From February 2nd to 9th, 2025, a very special training course took place in Athens, Greece. This TC was held as part of our very own Youth4Values project, bringing together five participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina along with others from Spain, Greece, and Montenegro to learn and collaborate on the project’s topics.
This training course provided a dynamic experience for young changemakers, focusing on democracy, youth participation, and civic engagement. Over several days, participants engaged in discussions, interactive workshops, and collaborative activities designed to enhance their understanding of democratic principles and encourage active involvement in their communities.
The program featured a mix of icebreakers, debates, and teamwork exercises, helping participants develop critical thinking and advocacy skills. Sessions explored topics such as democratic engagement, civil rights, and youth involvement in policy-making. Through group work, national teams identified key challenges and proposed actionable solutions tailored to their communities.
Participants also engaged in cultural exchanges, strengthening their networks and fostering cross-border collaborations. The program concluded with reflections, evaluations, and a celebration of shared achievements, reinforcing the importance of youth-driven change.
The Youth4Values training course served as a platform for young leaders to deepen their knowledge, build connections, and develop initiatives that promote civic engagement. The experience empowered participants to continue their efforts in fostering democracy and social change in their respective communities.
Within this project, many activities are being prepared so stay tuned for much more to come!
ABOUT "YOUTH4VALUES" PROJECT
Youth4Values project supports active citizenship and political participation of youth in partner countries, coming from 3 different European regions. As well as, the project will foster the development of social and intercultural competencies, critical thinking, and soft and transversal skills. The focus will be on raising awareness of and understanding the European Union context, European identity, and the importance of active participation in decision-making processes at the local level, especially among youngsters.
To strengthen the connection between democracy and active citizenship and active participation in the decision-making process at the local level, and recognizing that each is mutually dependent on the other, is the most important result of this project. We will achieve it through the enhancement of democratic governance and the rule of law by fostering a culture of active citizenship, promoting civic education, and empowering individuals with knowledge about their rights and responsibilities as citizens. We hope this project will help improve the quality and accessibility of NFE in partner countries by collaborating with youth organizations, educational institutions, and decision-making bodies, and help bridge the gap in the existing system.
Research indicates that participation in different forms may be on the increase, for example, pressure groups, civic initiatives, consultative organs, and so on. These forms of participation are just as important to the effective functioning of democracy as voter turnout at elections, if not more so. In Europe as well, even in the more traditional democracies, “people power” appears to have found a new lease of life: students have protested in many countries against moves by governments to impose fees on education. Trade unions have brought people onto the streets to protest about the impact of economic cuts.
More about BRAVO you can see on our video below: