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Description
The Czech-Norwegian project focuses on the civic engagement of youth. A team of teachers from two partner upper secondary schools believes that students can improve life of local communities - they just need to know how to bring their ideas into being. Therefore, the team will create two innovative methodologies focused on European Youth Parliament and Participatory Budgeting. These materials that will include videos will serve as a valuable tool facilitating education of youth civic participation and will attractively present how decision-making processes work in a democratic system. Thanks to this, the students will learn how to process their ideas for the community, present them in public, negotiate financial and political support for them and finally implement them at the local level. The project team plan to share them with teachers, representatives of local communities and foreign coordinators from all over Europe.
Summary of project results
The Active Citizenship in Modern Democracies: Two Specific Methodologies project addressed the pressing need for engaging and practical approaches to democracy and citizenship education. Recognizing a lack of awareness about active citizenship among youth, the project aimed to empower educators and students through innovative methodologies that enhance understanding and participation in democratic processes.
The project implemented two key activities. The first was peer-learning workshops focusing on the European Youth Parliament and Participatory Budgeting. These workshops provided students with hands-on experience, enabling them to interact directly with democratic practices. This approach made abstract concepts of democracy and citizenship more tangible and relatable.
The second was the development of an online textbook as a critical resource for educators and students. This textbook offers comprehensive educational content to deepen understanding and engagement with civic participation.
These efforts combined to deliver both practical experience and a lasting educational tool to advance knowledge and active participation in democratic systems.
The project achieved the following significant and lasting outcomes. Many student participants acquired practical skills in democratic participation, fostering a deeper understanding of active citizenship. To educators, the project provided new pedagogical tools and resources, significantly enhancing the teaching of democracy and citizenship. A broader audience can benefit from the online textbook which has extended the project’s impact, serving as a durable and adaptable resource for future educational initiatives.
The project’s transformative impact is evident in its ability to instil a strong foundation of active citizenship among young people, empowering them to become informed and engaged participants in democratic societies. This enduring legacy highlights the importance of targeted educational initiatives in fostering a vibrant, participatory democracy.
Summary of bilateral results
The collaboration with Askim Videregaende Skole, our Norwegian donor project partner, was pivotal in achieving the project''s objectives. Their specific contributions, rooted in their expertise in democratic education, particularly through the European Youth Parliament (EYP), provided a substantial foundation for the project''s success. This partnership achieved specific project outcomes and fostered a deeper, reciprocal understanding of democratic education practices between the Czech and Norwegian educational communities. Both schools are highly interested in further collaboration.