Experience and shape Europe

Youth Participation and Democracy Award category

Organisation

Jugendagentur Stuttgart

Country

Germany

WEBSITE

https://www.jugendagentur.net/ueber-uns/

Project link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZADh3RXz0vo

General Overview

The project aimed to empower young people to participate in democracy by informing them about EU elections and international mobility opportunities. Through an interactive online event (1 hour and 11 minutes), we highlighted various EU-funded programmes such as Erasmus+, DiscoverEU, the European Solidarity Corps, and international study and training opportunities. The event was designed to inspire, educate, and engage young people by providing real-life experiences from their peers.

Main objectives:

Raise awareness about the importance of the EU elections and encourage young people to vote.
Provide accessible and engaging information about EU mobility programmes.
Promote peer-to-peer learning.
Ensure that young people understand how EU policies shape their opportunities.

Target audience:

Our main audience was young people aged 16 to 30. We targeted youth considering studying, training, or volunteering abroad.

Activities and methods:

Live online event with information on opportunities and funding programmes.
Peer-to-peer storytelling: Young people shared their personal experiences abroad, making the information engaging and authentic. Luisa explained about DiscoverEU and ESC in Finland, Luzie about an Erasmus+ semester in Sweden, and Mara about vocational training (Erasmus+) internships in Finland and Latvia.
Discussion on the EU elections, emphasising why voting matters for youth programmes.
Q&A session, allowing participants to interact directly with speakers.
After the online event, the video was uploaded to YouTube to reach a wider audience.
Social media promotion to maximise outreach and Eurodesk visibility.

Eurodesk visibility:
Eurodesk was featured prominently throughout the project:

We used the Eurodesk logo and CI.
We promoted the event via our Eurodesk website and our YouTube channel, explaining Eurodesk and its counselling opportunities.
Direct references in discussions. We emphasised Eurodesk as the key source for youth mobility information, ensuring visibility among our target audience.

Thematic Category Correspondence

(50 points max)

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

Our project directly connects youth mobility with democratic engagement. By emphasising that EU-funded programmes exist because of democratic decisions, we encouraged young people not just to explore Europe but also to actively participate in shaping its future. Unlike traditional information events, our project was youth-driven and experience-based, making participation more authentic and engaging. Peer speakers, who had personally benefited from EU programmes, served as role models to inspire others. The event highlighted how voting in the EU elections directly impacts mobility opportunities, ensuring that participants understood their role in maintaining and expanding these programmes.

Key Strengths of the Project:

Young people were informed by their local Eurodesk.

Youth-led peer learning: We used real-life stories from young people who had studied, volunteered, or worked abroad.

Connection between mobility and democracy: The event demonstrated the direct impact of EU policies on young people’s opportunities.

Accessibility and inclusivity: As an online event, it reached a broad audience, including those in rural areas or from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Encouraging long-term engagement: Beyond voting, the project motivated young people to become advocates for youth programmes and to stay involved in European civic life. Young people’s experiences with EU programmes and their impact on their personality and future decisions were shared.

By making democratic participation tangible and meaningful, our project empowered young people to take an active role in shaping Europe’s future.

Impact

(30 points max)

How did your project impact young people / your community?

The project had a direct impact on young people by increasing their awareness, motivation, and participation in both EU elections and mobility programmes. Many participants had not previously considered studying, volunteering, or training abroad but were inspired to explore these opportunities. Through peer-to-peer storytelling, we made EU programmes feel more accessible and relatable.

Key Impacts:

Increased understanding of EU opportunities: Participants gained practical knowledge on how to apply for Erasmus+, DiscoverEU, and the European Solidarity Corps (ESC).

Broad audience engagement: During the live event, 22 devices were connected, with multiple viewers—including siblings and parents—watching together.

Extended digital outreach: The recorded session continues to reach young people online, further amplifying its impact. To date, the video has been viewed 82 times.

Raised awareness of EU elections: By linking democratic participation to youth mobility, we helped young people see voting as a tool to shape their future.

Inspired action: After the event, Eurodesk Stuttgart observed an increase in inquiries. Some participants applied for DiscoverEU or Erasmus+ programmes, while others expressed interest in volunteering abroad.

Empowered young EU programme participants: The project enhanced skills such as public speaking. Luisa, for example, first connected with us during a Eurodesk counselling session in Stuttgart, found her ESC project through our support, and later became an active Eurodesk Mobility Peer after completing our local training. Similarly, Mara reached out while we were recruiting for the Eurodesk Auslandsteam (international team). Their participation in this event further increased their skills and their outreach as EU ambassadors.

Strengthened local cooperation: Our collaboration with Jugendwerk AWO Stuttgart enabled participants like Luisa to access ESC, demonstrating how we connect young people with trusted sending organisations.

Ongoing success: The success of our event has led to its continuation; it will be held again this year.

Green Focus

(10 points max)

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

By hosting the event online, we minimised travel emissions for everyone and reduced the environmental impact of traditional in-person events. The peers all lived in different cities in Germany, and one young person joined from Finland. We did not produce flyers or giveaways to minimise the ecological impact.
We also promoted eco-friendly mobility: programmes like DiscoverEU and the European Solidarity Corps encourage sustainable travel options, such as train travel and volunteering for environmental projects. By integrating eco-friendly choices into the event structure and content, our project not only promoted democratic participation but also encouraged responsible, sustainable engagement with Europe.

Youth Participation and Democracy Award category