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Description
Lack of awareness of the importance of active citizenship and democratic culture effect young people; young people in Croatia have no access to activities that would enable them to proactively advocate for their views and develop democratic competencies while gaining practical experience in advocacy activities. Goal: to develop democratic competencies and civic awareness among young people as vulnerable group and to include them in participatory decision-making models.
Specific goals:
1: Empower young people (age 15-22) to actively participate in society, emphasizing they are a vulnerable group (R 3.2, 3.3)
2: Expand the reach of debate clubs as a model of civic education (CE), develop civic awareness and democratic competences among young people (R 3.1)
3: Develop a deliberation model for application in Croatian local government units (LGU) and schools and adapt a method of participatory inclusion of vulnerable groups. (R 3.2, 2.2.)
Project activities: training of educators and young volunteers (to conduct debate and deliberation); support the work of debate clubs (on-site and online mentoring, development of online tools for organizing education); training of young deliberation ambassadors and implementation of deliberation activities strengthening the capacity of NGOs, LGUs and educators to implement the CE debate model; development of advocacy materials and program accreditation; translating and adapting materials for debate and deliberation to suit the needs of young people; dissemination conference.
The added value of the Citizens Foundation Iceland is practice and knowledge in using innovations technology for restoring faith in democratic debate and institutions (open state-of-the-art engagement platforms and consultations on how to best plan & execute successful citizen engagement projects). Local partners contribute in development of methodology and communication with local authorities and in facilitation of communication with schools.
Summary of project results
The project "Democratic Vaccination" focused on the issue of insufficient civic engagement among young people. In Croatia, youth are generally reluctant to participate in political processes, distance themselves from social matters, and show declining interest in politics (Ilišin & Spajić Vrkaš, 2015). Young people also tend to have low political competencies and low participation levels, as well as a lack of knowledge about mechanisms of influence (Kovačić & Vrbat, 2014). Based on our work with youth, we developed a model that included two key steps:
Training and empowering young people for political participation rather than superficial information dissemination, through participation in a debate club or by introducing debate methodology into education. Debate clubs and the use of debate methodology are aimed at engaging disinterested youth who lack the basic knowledge and skills to participate in political processes and take independent action.
Providing young people with the opportunity to practically apply the competencies they have gained. Approaches that offer youth extensive theoretical content, such as information about local, national, and supranational institutions and processes, often fail to enable them to actively use this knowledge in practice. In the context of this project, this involved deliberative activities and later advocacy efforts to implement proposed solutions.
In addition to empowering youth, we recognized the need for further training of educators (in both formal and non-formal education) in the area of active youth participation to expand the reach of the project and the debate methodology to as many communities and individuals as possible.
The project implemented and expanded the Debate Model of Civic Education and Deliberation across Croatia, engaging educators, students, and local communities in democratic participation. Through a series of structured activities, the project enhanced youth engagement, strengthened civic competencies, and fostered collaboration between schools, civil society organizations (CSOs), and policymakers.
To equip teachers and trainers with the necessary skills, three cycles of training were organized for educators from Vukovar-Srijem, Brod-Posavina, Sisak-Moslavina, Karlovac, Šibenik-Knin, Virovitica-Podravina, Bjelovar-Bilogora, Split-Dalmatia, and the City of Zagreb. A total of 95 educational professionals successfully completed the training, enabling them to implement the debate model in their schools. Additionally, 15 educators participated in an online training session focused on conducting deliberations in digital environments.
Following the training, participating educators introduced the debate model in 38 high schools through debate clubs or regular classes during the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 school years. To ensure quality implementation, HDD mentors conducted 56 field visits, while nine trainers provided online and in-person mentoring. The mentoring process included about 15 team meetings and approximately 90 meetings with educators actively using the debate model.
To further strengthen youth participation, two Deliberation Ambassadors Trainings were conducted during the Summer School of Democracy in August 2022 and August 2023. A total of 96 young participants from across Croatia attended these trainings, which focused on active youth participation, democratic structures, and civic engagement. Students engaged in interactive workshops on thesis analysis, strategic positioning in debates, and community mapping to identify local challenges and opportunities for youth involvement.
The project also facilitated direct civic engagement by organizing 24 deliberative events in 19 different local communities. These events brought together 1,028 participants, including young people, educators, decision-makers, and CSO representatives. Discussions covered various topics such as youth spaces, public transportation, education quality, and mental health services. In several cities, including Knin, Vukovar, and Vinkovci, proposed solutions from these deliberations were promptly implemented.
