SEED - Strengthening Elections & Empowering Democracy
Through the youth participation project “SEED – Strengthening Elections and Empowering Democracy”, we aim to support young people to take an active role in local decision-making processes. The project is a cooperation between FACK, Eurobug (Lithuania) and LA FENICE (Italy) and consists of three parts:
- Local activities from March to June 2024 to create space for political discussion and to increase young people’s interest in political action.
- The SEEDemocracy Youth Exchange in Altenburg in July 2024 that brought together young people from three countries to exchange ideas and experiences on local politics and democratic engagement.
- After the Youth Exchange, participants returned to their communities to plan and run follow-up events in: a series of actions to promote the role of young people in decision-making at local and European level.
Project partners
Local activities
Local activities run by youth groups with the support of youth workers of partners involved to create space for political discussion and to increase young people’s interest in political action. Each local activity will involve at least 10 young people from the rural areas aged between 14 and 18 and will contribute to building the local community’s knowledge and skills in the field of participation.
Wahldings… aber anders! 08.05.2024
This activity focused on understanding EU values, confronting stereotypes, and raising awareness about privileges within the EU. Participants worked in small groups to explore different EU countries and discussed ways to challenge prejudices through critical thinking and dialogue.
FACKtencheck. Bist Du gut, weil Du Deutsch bist?! 25.05.2024
In this session, young people reflected on national identity and EU citizenship through interactive group work. They tackled stereotypes, questioned assumptions, and discussed how identity is shaped by language, culture, and history—promoting a deeper understanding of diversity and inclusion in Europe.
Altenb(EU)rg – Warum die EU auch Dich betrifft! 08.06.2024
Participants engaged with local youth participation structures using improvisational theatre. They examined barriers to participation, shared personal experiences, and developed strategies to amplify the voices of less-represented youth in civic and political life.
New Voices in Tortona 08.06.2024
This activity introduced young migrants (14–18) to the themes of democracy and participation using non-formal education methods. Participants took part in icebreakers, group discussions, and a tailored English workshop to build their confidence and prepare for international exchange. The session helped them reflect on their role as young citizens in local civic life.
Tortona Talks: A Video Journey 18.06.2024
Participants planned, filmed, and edited a short documentary about local civic spaces, interviewing key figures in Tortona. They developed media and communication skills while exploring local democracy in practice. A follow-up English session focused on travel vocabulary and dialogue, linking civic knowledge with language empowerment.
Meeting Change-Makers 29.06.2024
Youth participants interviewed a migrant and women’s rights activist and a local political party representative to learn about real-world civic engagement. The group prepared questions, conducted interviews, and reflected on civic participation. The session concluded with an English lab on small talk and interview techniques, strengthening both civic and language competences.
Youth Vision for Varėna Region 20.04.2024
Participants from rural Varėna explored what is missing in their region and proposed ideas to make it more youth-friendly. Through storytelling, teamwork, and creative workshops, they reflected on identity, belonging, and local needs. The session built confidence, empathy, and civic awareness, laying the groundwork for public engagement with decision-makers.
20 Years with the EU – What’s Next? 08.05.2024
Held on EU Day, this public event gathered youth and local authorities to reflect on Lithuania’s EU journey and the future of youth in Varėna. Participants presented their vision, opened a new Youth Space, and held a dialogue with the mayor and other stakeholders, promoting youth participation and initiating a long-term civic strategy.
Intercultural Learning & Exchange Prep 15.06.2024
This activity focused on intercultural understanding, conflict resolution, and group agreement-building in preparation for a youth exchange in Germany. Using the iceberg model and practical scenarios, youth explored visible and invisible cultural differences and co-created team values, strengthening group cohesion and logistical readiness.
🇪🇺 youth exchange in altenburg
During the youth exchange in Altenburg, young people from three countries came together, creating a vibrant platform for exchanging ideas and experiences related to local politics and democratic engagement.
The event offered a valuable space for young people to explore their roles in democratic processes at local, national, and EU levels. They discussed issues related to democracy and planned local actions to boost youth participation in elections and civic initiatives.
The youth group shared the results and learnings from their local activities and gained insights into participation structures in other countries. Participants honed their skills in conducting constructive political discussions, exploring pluralism, and addressing prejudices. They actively contributed to the program of the youth exchange and led sessions based on their interests.
follow-up activities
After the Youth Exchange, the participants returned to their communities and planned and ran follow-up events. These were a series of actions designed to promote the role of young people in decision-making at local and European levels.
📍Germany
FACK your Friday – New Year’s Special – Die Party, 03.01.2025
This event turned a party into a lesson on democracy for 63 young participants. By solving challenges together to keep the music on, they learned the value of compromise and collaboration firsthand. The event demonstrated how to make political education engaging and effective for youth.
📍germany
Werkstatt der Mutigen, 05.02.2025
The event brought together young people who are active in the community. Local heroes talked about their projects and negotiated with politicians for the support they need to continue making a difference. Everyone left feeling more connected and confident in their ability to speak up for what matters.
📍italy
From participants to leaders, 04.01.2025
Inspired by our youth exchange, this peer-led event brought its core themes back to the local community in Tortona. The young organizers guided their friends through activities exploring democracy, discrimination, and critical thinking.
📍italy
Movie night, 22.02.2025
Following our youth exchange, participants took the lead by organizing a community movie night featuring „The Color Purple.“ They managed the event and facilitated discussions, creating a safe space to explore themes of discrimination while developing their own skills in teamwork and public speaking.
📍lithuania
International Volunteering Day, 05.12.2024
We launched the first youth volunteer awards in the Varėna region, bringing 62 young people together to celebrate their community impact. The event connected attendees with local organizations, promoted Erasmus+ opportunities, and showcased youth engagement to key decision-makers.
The project “SEED – Strengthening Elections and Empowering Democracy” is funded by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ programme.