#EUandME- Activating Youth in Democratic and Political Life Erasmus Project

Project Title

#EUandME- Activating Youth in Democratic and Political Life

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for youth

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Civic engagement / responsible citizenship; EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy; Youth (Participation, Youth Work, Youth Policy)

Project Summary

The European Union (EU) has suffered, in recent years, a significant deterioration in its image both globally and its institutions and agencies (Pew Research Center, 2016). This has been mainly due to various problems in which the EU has been involved: economic crisis, youth unemployment, anti-Europeanism, xenophobic movements, terrorist attacks and refugee crisis (Gómez, 2017). In turn, all of the above has led to a notable lack of political participation on the part of its citizens, especially among the youngest ones (Eurobarometer, 2017, Eurobarometer, 2014). In the last two European elections, the percentage of people who voted has never exceeded 50% (43% in 2009 and 43.11% in 2014). Which is worrisome, on the one hand, for European democracy and, on the other hand, to be able to really get the voice of citizens heard and really come up with solutions to the problems facing them and the EU.

Due to the above, and in the aftermath of the European elections in May 2019, the project “#EUandME: Activating Youth in Democratic and Political Life” was born. The main objectives of this project are the following: (1) to generate a methodology or framework of action to effectively involve young people in the democratic and political life of their communities; (2) promote European citizenship (awareness and sense of belonging) among young people; and (3) develop an electronic platform where young people can exchange their opinions / needs, make proposals to improve the European Union (and their communities) and share all of the above with the new MEPs (after the May 2019 elections).

In order to achieve the above objectives, young people and young workers (of the partners themselves and other local entities) will be involved from the beginning of the project. For this, focus groups will be held with both groups to identify the following aspects: (a) what determines that a young person becomes an active agent of the democratic and political life of their communities; (b) identify the needs and problems that young people are currently facing (in relation to the 8 themes of #EUandME); (c) know how to prepare proposals for improvement to the needs / problems of young people (also in relation to the 8 themes of #EUandME); (d) jointly design the electronic platform for democratic and political participation; and (e) know how to present the proposals to the MEPs.

The main target groups of the project are based on the profile of the partners and their own contexts. In the case of Fondation des Femmes, they will be young workers who work for the socio-economic inclusion of women (from 24 to 44 years old) and young native and migrant women (from 16 to 24 years old). HRYO, on the other hand, will be youth workers who work in the promotion of human rights and the integration of young migrants (from 24 to 44 years old), as well as young first and second generation migrants (from 16 to 24 years old). . BB & R, finally, will focus on youth workers who work in the development of civic-political skills and young people with political disaffection (from 16 to 24 years). In addition, the project has the collaboration of the following local organizations: San Estanislao de Kostka School (Salamanca), Entreculturas Salamanca, IPSSEO Institute “P. PIAZZA” (Palermo), Associazione Santa Chiara (Palermo), RAJA-Danièle Marcovici Foundation ( Paris) and Fondation la France s’engage (Paris).

This project is of the utmost importance to be implemented on a transnational scale. First, because the future of Europe does not depend on just one country (but on all those that make it up). Second, because it is very important that European countries (and, therefore, their citizens) identify points in common and, from these, build a more inclusive Europe. Third, because it is essential to have perspectives or sensitivities from different countries (as well as from different professional fields) so that a European project is successful and has a greater impact. In this way, it is expected to contribute to increase participation in European elections, European democracy and the achievement of solutions to the problems facing the EU.

Finally, this project is perfectly framed within the Erasmus + program and the Strategic Associations. As stated in the guide, this project seeks the following. First, promote European citizenship (awareness and sense of European belonging) among young Europeans. Second, to exchange, among entities of different sectors (associations, cooperatives and companies), knowledge, experiences and good practices to promote the political participation of young Europeans. Third, strengthen intersectoral cooperation between Spain, France and Italy in the field of youth.

Project Website

https://euandme.plus

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 23750 Eur

Project Coordinator

BIDERBOST BOSCAN & ROCHIN SL & Country: ES

Project Partners

• Association de soutien de la Fondation des Femmes
• H.R.Y.O HUMAN RIGHTS YOUTH ORGANIZATION