Euroclasses on Europarticipation at the Museum

Youth Participation and Democracy Award category

Euroclasses on Europarticipation at the Museum

Organisation

Team for Youth Association

Country

Romania

WEBSITE

https://www.t4uth.ro

Project link

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid026oscbdQzKxEy9fnDZqzNXHVvPi2146S9rUKtDJTc9RnfS8kMnqgYayusuZQxW9swl&id=100009254816959

General Overview

Our workshop aimed to help young people understand the European Parliament elections and why their voice matters. We wanted to make this topic interesting and easy to comprehend, which was a challenge since local youth often think politics is boring or “not for them.”

The target group consisted of local young volunteers from the “County Museum of Archaeology and History in Baia Mare,” aged 18–20. A total of 10 young people participated. They were already involved in cultural activities, but most of them did not know much about EU institutions or the topic of elections. This was a great opportunity to bring the topic closer to them.

The activities took place over two sessions. Initially, we introduced the Eurodesk network and explained the basics of the European elections. We used a quiz to assess their knowledge and encouraged discussion about why youth participation is low. In the second session (a few months later), we met again. Participants worked in pairs to reflect on “What has the EU done for me?” in areas like mobility, rights, education, and local impact. They created posters with their thoughts, which were later displayed in a local high school (as an informal exhibition) to inspire students to get actively involved in citizenship. We also recorded short videos where participants directly shared their messages for EU Parliament candidates.

Our approach was interactive. We used teamwork, debates, creative posters, and video interviews to ensure young people had a space to express their ideas. The workshop was not just about providing information but about fostering discussion and personal reflection.

The Eurodesk network was prominent in our project. The participants received promotional materials from Eurodesk. We utilised official Eurodesk materials and resources, mentioned the network at the beginning of our sessions, and shared the results (posters, videos, and event summaries).

Thematic Category Correspondence

(50 points max)

How does this initiative (project, event, material) correspond to the thematic category

Our project fits into the Youth Participation and Democracy category because it focused on making young people more aware of their role in European democracy and encouraging them to take part in decision-making. We designed the activities to help participants understand why voting in the European elections matters and how the EU influences their daily lives. At the beginning, most of the participants saw elections as something distant and not really connected to them. Through methods like discussions, quizzes, teamwork, and creative workshops, we helped them see that their voice is important. Instead of just providing them with information, we asked them to think critically about EU values and what they want from their representatives. They had space to express their own ideas, not just listen to facts.

We think that a key part of the project was the second meeting, where participants worked in pairs to reflect on “What has the EU done for me?” and created posters to communicate their thoughts visually. Additionally, the video messages recorded by participants were direct contributions to the larger Eurodesk Euro-Participation project, ensuring that their voices were heard beyond the local level. This initiative was not just about learning—it was about active participation. The participants’ feedback indicated that they generally became more engaged in democracy and changed the way they viewed politics. They took real steps towards making their opinions visible.

Impact

(30 points max)

How did your project impact young people / your community?

Our project had a strong impact on both the young participants and the local community by making the topic of European democracy more accessible and engaging. It was a refreshing change of pace for the History Museum as well (our partners who provided the space and participants), as it was the first time they engaged young people in these kinds of activities. Many of the young people who joined the sessions started with little knowledge or interest in the European Parliament elections. One of the biggest changes was in their attitude. After the sessions, participants expressed that they felt more informed and confident about their role as young citizens. They all mentioned that they would now consider voting in the European elections, something that only half of them had thought about doing before.

The project also had an impact beyond the group of direct participants. The posters they created were displayed, which created curiosity among the students and encouraged them to contact the Eurodesk multiplier for more information. This helped spread the message about youth participation in a peer-to-peer way. Additionally, the video messages recorded during the workshop contributed to the visibility of young people’s voices.

At the community level, the collaboration between Team for Youth Association and the “Museum of Archaeology and History Baia Mare” strengthened the connection between cultural institutions and youth organisations. The museum volunteers, who are usually involved in history and cultural activities, had a new experience that combined education with active citizenship.

Green Focus

(10 points max)

Did your project have any green focus and/or did you implement any eco-friendly measures when organising it?

Our project did not have a specific green focus, but we made small efforts to be eco-friendly in the way we organised it. We minimised printed materials by using digital resources for presentations and quizzes, and we encouraged participants to take notes on their own devices instead of using paper.

Youth Participation and Democracy Award category