To support educators and CSOs in implementing the debate model, the project produced two comprehensive handbooks—one on deliberation methods (adapted for vulnerable groups such as youth with fewer opportunities, Roma community members, and the elderly) and another on the debate model of civic education. These handbooks were distributed at conferences and sent to over 2,000 stakeholders. Additionally, a web tool was developed to facilitate the integration of the debate model into educational settings.
Efforts to institutionalize the debate model included developing two curriculum documents and expert reviews as part of the accreditation process with the Ministry of Science and Education. Advocacy materials were also created and distributed to promote the model’s adoption in schools and CSOs. The project’s outcomes were presented at the "Debate and Deliberation" conference, which gathered around 100 participants, including educators, local government representatives, and civil society actors. The project team also engaged in professional meetings with school principals and participated in various national conferences to advocate for the inclusion of debate and deliberation in the education system.
As an additional outcome, the project contributed to expanding opportunities for youth participation in civic education programs. A total of 1,512 young people took part in project activities, while 95 teachers were further empowered to integrate civic education into their work. The debate model was introduced in 38 high schools, and evaluations showed that participating students developed stronger democratic competencies, became more open to different perspectives, and showed increased readiness for active community involvement. The number of students engaging in debate clubs and civic initiatives grew, demonstrating the project’s lasting impact on democratic engagement in Croatia.
Through this initiative, new partnerships emerged at both national and international levels, fostering continued implementation of the debate model and deliberation methods. The growing number of schools and CSOs adopting these approaches, even beyond direct project support, highlights the sustainable impact of the project in promoting civic education and democratic participation.
The main goal of the project was to develop democratic competencies and civic awareness among young people as a vulnerable group and to involve them in participatory decision-making models. The project successfully strengthened democratic competencies and civic awareness among young people, particularly those with limited opportunities to engage in decision-making processes. By developing and implementing two complementary approaches—a debate-based civic education model and a deliberation method tailored to the Croatian context—the project empowered youth to actively participate in shaping their communities.
The key anticipated impacts for the project have also been realized:
- Expansion of Debate Clubs as a Model of Civic Education through Training and Empowerment for Political Participation: The project significantly expanded access to debate clubs as a tool for civic education. A total of 1,512 young people participated in project activities, while 514 volunteers contributed their time and effort to debate clubs. As a result, 21 new debate clubs were established across Croatia, creating more opportunities for youth to develop critical thinking, argumentation skills, and civic engagement. These outcomes highlight the project’s success in equipping young people for active political participation.
- Practical Application of Acquired Knowledge through Adaptation of Deliberation Methods for Youth and Training in Debate Clubs for Peer Deliberation: Young people gained hands-on experience in civic participation by engaging in structured discussions on social issues and identifying solutions. The project facilitated 24 deliberative events in 19 communities, involving 1,028 participants. These events provided young people with a platform to express their views, engage in democratic decision-making, and implement solutions within their communities, further strengthening their role as active citizens.
Beyond these direct outcomes, the project also contributed to the long-term sustainability of civic education. A major achievement was the integration of the debate model into the Croatian education system, with 38 high schools incorporating it into their programs. Additionally, 95 teachers received training, enabling them to facilitate civic education activities and mentor students in debate and deliberation. Evaluations showed that young participants not only developed a stronger understanding of democratic values but also became more willing to engage in community initiatives and demonstrated greater openness to diverse perspectives.
The project’s impact extended beyond schools, as more young volunteers became involved in local civic initiatives, and civil society organizations adopted deliberation methods to engage youth in decision-making processes. Recognized as a best practice model at national and international levels, the project gained the attention of donors and practitioners, leading to invitations to present its results and share expertise with organizations across Croatia and Europe. The methodology’s success has also led to the launch of five new projects, funded by different donors who recognized its value and invested in ensuring its sustainability and further development. Notably, 80% of participating teachers expressed their commitment to continuing the debate-based civic education model, ensuring that the project’s impact will endure well beyond its official duration.
By fostering youth-led discussions, expanding civic education in schools, and securing long-term institutional support, the project created a lasting framework for strengthening democratic participation and civic awareness among young people in Croatia.
Summary of bilateral results
Norwegian partner facilitated communication with schools and recruitment of teachers, participate in the development of recommendations for implementation in schools, review materials and participate in organizing the conference.