Youth Participation and Democracy Award category

Europe Week 2025 – Materahub (Settimana dell’Europa)

Title of the Project

Europe Week 2025 – Materahub (Settimana dell’Europa)

Organisation

Consorzio Materahub industrie culturali e creative Scarl

WEBSITE

https://www.mateahub.com

Project link

https://www.materahub.com/settimana-europa-2025/

https://www.facebook.com/reel/678066521597699/

Project dates

2025-05-05

2025-05-10

What is it about?

 Europe Week 2025 strongly aligned with the Youth Participation and Democracy category because it created concrete opportunities for young people to engage with European values, civic rights and democratic participation through accessible, youth-friendly formats.

Instead of delivering information in a one-way institutional manner, the initiative was built around dialogue and active involvement. Across nine events over five days, hosted in different venues throughout Matera (including cinemas, museums and cultural spaces), young people were invited to take part in discussions, ask questions, share perspectives and reflect on current European challenges and priorities. Screenings were followed by guided debates, workshops encouraged interactive participation, and public talks created open spaces for civic dialogue within the wider community.

This approach supported democratic culture in practice: listening to different viewpoints, building informed opinions, and understanding that citizenship is an active role. The initiative helped reduce the distance many young people feel from institutions, making Europe more understandable and more closely connected to daily life.

The project also strengthened participation by connecting civic dialogue to tangible pathways for engagement at European level. As Materahub is a Eurodesk Local Point, Europe Week promoted reliable youth information and concrete opportunities such as Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps and EURES. This was particularly relevant for young people with fewer opportunities (including NEETs), who often have limited access to structured information and participation channels.

By combining civic engagement, cultural storytelling and youth information in a coherent programme, Europe Week 2025 successfully transformed Europe Day into a community experience that encouraged young people to become more aware, informed and willing to participate both locally and at European level.

How is this project relevant to the specific category?

Europe Week 2025 strongly corresponds to the “Youth Participation and Democracy” category because it created concrete opportunities for young people to engage with European values, civic rights, and participation through accessible, youth-friendly formats.

Instead of delivering information in a one-way institutional manner, the initiative was built around dialogue and active involvement. Across nine events in five days, hosted in different venues throughout Matera (cinema, museums, and cultural spaces), young people were invited to take part in discussions, ask questions, share perspectives, and reflect on current European challenges and priorities. Screenings were followed by guided debates, workshops encouraged interactive participation, and public talks created open spaces for civic dialogue within the community.

This approach supported democratic culture in practice: listening to different viewpoints, building informed opinions, and understanding that citizenship is an active role. The initiative helped reduce the distance many young people feel from institutions, making Europe more understandable and connected to daily life.

The project also strengthened participation by connecting civic dialogue to real pathways for engagement at European level. As Materahub is a Eurodesk Local Point, Europe Week promoted reliable youth information and concrete opportunities such as Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps, and EURES. This was particularly relevant for young people with fewer opportunities (including NEETs), who often have limited access to structured information and participation channels.

By combining civic engagement, cultural storytelling, and youth information in a coherent programme, Europe Week 2025 turned Europe Day into a community experience that encouraged young people to become more aware, informed, and willing to participate locally and at European level.

What was the impact of the project?

Europe Week 2025 had a strong and measurable impact on young people and the local community by making Europe visible, accessible and relevant through a city-wide programme of activities in Matera.

For young people, the initiative created informal spaces where European topics could be explored without a formal institutional setting. The combination of screenings, exhibitions, workshops and public discussions supported critical thinking, dialogue and participation. The project achieved strong youth engagement: around 150 high school students participated in the documentary screening and guided discussion, while at least 50 young people took part in the Eurodesk/EURES activity, receiving practical guidance on mobility and work opportunities in Europe.

For many participants—especially NEETs and young people with fewer opportunities—Europe Week represented a first concrete contact with structured youth information and European pathways. The initiative therefore improved awareness not only of EU values and rights, but also of practical opportunities for personal and professional development.

For the wider community, Europe Week strengthened dialogue by bringing together young people, educators, associations and citizens across 9 events in 5 days held in multiple venues. This reinforced local civic engagement and created a shared moment of reflection on Europe, sustainability and inclusion.

Finally, the impact extended beyond the week itself: as Materahub operates year-round as a Eurodesk Local Point, young participants gained a stable local reference point for follow-up support, guidance and future participation in European programmes.

Did the project have any green focus?

Europe Week 2025 included a strong green focus through the MAIA travelling exhibition (“Le strategie per un futuro sostenibile sono in atto”), part of the Horizon Europe MAIA project. The exhibition aimed to raise awareness about the climate crisis and inspire sustainable actions by showcasing how local and international communities are implementing ecological transition. By combining science, art and education, it created a space for reflection, debate and behavioural change towards a more sustainable future.

In addition, the initiative adopted simple eco-friendly measures in its organisation: communication was mainly digital (website and social media) to limit printed materials; physical materials were kept minimal; and participants were encouraged to use walking and public/shared transport when possible to reach the venues across the city.

How did you ensure Eurodesk's visibility in your project?

Eurodesk visibility was ensured by integrating the Eurodesk Local Point in both communication and delivery. Eurodesk branding and official materials were used throughout the week, including Eurodesk Italy opportunity sheets and visible Eurodesk roll-ups during events. Activities were promoted through social media, local channels and press communication. A dedicated Eurodesk Italy session on EURES mobility opportunities provided practical guidance and direct interaction with young participants (at least 50 young people), informing them about pathways for working and moving in Europe. Participants were invited to contact Materahub for follow-up guidance on Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps and EURES.

Project highlights

https://www.materahub.com/settimana-europa-2025/

Your project on video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi4Yy5RICZ4