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In a significant stride towards inclusivity and empowerment, the consortium of partners of the project EXTRA-C convened for a pivotal Training of Trainers event from January 23 to 26 in Porto, Portugal. Hosted by APROXIMAR, the training aimed to equip participants with the necessary tools and methodologies to promote the democratic participation of young people with intellectual disabilities.

Throughout the training, partners showcased the outcomes of the training modules developed within Work Package 3 (WP3) and received comprehensive training in the methodologies outlined in these modules. These modules, now ready for national implementation, are tailored to engage young people with intellectual disabilities in meaningful ways.

This gathering not only facilitated the sharing of results but also provided a platform for valuable feedback and potential revisions to enhance the effectiveness of the activities

Central to the training was the exploration of various topics pertinent to political participation. The training manual, aptly titled « Promoting the Democratic Participation of Young People with Disabilities, » delves into critical areas including:

  • Human and civil rights of people with disabilities
  • Democracy and democratic participation of people with disabilities
  • The main European values
  • A voice in the decision-making process
  • Relationships and socio-emotional learning
  • Participatory actions of people with disabilities

One notable session during the training was led by ALDA, who spearheaded Module 2. ALDA introduced an activity from the Compass: Manual for Human Rights Education with Young People, titled « On the Ladder. » This activity aimed to illustrate the various levels of youth participation within the democratic decision-making process, emphasising the importance of inclusivity and accessibility at every level.

Recognising the significance of firsthand experience in understanding the challenges faced by young people with disabilities, the training program also included a study visit. Hosted by the Centro de Inclusão Social, this visit offered valuable insights into the daily lives of individuals with disabilities and highlighted the supportive structures in place to facilitate their autonomy.

During the visit, participants witnessed firsthand how individuals with disabilities engage in a wide array of activities catered to their interests and passions. From kitchen labs to art labs, theatre labs, computer labs, and more, the activities offered at Centro de Inclusão Social exemplified a holistic approach to empowerment through engagement and inclusion.

The training concluded on a high note, with participants equipped with newfound knowledge and methodologies to drive positive change in their respective communities. By fostering an inclusive environment and promoting the active participation of young people with disabilities, initiatives like EXTRA-C are paving the way for a more democratic and equitable society.

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We are delighted to announce that the city of Trento (Italy), #ALDAmember, is this year’s European Volunteering Capital. An important milestone that certifies the commitment of the entire community of Trento in promoting volunteering, European values and active citizenship.

The proclamation of this status took place on 5 December during the World Volunteer Day, with Trento taking over from Trondheim (Norway) and becoming the second Italian city to hold this role after Padua in 2020.

The nomination of the European Volunteer Capital, launched in 2013 by the European Volunteer Centre (CEV) in Brussels (Belgium) aims to promote and strengthen local volunteering, making communities more resilient and improving the quality of life of citizens. Any European city can participate and the winner is selected by an international jury composed of representatives from the world of volunteering, the non-profit sector, civil society, the private sector and European institutions.

The opening ceremony of Trento European Volunteering Capital 2024 was held on Saturday 3 February, 2024, with the extraordinary participation of the President of the Republic, Mr. Sergio Mattarella, the President of the Trentino Alto Adige Region, Mr. Maurizio Fugatti, the Mayor of Trento, Mr. Franco Ianeselli, the CEV director Mrs. Gabriella Civico and other national and international guests who made the event unique. 

Supporting voluntary activities, the promotion of European values and the active participation of citizens are fundamental elements for the strengthening and survival of local communities

Among the guests of the ceremony, Mr. Andrij Sadovyj, Mr. Andriy Moshkalenko and Mr. Serhiy Kiral, respectively mayor and deputy mayor of Lviv (Ukraine), the city that concurred together with Trento for the title of European Volunteering Capital 2024. 

Representing ALDA, Mr. Maurizio Camin, ALDA Governing Board member and Mrs. Antonella Valmorbida, Secretary General of the Association, participated in the event. Following the inauguration ceremony, the presence of the highest authorities of Lviv at the event represented an essential opportunity to discuss, together with the Mayor of Trento Mr. Ianeselli, in the presence of  Mr. Camin and Mrs. Valmorbida, the opening of a new Local Democracy Agency in the Ukrainian city of Lviv. The establishment of this LDA in the country is included in the ambitious strategy developed by ALDA in 2022: the flagship initiative in Ukraine.

Ukraine has been at the centre of ALDA’s strategy since 2014, with the opening of the first Local Democracy Agencies in Dnipropetrovsk region in 2015 and Mariupol in 2017, aimed at actively fostering the decentralisation of local communities and the sustainable reconstruction of the country. Moreover, 2023, coinciding with the celebration of 30 years of Local Democracy Agencies in the Balkans, marked the opening of the new LDA in Odesa, a symbol of hope for local communities and a brighter future for Ukraine.

Over the years, ALDA has worked to promote the role of LDAs on the ground, involving them in transnational cooperation projects focused on good governance, citizen participation, training and capacity building of local authorities.

Supporting voluntary activities, the promotion of European values and the active participation of citizens are key elements for the strengthening and survival of local communities. 

Congratulating once again the city of Trento for its prestigious award, ALDA looks forward to working together to further stimulate local action and strengthen democracy.

Trento Capitale Europea del Volontariato 2024: creare una comunità attiva a favore della solidarietà, della partecipazione e dell’impegno civico

Siamo lieti di annunciare che la città di Trento (Italia), #socioALDA, è quest’anno la Capitale europea del Volontariato. Un traguardo importante che certifica l’impegno di tutta la comunità trentina nella promozione del volontariato, dei valori europei e della cittadinanza attiva.

L’annuncio di tale riconoscimento è avvenuto lo scorso 5 dicembre durante la Giornata mondiale del volontariato, con Trento che prende il testimone di Trondheim (Norvegia) e diventa la seconda città italiana ad assumere tale incarico dopo Padova nel 2020.

La designazione della Capitale europea del Volontariato, lanciata nel 2013 dal Centro Europeo del Volontariato (CEV) di Bruxelles (Belgio), mira a promuovere e rafforzare il volontariato locale, rendendo le comunità più resilienti e migliorando la qualità della vita dei cittadini. Ogni città europea può partecipare e il vincitore viene selezionato da una giuria internazionale composta da rappresentanti del mondo del volontariato, del settore non-profit, della società civile, del settore privato e delle istituzioni europee.

La cerimonia inaugurale di Trento Capitale europea del Volontariato 2024 si è tenuta sabato 3 febbraio con la presenza straordinaria del Presidente della Repubblica Sergio Mattarella, del Presidente della Regione Trentino Alto Adige, Maurizio Fugatti, del sindaco di Trento Franco Ianeselli, della direttrice del CEV Gabriella Civico e di altri ospiti nazionali ed internazionali che hanno reso l’evento unico nel suo genere. 

Sostenere le attività di volontariato, la promozione dei valori europei e la partecipazione attiva dei cittadini sono elementi fondamentali per il rafforzamento e la sopravvivenza delle comunità locali

Tra gli ospiti della cerimonia, Andrij Sadovyj, Andriy Moshkalenko e Serhiy Kiral, rispettivamente sindaco e vice sindaci di Leopoli (Ucraina), città che ha concorso insieme a Trento per il titolo di Capitale europea del volontariato 2024. 

In rappresentanza di ALDA, hanno partecipato all’evento Maurizio Camin, membro del Consiglio direttivo di ALDA, e Antonella Valmorbida, Segretario Generale dell’Associazione. Dopo la cerimonia di inaugurazione, la presenza delle massime autorità di Leopoli all’evento ha rappresentato un’occasione fondamentale per discutere, insieme al sindaco di Trento Ianeselli, alla presenza di Camin e Valmorbida, dell’apertura di una nuova Agenzia della Democrazia Locale nella città ucraina di Leopoli. L’istituzione di questa ADL nel Paese rientra nell’ambiziosa strategia sviluppata da ALDA nel 2022: l’iniziativa faro in Ucraina.

L’Ucraina è al centro della strategia di ALDA dal 2014, con l’apertura delle prime Agenzie della Democrazia Locale a Dnipropetrovsk nel 2015 e a Mariupol nel 2017, con l’obiettivo di favorire attivamente il decentramento delle comunità locali e la ricostruzione sostenibile del Paese. Inoltre, il 2023, in concomitanza con la celebrazione dei 30 anni delle Agenzie della Democrazia Locale nei Balcani, ha segnato l’apertura della nuova ADL di Odessa, simbolo di speranza per le comunità locali e di un futuro più luminoso per l’Ucraina.

Nel corso degli anni, ALDA ha lavorato per promuovere il ruolo delle ADL sul territorio, coinvolgendole in progetti di cooperazione transnazionale incentrati sulla buona governance, la partecipazione dei cittadini, la formazione e il rafforzamento delle capacità delle autorità locali.

Sostenere le attività di volontariato, la promozione dei valori europei e la partecipazione attiva dei cittadini sono elementi fondamentali per il rafforzamento e la sopravvivenza delle comunità locali. 

Nel complimentarsi nuovamente con la città di Trento per il prestigioso riconoscimento ottenuto, ALDA non vede l’ora di collaborare per incentivare ulteriormente l’azione locale e rafforzare la democrazia.

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As a key actor of local democracy and civil society development, we are proud to announce that ALDA – European Association for Local Democracy – signed the open letter #EUCivilDialogueNow from the EESC’s Civil Society Group and Civil Society Europe, calling on the European Institutions to take concrete measures to implement the provisions of the Treaty on European Union for an open, transparent and regular dialogue with civil society in all policy areas. 

The letter received the immediate support of a total of 156 signatories from across 26 Member States, and ALDA is committed to spreading the message in order to build a democratic society based on fundamental rights and open dialogue by creating direct channels to engage in the EU policy-making process.

Indeed, according to Article 11 of the Treaty, the EU Institutions should already maintain an “open, transparent and regular dialogue with representative associations and civil society” as a main principle of our democracy. Nevertheless, civil dialogue is still patchy and unstructured across the EU and therefore needs considerable progress, beginning with the recommendations arisen by the Conference on the Future of Europe. 

The European institutions must follow up on these recommendations and implement them with all the necessary tools to commit themselves and make substantial progress ahead of the upcoming European elections.

As initiator and member of Civil Society Europe, ALDA shares the vision of a vibrant and active democracy for Europe, where citizens participate in decision-making processes and have trust in their institutions

Through an ambitious approach, the signatories of the open letter request the EU Institutions to: 

  • Initiate an inter-institutional agreement on civil dialogue, harmonising standards and providing spaces to tighten up the quality of local engagement.
  • Create within each institution leadership positions in charge of relations with civil society (i.e. the mandate of the Vice President of both the European Parliament and the European Commission responsible for that relationship), and ensure the establishment of permanent civil dialogue structures in each Member State and relevant EU institution, including the European Council.
  • Promote and strengthen the cooperation between civil and social actors, extending knowledge, expertise and networks in communities and existing societies.   

All of this beginning with the recommendations of the 2024 EU Elections Manifesto for a better civic space and civil dialogue. 

As initiator and member of Civil Society Europe, ALDA shares the vision of a vibrant and active democracy for Europe, where citizens participate in decision-making processes and have trust in their institutions.

Fostering civil dialogue and cooperation with policy-makers ensures greater legitimacy and better implementation of policies related to each area of citizens’ lives, addressing the multiple challenges that our communities and societies face nowadays.

Discover the open letter by clicking here. 

