Press Release
How is the participation of young people in the local reality related to the "Great Walk"? Is there a methodology for strengthening the active participation of young people in matters that concern them?
These and many more questions were answered through the CIVIC EU program, in which 4C has been a partner since November 2022. Through the project, many opportunities were given to young people to participate in actions and events, to come into direct contact with the people responsible for the reception of decisions, to act actively on local community issues and, above all, to understand how they can have a voice in what happens in their lives. The program deepens essential skills such as researching issues that concern them, defending their rights and democratic dialogue with people from local authorities. This opportunity was not only given to the youth but also to people attending school and they had a valuable opportunity to develop their critical thinking and communication skills.
Students, young men and women, male and female students, people working with youth, decision-makers and other important local authorities participated in the actions of the project, such as the 5th High School of Nea Ionia, the French Institute of Athens and others.
In the actions of the program, young people had the opportunity to propose solutions to improve the future of youth at the local level, referring to the fight against poverty, the inclusion of vulnerable groups and the recognition of their qualifications and the open dialogue on the bodies of the European Union and the rights of citizens to appeal to them.
Focusing on the above and, above all, on the inclusion of vulnerable groups, such for example people with a refugee/immigrant background, 4C created, in the context of CIVIC EU, a podcast episode, discussing the fundamental right to vote of young people with a refugee background in European elections. A young refugee from Afghanistan and the president of the Greek Forum of Refugees, joined the discussion, giving an alternative perspective on disenfranchisement and the need for a more inclusive Europe.
The event held on 10.09.2024 at the organization's offices in Athens, aimed to communicate and showcase the results of the CIVIC EU program from beginning to end, but also to mobilise the discussion for further action in the local community.
12 Civil Society workers, 2 youth workers and 6 new people from the organization's community, who participate in voluntary actions, were invited to the event.
At the start of the event, the details of the program as a whole, the 2-year implementation schedule and the main objectives were presented. Afterwards, the guests had the opportunity to hear and see the results of the civic monitors' team's research, as well as being informed about the podcast created as part of the program, on the topic of the deprivation of the fundamental right to vote for young people with a refugee background.
Finally, we had the pleasure of hosting Iphigenia, a participant in the program and action for the "Great Walk", who explained to the guests the process of research and recording data for the project, while she spoke about the value of active participation in local everyday life.
You can find the program material on social media:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/4c_ngo/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/4cNGO
Youtube https://youtu.be/sCLM4ta47xc
Spotify Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/6mUleH9PwW3g8fUjdJ41KQ
The project is implemented with the co-financing of the European Union. The organization "4C_Cooperate, Collaborate, Create, Change" is responsible for the content of the project activities and does not always reflect the opinion of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency.
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