside the EU”
Duration: 16 months
Partners needed: 2 organisations (1 applicant, 1 partner)
Theme: Experiential learning about EU institutions
Context: The European Union’s institutions and decision-making processes often seem like a maze to many young people despite their direct impact on daily life across Europe. Even though young Europeans grow up as EU citizens with adjacent rights and opportunities, many find it challenging to understand how the EU actually works and how they can engage with its institutions. This disconnect is particularly concerning as the EU faces challenges that may impact young people’s futures, from climate change to digital transformation. The complexity of EU governance – with its various institutions, procedures, and levels of decision-making – can be overwhelming when learned only through textbooks or websites. The European Parliament, Commission, and Council each play distinct roles, but understanding how they interact and influence daily life requires more than theoretical knowledge. Young people often express interest in EU affairs but lack the practical understanding to engage meaningfully. This project addresses this gap by offering direct, immersive experiences of EU institutions in action. By visiting Brussels and Strasbourg, participants can see firsthand how EU democracy works, meet with decision-makers, and understand the practical impact of EU policies. This kind of experiential learning can transform abstract concepts into tangible realities. Moreover, many young people are unaware of the numerous ways they can engage with EU institutions, from the European Citizens’ Initiative to youth consultation processes. The project also recognises that peer-to-peer education is often the most effective way to make institutional knowledge accessible and relevant to young people.
Activities:
a) Three 1,5-hour online preparation sessions covering EU basics and study visit preparation
b) Two 5-day study visits:
b1. Brussels: European Parliament, Commission, and youth organisations
b2. Strasbourg: European Parliament
c) 15 peer-led workshops (5 per country) reaching a minimum of 300 young people
d) Ongoing social media documentation of experiences
f) Hybrid final conference connecting participants across all three countries
Target participants: 30 young people (10 per country, aged 18-29) plus 3 facilitators

PROJECT 4. “EUreka!”
Duration: 16 months
Partners needed: 1 organisation (as applicant)
Theme: EU literacy and youth engagement
Context: Understanding how the European Union works is becoming increasingly important for young people’s active citizenship. Yet, many find traditional learning methods about the EU tedious or difficult to engage with. EU literacy – the ability to understand and engage with EU institutions, policies, and opportunities – is an essential skill for young Europeans. Still, it is often taught in ways that fail to capture young people’s interest or imagination. The European Union impacts almost every aspect of citizens’ lives, from environmental protection to consumer rights, yet many young people feel disconnected from these decision-making processes. Traditional civic education often focuses on memorising facts about EU institutions rather than building a practical understanding of how the EU affects daily life. This knowledge gap can lead to disengagement from European democratic processes and vulnerability to misinformation about the EU. Game-based learning and competitive formats have shown great potential for making those topics accessible and enjoyable, particularly for young audiences. Quiz formats, when well-designed, can break down hard information into digestible pieces while creating an engaging social learning environment. Moreover, the competitive element can motivate deeper engagement with the subject matter. This project recognises that learning about the EU should be an active social process rather than a passive one. By combining gamification with peer learning approaches, we can create environments where young people are excited to learn about European democracy. The project also addresses the need for sustainable, youth-friendly information points about the EU that can continue serving communities after the project ends.

Activities:
a) 20 local EU quiz events (10 per country) reaching a minimum of 400 young people
b) Development and implementation of 10 “EU at Your Fingertips” info points (5 per country)
c) Grand finale EUreka! competition bringing together top participants from local events
d) Creation of digital EU literacy resources based on project activities
f) Hybrid final conference showcasing project impact and best practices
Target participants: A core team of 20 young people (10 per country, aged 18-29) plus 2 facilitators, reaching a minimum of 800 young people through activities

Contact
For more information or to express interest, please contact info@uspzh.hr. Please send us your PIF and a short text about which of those projects you are interested in. Based on the results of the initial assessment, we will reach out to the most compatible potential partners for setting up an online meeting.

Deadline
Expression of interest deadline: January 6th, 2025

These projects are planned for submission under Erasmus+ KA154 Youth Participation Activities.