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ALDA is delighted to announce its recent success in securing two grants, furthering its commitment to community development and resilience in Ukraine. These grants mark a significant step in ALDA’s mission to address pressing social needs and support new Ukrainian members.

The first grant has been awarded for the City of Poltava, an esteemed member of ALDA. This funding will pave the way for the creation of a Veterans Center, dedicated to supporting the social integration of individuals returning from the front. ALDA recognises the significance of addressing the needs of those directly affected by the war, underlining its dedication to fostering community resilience.

The second grant, provided by Engagement Global, has been awarded to LDA Dnipropetrovsk in collaboration with the NGO Blue Yellow Cross from North Rhine-Westphalia region in Germany. This funding will be instrumental in the renovation and equipment of a shelter in the basement of a multi-level block in the city of Dnipro.

ALDA expresses its gratitude to the Council of Europe for awarding this financial support.

These achievements reaffirm ALDA’s standing commitment to fostering positive change and creating impactful projects that address the diverse needs of communities.

We look forward to the successful implementation of these projects and their lasting impact on the lives of those they aim to serve.

Since the war’s inception, ALDA has actively engaged in programs for local authorities in Ukraine, with LDAs in Mariupol and Dnipropetrovsk Region playing a pivotal role. The objective is to establish new LDAs in the near future, as outlined in the Flagship Initiative in Ukraine.

ALDA’s role in Ukraine is not just about responding to immediate challenges but also about laying the foundation for long-term resilience, recovery, and collaboration.

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AT A GLANCE

Extraordinary Citizens (Extra-C) is a project that aims to raise awareness and improve inclusive participatory democracy by promoting the active participation of young people with intellectual, psychosocial and developmental disabilities in the democratic life of their (local/regional/national) environment and at a EU Level. In order to achieve this goal, the project will carry out the following activities:

  1. A study on the situation of the democratic rights and the participatory spaces of young people with ID in the partnership countries;
  2. The development and implementation of training modules so that people with ID and their trainers acquire the tools and competencies necessary to actively participate in the democratic life;
  3. Structure dialogue activities where these young people transmit their concerns and political proposals to public representatives and public organisms of young representation. At this point a Good Practices Manual will be created;
  4. A mobility to Strasbourg where young people with ID and youth workers will get to know the EU institutions and come into contact with public representatives. Moreover the mobility will enable over 50participants to be involved in intercultural and EU Citizenship trainingwhile having the opportunity to meet peers from other countries;
  5. National Events will give a platform for stakeholders to reflect and disseminate the project’s results and for the young people with ID, to share their experience and learning processes;

In order to carry out this work plan, the partnership involved includes organisations from Spain, Portugal, Lithuania, Greece and France with a wide range of expertise in the fields of youth, research, training and active participation. The French partner has also offices in BE, IT, RS, MK, MD and TN; so we expect the impact of the project to reach far over the partnership countries. The Project will ensure open access and dissemination of the project results and training materials.

OBJECTIVES

Extraordinary Citizens aims at encouraging and facilitating the inclusive participation of young people with intellectual and physical disabilities in the society, especially in the democratic processes that affect them directly, that means in the socioeconomic, cultural and political factor.
This project aims to address the protection and promotion of human rights among ID people by promoting the needed tools to develop critical thinking based on respect, dignity and inclusion.

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AT A GLANCE

The project aims to empower young women in developing cohesive, inclusive, and sustainable communities, through: multi- stakeholder roundtables, mentorship, and action plans to develop skills, knowledge, and confidence.

The project is expected to increase leadership and community project development, network building, communication skills, personal branding, fundraising, and cross-cultural exchange. It will culminate in a final outreach event and policy brief to provide further recommendations.

OBJECTIVES

Empower young women to drive change in their communities, by providing them with a supportive intercultural, inclusive, and sustainable learning environment.

