Invitation to submit applications for student participation in the program 'Encouraging democratic values and active citizenship among young people'

PDVIAAGMM is a ten-month program that aims to impart knowledge about democratic principles and human rights, to stimulate critical thinking about sensitive topics, and to encourage the development of communication and research skills in participants.

The program consists of the following components:

• Nine-day educational program (in December 2021) primarily aims to impart knowledge about different models of democracy, democratic values, basic postulates of active citizenship and democratic political culture, human rights, nationalism and identity, and youth activism. The practical component of this part of the program will be focused on the development of leadership and communication skills, on promoting the use of social networks for the purpose of activism, and on the development of research skills.

• Individual research (December 2021 - February 2022) will enable participants to investigate an issue of their interest, which in a broader sense refers to existing obstacles that prevent the effective participation of young people in their communities, i.e. to examples of discrimination or violations of the human rights of young people. Participants will also be assigned mentors that they will be able to consult in the research process.

• Three-day project management training (March 2022) represents an opportunity for the presentation of research, but also the development of skills in the field of project and financial management. As part of the training, participants will also be divided into 4 groups and work together to develop project ideas that will try to address some of the issues identified during the research phase. At the end of this seminar, each group will have designed a mini-project and will receive funds for its implementation.

• Implementation of group projects (April - June 2022)
Participants will have three months to implement their mini-projects and thus apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired in the previous phases of the program.

• Promotion of the results of group projects in the media and impact on local communities in which they were implemented (July-August 2021)

• Closing ceremony (September 2022) will represent an opportunity for the presentation of realized mini-projects, but also the development of a discussion on issues of importance for young people.

All participation costs for 15 students borne by the organizer. Upon completion of the project, participants will be awarded certificates.