Between 1 August 2023 and 30 June 2024, the Emmaste youth group actively worked on developing civic competencies and promoting participatory democracy. The idea for the project originated when a Eurodesk partner visited the school to talk to young people about different international opportunities. Throughout the project, young people engaged with decision-makers at both the local level in Hiiumaa and the European level in Brussels. These meetings provided them with direct insight into the functioning of local government and the European Union.

A key element of the project was the creation of videos where young participants discussed local community issues and shared their project experiences with other youth in Hiiumaa. These videos helped raise awareness of civic engagement among a wider audience.

The project concluded with a world café event for student councils from Hiiumaa schools. This event allowed young people to express their views on important topics and provide input for the Hiiumaa youth council, which includes several participants from the project.

The initiative was led by Emmaste Vaba Aja Keskus, which is responsible for organising cultural and youth activities in Hiiumaa. The centre has been an active member of the Estonian Open Youth Centres Association for nearly 16 years and became a Eurodesk partner in 2023.

Eurodesk supported the young people throughout the entire process, from writing the project to implementing it and analysing the results. Funded by the Erasmus+ participation projects, the initiative successfully enhanced youth engagement in decision-making empowered young people with civic knowledge and provided valuable experiences that will benefit both participants and the wider Hiiumaa community. Without Eurodesk’s significant role, this project probably would not have succeeded.