This entails promoting active citizenship, youth entrepreneurship, and reinforcing links between policy, research, and
practice. The specific objectives are: to acquire knowledge of approaches and tools; to involve policy-makers in promoting gender equality; and to challenge gender stereotypes through offline and online campaigns.

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AT A GLANCE

K-CCRI is a project that was born to enlarge the impact of the existing Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI). Its goal, at large, is to promote and make the concept of “Circular Economy” a tangible reality in Eu cities and regions, particularly for those who are starting to get on this path.


For reaching such an objective, K.CCRI will act as the “Knowledge Hub” of the CCRI, bringing together already existing knowledge and critical mass and fostering an even larger adoption. This, in turn, will be achieved via:

  • Easy-to-access and systematized body of knowledge;
  • Tailored mentoring for city-users;
  • Effective awareness which builds upon public engagement, innovation and technology, business and financial modelling, impact evaluation.

A multidisciplinary journey of 12 partners in 6 European Countries, K-CCRI will rely on complementary skills and competences to give a boost to circular economy in Europe.

OBJECTIVES

  • To bring together relevant knowledge and initiatives fostering circular economy among regions and cities;
  • To build and make accessible and user-friendly material to facilitate learning and exchange of knowledge and best-practices;
  • To bring together a pool of experts (inside and outside the project consortium) and implement a specific programme to provide mentoring and tailored support;
  • To provide capacity-building activities;
  • To develop guidelines and policy recommendations for local and regional authorities;
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AT A GLANCE

The SPUR project sees a collaboration between 6 local authorities of 5 European Countries which are the bearer of significant expertise in supporting marginalised youth and elders and are often working with people coming from a migratory background or marginalised gender. These are citizens whose socialisation suffered the most during the Covid19 pandemic, however episodes of urban solidarity spurred amid restrictions and lockdown.

While the consequences of the pandemic are still harshly felt by some of these subjects, the SPUR project will be the occasion thanks to which their municipalities of residence will map their needs of these citizens, exchange best practices and pilot further initiatives to strengthen neighbour socialisation.

OBJECTIVES

  • Reflecting on the impact of COVID-19 in local communities for elderly and the youth;
  • Social reintegration of migrants and women;
  • Establishing transnational cooperation of communities on a European level for peer learning and the exchange of best practices;
  • Finding sustainable, long-term solutions for building a resilient community;
  • Creating a network among citizens, associations and local authorities within the local territories

The SPUR project is financed by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme of the European Union.

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AT A GLANCE

The SCEPA project has the ambition to impact on energy poverty in the North West Regions of Europe, by pursuing the following objectives:

  • It aims to have a Joint Action Strategy and Local Action Plans in the area that will allow for a transnational cooperation that will benefit energy-poor households;
  • It will pilot some existing energy-saving Tools so to accelerate their efficiency and strengthen local strategies and action plans for energy;
  • It will focus on a large outreach, by constantly communicating project results that come from sound monitoring and evaluation processes and spreading them to a newly created Community of Interests via communication or capacity-building initiatives

By defying the current state of little international cooperation, SCEPA will try to create Energy Communities across NW Europe (FR, IRL, BE, UK, DE and NL), which will reduce the monthly energy bills of 105,000+ households, will increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gases emissions, as a results.

OBJECTIVES

  • Develop a Join Action Strategy (JAS) + Local Action Plans (LAPs) on reducing energy poverty, integrating state of the art knowledge/practices. Findings from the JAS + LAPs are translated into a data platform and toolbox for partners and target groups;
  • Enhancing common and target group specific energy poverty tools for vulnerable households, including hard to get target groups;
  • Enlarge SCEPA’s outreach to energy poor vulnerable households in NEW, by providing insights in project results + transfer of results to stakeholders and a Community of Interest

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AT A GLANCE

The CLIMentines project wants to foster a new generation of young people in Europe that have the knowledge, the tools to actively engage and impact on climate action policies in their countries and at European level. The projects forms a partnership of seven organisations in six European countries covering all geographical areas.

