Active European Citizenship: Empowering Youth for the Future

Course Objectives

• To help young people understand their rights, responsibilities, and opportunities as European citizens.
• To foster a sense of belonging to the European community and promote active democratic participation.
• To develop teamwork, communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• To empower participants to design and implement youth-led projects with real community impact.
• To encourage critical thinking about diversity, inclusion, sustainability, and European values.

Schedule

Module 1 – Understanding European Citizenship

• What it means to be a European citizen in today’s world.
• Rights, responsibilities, and opportunities for young Europeans.
• Key EU values: democracy, equality, diversity, human rights, and sustainability.
• Inspiring stories of young changemakers in Europe.

Module 2 – How the European Union Works and Why it Matters

• Overview of EU institutions: Parliament, Commission, Council, and their roles.
• How EU decisions affect everyday life.
• Ways for young people to influence policies and take part in European democracy.
• Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps, Youth Parliament, and other opportunities.

Module 3 – Diversity, Inclusion and Intercultural Dialogue

• Understanding cultural diversity as a strength of Europe.
• Combating stereotypes, discrimination, and hate speech.
• Practical activities for empathy, teamwork, and intercultural communication.
• Real examples of youth-led initiatives promoting inclusion.

Module 4 – Sustainability and Global Citizenship

• The role of the EU in climate action and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Youth engagement in environmental activism and social innovation.
• Examples of projects where young people led change in their communities.
• Connecting local action to global challenges.

Module 5 – Democratic Participation and Youth Empowerment

• Understanding political participation: voting, campaigns, and advocacy.
• How to express opinions and influence decision-making.
• Debating, negotiation, and public speaking exercises.

Module 6 – Leadership, Teamwork and Project Management

• Developing leadership skills and shared responsibility in teams.
• Problem-solving and decision-making in collaborative contexts.
• Tools for project planning (Canva, Trello, Padlet, Miro).
• Creating an action roadmap for community impact.

Module 7 – Collaboration Across Boarders

• Building networks with young people from other European countries.
• Exploring youth exchanges, volunteering and cross-border projects.
• How Erasmus+ can support youth-led initiatives.
• Examples of impactful international collaborations.

Module 8 – Designing and Implementing Youth Projects

• Turning ideas into action: from concept to execution.
• Groups design a concrete project to be applied in their school or community.
• Support in preparing visual materials, pitches, and presentations.
• Peer-to-peer mentoring and feedback from trainers.

Module 9 – Final Project Presentation and Action Plan

• Public presentation of youth-led projects with feedback from peers and trainers.
• Reflection on the skills and knowledge gained.
• Creating a personal and group action plan for future civic engagement.
• Exploring opportunities for project continuation and Erasmus+ funding.