How can participation be made truly accessible to all young people?
EVY-PACT (Empowering Vulnerable Youth for Active Citizenship: A Transnational Approach to Participation and Societal Challenges) stems from this question and from the awareness that not all young people have the same opportunities to take part in civic and democratic life.
Why it matters
Many young people want to play an active role in society, but they face real barriers:
limited access to spaces, institutions perceived as distant, and a lack of information about their rights.
These challenges mainly affect those in vulnerable situations: young people with a migrant background, LGBTQIA+ individuals, young people with disabilities, and those living in peripheral or rural areas. EVY-PACT works to reduce these gaps and build bridges between young people and institutions.
Objectives
The project aims to:
- Strengthen young people’s active participation in democratic processes
- Create and enhance inclusive and accessible civic spaces
- Foster dialogue between young people and institutions at local and European level
- Increase awareness of European citizenship rights
- Develop models and recommendations for more inclusive policies
How we do it
EVY-PACT brings together research, action and dialogue. Over the two years of the project, a series of interconnected activities will be carried out:
- Research on barriers to civic participation in different national contexts
- Educational pathways and tools to strengthen active citizenship skills
- Participatory labs and co-design processes led by young people
- International exchanges to encourage the sharing of experiences across Europe
- Structured dialogues between young people, institutions and local stakeholders
- Communication and advocacy campaigns to amplify young people’s voices
A key element of the project is the connection between the local and European dimensions, with the aim of turning local experiences into policy recommendations.
A European project, rooted in local contexts
The exchange between countries allows us to experiment, adapt and share practices that can be applied in different contexts. For this reason, the project partnership brings together organisations from different countries:
- Amapola srl Impresa Sociale, Italy
- The Good Lobby, Italy
- The Good Lobby Europe, Belgium
- CRPE Romanian Center for European Policies, Romania
- LVIA ETS, Italy
- Enaip Piemonte, Italy
- Pistes Solidaires, France
What we expect
EVY-PACT aims to create a lasting impact:
- young people who are more aware and engaged in democratic life
- institutions that are more open and able to engage with younger generations
- innovative participation models that can be replicated across different European contexts
- a transnational network committed to promoting active citizenship
The ultimate goal is to contribute to building a more inclusive society, where all young people can actively participate and make a real impact on social change. EVY-PACT is a project funded through the European Union’s CERV programme.
