Next Step to Europe
This project aims to increase young people’s awerness of participation, democracy, the functioning of the European Union and its future.
PROJECT’S START DATE: 01/03/2024
PROJECT’S END DATE: 31/08/2025
TOTAL BUDGET: 113.640,00€
PARTNERS
Description & Objectives
The “Next STEP to Europe” project is a sequel to the “First STEP to Europe” project. Like its first version, the project aims to increase young people’s awareness of participation, democracy, the functioning of the European Union and its future. Other topics covered by the project include climate and environment, and even disinformation.
As part of the project we have ahead of us meetings in Poland, Spain, Italy and Greece during which we will hold competitions, festivals, anti-conferences, workshops, campaigns, study visits, as well as a concluding conference “I, a citizen of Europe”.
Target groups
Target groups can be divided into two parts:
- firstly, young people aged 13-25, who will take part in each events.
- secondly, in the events, apart from the youth themselves, there will be local authorities, people working with young people at various levels, teachers and experts.
Dissemination on social networks
Mobility to Starachowice (Poland)
Between September 23rd and 27th, we had the pleasure of sending participants from Spain to Starachowice, Poland, as part of the “Next STEP to Europe” project. During this enriching experience, the group engaged in several inspiring activities:
– Workshops on European Citizenship: Participants explored European values by choosing cards that resonated with them and reflecting on their meaning in the European context. Discussions focused on EU citizenship, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The group also created a social participation map, sharing personal stories and reflecting on their activist journeys.
– Meeting with the Youth City Council of Starachowice: Our group had the chance to meet with local youth councilors who shared insights into youth participation in Starachowice. We visited the Creativity Center “Pałacyk,” a vibrant space for young people, and had fun playing PlayStation and table football.
– ANTI-CONFERENCE: The youth took the lead in discussions about the EU, its values, and its future. The event featured creative presentations, including role-playing, singing, and storytelling, allowing participants to express their views in innovative ways.
– Visit to the Eco School: Participants toured modern bilingual classrooms and discussed informal education methods, as well as challenges such as teacher shortages in small towns across Europe.
– Visits to Organizations in Kielce: We visited the Youth Parliament of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, participated in workshops on social participation, and engaged in discussions during a World Café session. The group also visited the Center for Non-Governmental Organizations and the Creativity Works Europe Foundation, learning about NGO operations and enjoying a relaxed atmosphere.
This experience allowed our participants to deepen their understanding of European citizenship, exchange ideas with youth from other countries, and discover new opportunities for social participation. Overall, it was a great event and a amazing experience for our participants.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.