On last Saturday, September 28th, a group of enthusiastic young minds gathered at the Convento San Francesco in San Miniato to dive deep into the essence of civic engagement. We were invited by the Giovani Democratici from Pisa to join forces and create something meaningful together. We couldn’t have chosen a better group for this brainstorming session!
The day kicked off with an insightful presentation by Diletta Taverni, followed by a discussion about how to better engage youth in Erasmus+ projects. But this was just a warm up! After the presentations, it was time to roll up our sleeves and brainstorm what it really means to be an active citizen. We tackled a question that seems simple yet holds profound implications: Who is an active civic participant, anyway?
We asked, you answered!
After Diletta’s presentation, we all sat down to brainstorm the ultimate answer to this question. What does it mean to be an active participant in democracy? The room buzzed with ideas and passionate exchanges as we delved into the key characteristics of an engaged citizen. We divided into two groups to unpack the concept of active citizenship and ended up with a comprehensive framework.
Civic Framework: What It Means to Be an Active Citizen
Skills:
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking
- Empathy
- Spending time for the community
- Learning and reading
- Social awareness
- Demonstrations & petitions
- Join a political party
- Voting
Knowledge:
- Institutions and their roles
- Interpreting reality
- Socialism
- Youth representation
- Clarity and deep reading
- Community
- Historical awareness
- Understanding political thought
- Welfare state
- Education system
- Sustainability awareness
Attitudes:
- Values
- Community belonging
- Respectful dialogue
- Everyday politics
- Creativity
- Dedication to political thought
What’s next?
The ideas from this session will be incorporated into our civic participation framework—an educational tool designed to guide youth workers and educators in teaching young people about active citizenship. This framework serves as a blueprint for the skills, knowledge, and attitudes essential for making a meaningful impact in society. It’s a roadmap for young citizens, empowering them to understand their role and responsibilities in a democratic society.
The event proved that when youth come together with purpose and passion, the results are not only inspiring—they can serve as a guide for the future. A huge thank you to Giovani Democratici for their ambition and excellent contributions. With their energy and commitment, it’s clear that the future of democracy is in capable hands.
Go check out their INSTAGRAM!