OBJECTIVES

  • Connect youth organisations and youth and strengthen knowledge sharing and mutual learning through building a transnational network including participating organisations, youth organisations (grassroot, networks and youth led initiatives).
  • Strengthen the capacities of youth organisations and youth workers and leaders providing them with knowledge and concrete tools to apply in their work towards active citizenship, participatory and deliberative democracy processes and climate action.
  • Support the active engagement of young people especially those with fewer opportunities or those that have been inactive.
  • Empower young people by strengthening their competences and rendering them more confident to participate and influence policy making at local, national and European level, taking in charge their future.
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AT A GLANCE

The earthquakes in 2023 Türkiye caused a mass damage through 11 provinces with loss of 50.000+ people and the financial effect reached 351 Billion TL. Hatay has been the province with the most dramatic destruction. Hatay Metropolitan Municipality was even a new metropolitan governance body before the earthquake and has critical lack of services afterwards. “Support for the Establishment of Temporary Shelter Areas in the Earthquake-Stricken Region of Hatay, » emerged in response to the prevailing circumstances. The funding for this project is provided by the Fons Mallorquí de Solidaritat i Cooperació through the Emergency and Humanitarian Aid Project Funding. Under the umbrella of emergency and humanitarian support, the Fons Mallorqui expressed a commitment to aid in the earthquake response in Türkiye, allocating funds to ALDA for the provision of beds in the Hatay area. Thanks to the financial assistance from Fons Mallorqui, ALDA is supplying 264 beds to households residing in temporary shelters in Hatay. This initiative answers a critical and pressing need, as a significant portion of the affected population lacked suitable or adequately furnished beds, making their living conditions extremely difficult. The project’s objectives are centered around addressing the needs of the region’s inhabitants who have lost their homes, workplaces, schools, health facilities, and more.

OBJECTIVES

Healthy conditions for the built 256 prefabricated units and their infrastructure with better beds, contributing to direct access to decent condition of living by families of the shelters.

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AT A GLANCE

Supporting an enabling environment for civil society in helping the country achieve common European values and standards.

OBJECTIVES

The overall objective is to strengthen the capacities of civil society organisations to support and promote the alignment of budgetary priorities with the integration agenda at national and local level, as well as to increase the involvement of the three platforms of civil society organisations to act cohesively and provide the necessary support in the implementation of the conditionalities related to Moldova’s EU candidate status and the Association Agenda.

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In the wake of the devastating earthquakes that struck Türkiye in 2023, Hatay Province emerged as one of the most severely affected regions, grappling with extensive damage and a desperate need for secure housing. The aftermath of the earthquakes left millions displaced, living in tents, and facing harsh winter conditions. Recognising the urgency of the situation, ALDA, in collaboration with the Fons Mallorquí de Solidaritat i Cooperació, initiated the project « Support for the Establishment of Temporary Shelter Areas in the Earthquake-Stricken Region of Hatay. »

The objective of the project was clear: to provide immediate relief by delivering 264 beds to households residing in temporary shelters in Hatay.

This endeavour aimed to address a critical and pressing need, as a significant portion of the affected population lacked suitable or adequately furnished beds, exacerbating their already challenging living conditions.

The earthquakes had not only claimed lives but also disrupted entire communities, leading to the loss of homes, workplaces, schools, and health facilities. ALDA, with the support of Fons Mallorquí, stepped in to bridge this gap and bring comfort to the lives of those affected. The financial assistance from Fons Mallorquí played a crucial role in making this initiative possible, highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts in times of crisis.

The project kicked off in November 2023, with a dedicated focus on delivering beds to residents, including families, children, the elderly, single women, and people with disabilities residing in the shelter area of Hatay. As a result of effective coordination and swift action, the project nears completion and almost all beds have been delivered to families. A total of 264 households will benefit from the project

The success of the project can be attributed to the strong collaborative ties between Fons Mallorquí and ALDA, as well as the partnerships formed with local entities in Türkiye. Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, a key partner in Hatay’s post-earthquake reconstruction, along with Istanbul Planning Agency and construction company Kiptaş, played instrumental roles in facilitating the project’s implementation. This collaborative network exemplifies the power of collective action in responding to humanitarian crises.

