What happens when youth from six different countries come together to learn about democracy, structured dialogue, and civic participation? You get more than just a project – you create a ripple effect of change that extends far beyond borders. This is the story of the “Together for Dialogue” project, a long-term initiative that used experiential learning to bring young people, youth workers, and decision-makers closer to the heart of civic participation.
A Start with a Surprise
The project kicked off in Slovenia where the partners from six countries, including the Moldovan NGO: Reţeaua Naţională a Consiliilor Locale ale Tinerilor din Moldova, met for the first time. This meeting laid the foundation for the project, where partners began discussing how to adapt the project’s design to the local contexts and began shaping the direction of the activities.
Not long after, we held our Expert Seminar in Turkey, which proved to be a pivotal moment. This seminar focused on deepening our understanding of civic competences and experiential learning. The participants – experts from each partner organization – weren’t just talking about civic engagement. They were diving deep into the core elements of how to make these competences practical, and this laid the groundwork for everything that followed.
Hands-On Civic Learning
The core of the project was experiential learning, where participants were actively involved in civic engagement rather than just learning about it. One of the key steps in this process was the Training Course in Poland. Youth workers from our six partner organizations gathered to explore the project’s core resources – the Civic Competence Framework, Digital Assessment Tool, and educational modules.
For many of these youth workers, this was their first chance to fully engage with the tools, understand how they worked, and learn how to apply them in practice. This was the foundation of our cascade learning methodology: first, the experts were trained, then the youth workers, who then went back to their communities to share these resources with young people. This approach allowed the project’s impact to spread effectively and sustainably.
The final stage of this cascade approach was the Youth Exchange in Lithuania, where young people who had already been involved in local actions and interventions gathered to further develop their civic competences. Supported by the youth workers, these young leaders applied the tools and knowledge they had gained to address local issues in their home countries, bringing their learning full circle.
Expanding Our Reach
What made this project special was not just the activities themselves, but how we managed to extend its reach. Beyond the six main partner organizations, each country connected with at least three local partners – including youth centers, schools, municipalities, and other institutions. These local actors played a key role in ensuring that the project didn’t remain in a closed bubble of youth organizations. Instead, we reached other important community stakeholders, which greatly expanded the project’s impact.
In total, we collaborated with over 20 organizations from a wide range of backgrounds, proving that civic participation is relevant to everyone, not just youth workers or NGOs. This diverse involvement enriched the project and created a broader network of support for civic education.
Additional Results to Amplify Learning
In addition to the hands-on activities, Together for Dialogue also developed several other innovative tools to strengthen and sustain the learning process for young people:
- E-learning Platform: This online resource offered over 10 structured courses aimed at strengthening civic competences, allowing participants to continue their learning journey independently. The platform ensured that the learning process could continue even after the formal project activities had ended.
- Educational Board Game: We designed a fun and engaging board game focused on civic participation, helping to bring the concepts of civic engagement closer to young people through a playful and interactive format.
- Photo Contest: As part of our social campaign efforts, we organized a photo contest that invited young people to capture images related to civic activism. The best photos were turned into a calendar, further raising awareness about youth civic engagement in a creative way.
Dialogue That Reaches Beyond Borders
The Together for Dialogue project was not only about local interventions. It also reached key stakeholders at both the national and European levels. Ministries in Poland and Moldova, as well as European Commission officers, took interest in the project’s outcomes. While our formal project duration has ended, we are confident that its results will continue to be relevant in the years to come. The Civic Competence Framework, Digital Assessment Tool, E-learning platform, and educational board game are valuable resources that we believe will continue to be used in policy discussions and civic education programs.
Even though the project has officially concluded, our work isn’t over. We continue to share and promote the results through various platforms and networks. We believe that other institutions and media connected with youth work will be interested in spreading and sharing our tools and outcomes. The future of Together for Dialogue remains bright as its impact continues to grow beyond its original timeline.
| The project partners: – European Confederation of Youth Clubs, Belgium – Aktyvistai, Lithuania – Reţeaua Naţională a Consiliilor Locale ale Tinerilor din Moldova – Fundacja Europejski Instytut Outsourcingu, Poland – International Institute for the Implementation of Sustainable Development, Slovenia – Engeli Olan Bireyler ve Aileleri Gelişim Merkezi Derneği, Türkiye More info is available on the project webpage: www.civicomp.eu |
