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Description
The interactivity offered by the social networks creates a big gap between the young people and the classic news sources, with direct implications in activism, civic involvement and participation. Formal education does not develop the necessary civic involvement. Over 80% of young people aged 14-29 admit they have not signed a list of political claims, and over 78% have not participated in a demonstration (according to a FES study). There are statistics that portray a lack of knowledge regarding the democratic processes, but also a lack of direct involvement in a functional democracy. This is why for 14 months, the project aims to increase the level of involvement of 100 young people (14 and 24 years old) and 100 teachers from 5 communities under-served in public decision-making processes, by following a curriculum that will provide knowledge, skills and participatory tools, incorporating democratic values, education on the legislative system, the use of democratic levers and the investigation and sound management of the relevant information flow. In addition, the project aims to consolidate a nursery of 200 informed and active citizens from 5 communities served, which will initiate 5 initiatives aimed at promoting decision-making transparency in the public sector. The initiatives will take the form of a public monitoring campaign, the stages of investigation and the taking of measures /proposals respecting the social, economic and political specificity of each community. At the national level, zDemocracy aims to increase knowledge on civil rights and involvement in public decision-making by developing a novel digital web-based educational platform, engaging at least 1000 citizens (20% 14-24 years) in an interactive process. of learning through which users will develop their knowledge and skills of civic participation and critical analysis of information from the media that influence the development of the community.