The « Support for the Establishment of Temporary Shelter Areas in Hatay » project not only delivered beds but also symbolises hope, solidarity, and the resilience of communities in the face of adversity. It stands as a testament to the impact that can be achieved when organisations, both local and international, come together with a shared goal of alleviating the suffering of those affected by natural disasters.

Find out more about support for the establishment of temporary shelter Areas in the earthquake-stricken Region of Hatay here.

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AT A GLANCE

POWERYOUTH is a project focused on empowering and involving young people in energy communities to actively contribute to the energy transition. The project recognises the significance of youth leadership in adopting new lifestyles and acquiring skills for supporting sustainable energy practices.

With 2022 being designated as the European Year of Youth, POWERYOUTH aims to address the lack of tools for systematically reinforcing youth participation in energy communities and providing training for energy sustainability.

OBJECTIVES

  • Effectively engage young people and other key stakeholders in collective actions;
  • Develop a toolkit that facilitates the empowerment of youth in energy communities;
  • Set up and support collective actions in youth energy communities;
  • Create and execute a comprehensive and easily replicable capacity building programme to train young people in green energy skills and promote their participation in energy communities;
  • Mobilise youth organisations and local authorities to replicate the POWERYOUTH approach across EU;
  • Formulate policy recommendations and develop exploitation plans for accelerating youth energy communities’ adoption in new areas;
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AT A GLANCE

SINCRONY aims to support youth, especially those belonging to minoritarian and marginalised groups, in reclaiming the necessary power to inform the European political institutions. The ultimate goal is to offer policymakers, public servants, researchers, teachers, youth workers, facilitators of deliberative processes, and youth CSOs concrete instruments, guidelines, and solutions to renovate deliberative and participatory practices implemented in public governance and schools. By improving the democratic quality, inclusiveness, effectiveness, and legitimacy of deliberative and participatory processes, the project will contribute to greater social justice for all youth.

OBJECTIVES

  • enhance the inclusivity of deliberative practices in two local municipalities (in Italy and Finland);
  • design, test, and deliver an innovative, co-constructed intersectional approach called the Intersectional Participatory Action Research-and-Deliberation, piloted in seven local municipalities and four schools (in Italy, Portugal, the UK, and Denmark);
  • design participatory formats;
  • create tools;
  • define ethical guidelines.

HASHTAGS

#Sincrony #Youth #Politics #Empowering #Education #Goals #EUfundedHorizonEU #EU

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Nearly 450 million citizens will be called upon to elect the Members of the European Parliament in the upcoming European elections which will be held in the 27 EU Member States from 6 to 9 June 2024. The 2024 elections will represent a solemn moment for European citizens who will be able to shape the future of the EU and strengthen democracy by having the opportunity to express their opinions on the topics they care about.

These elections take place every five years and are the largest transnational elections in the world, representing the starting point for the reorganisation of Europe’s governing bodies. 

Elected directly by the voters, the Members of the European Parliament represent the interests of citizens with regard to the EU legislative process and they have the duty to ensure that the other EU institutions operate democratically. Moreover, the EU Parliament shares with the Council the power to adopt and amend legislative proposals and to decide the EU budget, as well as to cooperate with national parliaments to get their inputs and to improve democracy and human rights not only in Europe, but also throughout the world.

As a key actor for the protection and promotion of democracy and citizen engagement at the local level, ALDA – European Association for Local Democracy – is firmly committed to reach out and involve more people in voting by reducing the turnout gap among the EU Member States and empowering their role through tangible initiatives such as the TALE project – Take the Lead in the EU Elections.

