Up-Root Eco-Democracy

<< Background >>The project's goal was to raise young people's confidence in the EU by educating them about its climate change-related activities and jurisdiction. This will reduce young people's fear of climate change and encourage cooperation with the EU to stop it. We anticipated more information on and chances to interact with the EU to combat youths' sense of helplessness and impotence. Additionally, in partner nations, young participation in EU elections is notably low. Therefore, there is and is a need to learn more about these subjects. << Objectives >>Through the project, we wanted to create spaces for young people to discuss and think critically about the challenges that cities face in terms of sustainability, and to raise awareness of how they can be more active and participative in society. We also wanted to build connections between local youth, civil society organizations, and youth workers, fostering collaboration and ongoing dialogue on issues related to sustainability and democratic engagementBy the implementation of the project, we got the insight that young people have great ideas for solutions to the needs they find in their communities. This highlights the capacity of young people to shape the future of their cities and communities.<< Implementation >>Throughout the 2 years of the project, we implemented many activities. We held local activities and roundtable discussions with participants, where we held discussions with young people about the sustainable development in the project partners countries, the state of democracy electoral systems and challenges associated with political participation among young people and society in general. We created the Youth Democracy in the EU Guidebook and the Sustainable Cities Guidebook.Digital Sharing of Resources: To ensure accessibility and wider dissemination, we shared the guidebooks in digital format. This allowed participants, especially youth workers and civil society organizations, to easily access and utilize the materials in their work.Engagement and Feedback: Throughout the project, we encouraged active participant engagement through Q&A sessions, sharing experiences, and gathering feedback. This helped shape future activities and ensure that the project remained relevant to the participants' needs.These activities were designed to promote civic engagement, deepen understanding of sustainability, and create lasting resources for ongoing education.<< Results >>The project resulted in two key outputs: The Youth Democracy in the EU Guidebook and the Sustainable Cities Guidebook. Both guidebooks are designed to empower individuals and communities to be more participative politically and to take meaningful action toward a more democratic and sustainable future. Both guidebooks were shared in digital format, ensuring they were easily accessible for participants, youth workers, and civil society organizations to download and use in their own contexts.Increased Awareness and Knowledge: Participants gained a deeper understanding of sustainability challenges in cities and the importance of democratic participation, enhancing their civic engagement and awareness.These outputs and results contributed to the project’s success, offering valuable tools for continuing education and encouraging long-term engagement with issues of democracy and sustainability.Additionally, the project strengthened cooperation with partners and other organizations, leading to valuable exchanges of knowledge and resources. These collaborations helped enhance the guidebooks and set the foundation for future joint initiatives in sustainability and youth engagement.