Democracy Camp is a five-day intercultural exchange on democracy, media, inclusion, and Europe — and the interconnections between them. It brings together young people aged 16–26 from different European countries, including Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Austria, and Ukraine.
The initiative empowers participants with knowledge and tools for democratic participation and inclusion, helping them to identify best practices, broaden their understanding of governance from the local to the EU level, and strengthen skills essential for political participation and future project success.
Main activities
- Digital kick-off in August: an online session to collect participants’ ideas, set priorities, and get to know partner organisations.
- Sessions in Vienna: exploration of democratic institutions, historical sites, Austria’s political system, and the European Democracy Capital initiative.
- Study visit to Linz & Ars Electronica: meetings with local initiatives on integration and anti-discrimination, along with workshops on project management, fundraising, campaigning, and public speaking.
- Cultural highlight: the Sound Cloud event across the Danube, celebrating youth participation.
- Post-camp outcome: the Youth Democracy Handbook — a collection of ideas and tools for improved youth participation, shared with European decision-makers, including Members of the European Parliament.
Democracy International (Germany)
National Ecological Centre of Ukraine (Ukraine)
Mehr Demokratie (Austria)
Mehr Demokratie e.V. (Germany)
Lota’s Box (France)
Service Civique Européen (France)
Meer Democratie (Netherlands)
Europe Info Centre (Bulgaria)
Dachverband Schweizer Jugendparlamente (DSJ) (Switzerland)
Europuls – Centre of European Expertise (Romania)
Coordinators from Ukrainian Team (NECU)
Yullia Khrystynchenko
Liudmyla Blyzniuk
Organizers
Anne Hardt
Bekka Margiani
Lia Civolani
Erwin Leitner
Luise Zwick
Achim Wölfel
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