ALDA fosters the bedrock of European principles and values, including democracy and active citizens, and encourages individuals to exercise their right to vote

The right to vote is a pivotal freedom of any democracy and an essential part of the development of civil society at all levels. Therefore, the more people vote, the stronger democracy becomes. 

Voting will decide which Members of the EU Parliament will represent you in preparing new laws that affect multiple areas of everyday life such as security, migration, environment, social policies, consumer rights, economy, rule of law and many more.

The elections will also be a moment of reflection on the initiatives and improvements made by the European Institutions to foster the participation of citizens and young people in the European decision-making process (see, for example, the Conference on the Future of Europe).

Following its vocation, ALDA promotes the bedrock of European principles and values, including democracy and active citizens, and encourages individuals to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming elections. 

In order to achieve a resilient and accountable democracy, access to reliable information before voting is a tipping point. Diversifying your sources, accessing national and institutional fact-checking, following international news and independent observatories such as the EDMO will help you tackle disinformation and misinformation online down, ensuring EU values safeguard. Furthermore, the EU Parliament has introduced a dedicated website for upcoming elections to keep citizens informed with reliable content, featuring daily updates.

Voting, civic engagement and participation in the democratic process are cornerstones for rewriting the future of Europe and ALDA will carry forward its diligence responsibility to protect and promote EU values and good governance. 

Stay tuned for our updates on the upcoming EU elections 2024! 

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On 11th January, the final event of the Stand Up project, Stand Together Against Hate: A Multi-Agency Initiative took place in Brussels (Belgium) at Residence Palace. Esteemed speakers joined the event to share their valuable insights on the state of hate crimes and hate speech in Europe. 

The keynote speech delivered by MEP Magdalena Adamowicz moved the heart of the audience highlighting how hate crimes and hate speech start from simple words used to promote hatred and dehumanise people. She is a member of the European Parliament and her late husband, the Polish politician Paweł Adamowicz, was a victim of hate crime. Find out more about  Paweł Adamowicz life and Award 2023 here. 

After the presentation of the project by Giovanni Gasparini, Prosecutor Office of Venice, the morning session started with the roundtable Navigating the Intersection of Hate Speech and Crimes. The speakers were Menno Ettema, Programme Manager and Co-Secretary to expert Committee on Combating Hate Speech, Nataša Vučković, member of the Center for Democracy Foundation (CDF) and ALDA Vice President; Sergio Bianchi, expert of the Group on Combating Anti-Muslim hatred and discrimination in the EU and Simonetta Moro from the Municipality of Bologna.

The presentation of the EU Policy Paper results “EU-Level Policy Recommendations on Supporting Multi-Agency Cooperation in Countering Hate Crime, Including Through the Use of Technologies” was led by Eva Tzavala, the Coordinator of the Scientific Unit, and Dr. Anastasia Chalkia, the Human Rights Officer, both representing GNCHR.

Camilla Vedovato, project manager at ALDA, presented the Victim Support Handbook that provides an overview of the STAND-UP project’s vocabulary as well as an analysis of the technological tool OSIN employed. The handbook: 

  • gives background information on the rights of victims of hate crimes within the EU;
  • describes hate crimes and their types, their effects, and offers a victim-centred approach to support; 
  • it outlines the roles of prosecutors and CSOs, the legal system and best practices in Italy, Greece, and Spain;
  • ends with a toolkit for analysing a specific hate speech case.

The six European project partners shared the afternoon session’s panels on interagency cooperation to tackle hate crimes and hate speech, as well as local pilot success stories and results developed in Veneto, Athens, Andalusia, and Trentino-Alto Adige.

The Stand Up Project lasted two years and is a collaborative initiative dedicated to combating hate crimes and promoting inclusivity within the European Union

Through research, training programs, and the development of valuable resources, the project sought to empower communities, law enforcement, and organisations to actively address and prevent hate crimes. The project’s focus areas included awareness-raising, victim support, and the establishment of effective strategies to counter hate crime.

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