Since September 2023, Andrássy University is a partner of the Erasmus+ project YOUTH VOICE. The project aims to stimulate young people's interest in politics, promote civic engagement and encourage active participation in elections. It aims to increase young people's understanding of European issues and their relevance to their lives. During the project, a participatory approach will be developed to involve young people in the design of Voting Assistance Applications (VAAs) ahead of the 2024 European Parliament elections. In this way, the project partners will ensure that these applications address the real concerns of young people and are actively used by them.

Project highlights:

• Conducting consultative and participatory initiatives in five countries, engaging 1,000 young people to identify and collectively formulate 5-10 statements for inclusion in the VAAs.
• Forming a group of 50 young ambassadors to guide and advise on project activities and lead youth-focused initiatives.
• Organise online and offline events, including democracy festivals, to facilitate discussions on youth-centred issues.

 Expected results:

• Increased interest among young people in political issues in the run-up to the 2024 European Parliament elections.
• Involvement of at least 100,000 young people through communication activities, with at least 10,000 young people using VAA applications for the first time.

The initiative, „YOUTH VOICE," empowers young people to actively participate in shaping their political landscape by co-creating VAAs. These applications, used to compare their views with those of political parties and candidates, will reach hundreds of thousands of users in partner countries. Young participants engage in debates, meetings, and activities to discuss issues relevant to them, gaining insights into how European Parliament issues affect their lives and how they can influence them. Our project not only promotes discussions but also advocates for action, pressuring decision-makers to define their views and be accountable for their declarations.

"HORIZONTAL" values:

We invite young people to discuss important European issues that matter to them and create tools for citizens to evaluate politicians in the 2024 European Parliament elections. This will encourage active and informed participation in the elections and encourage politicians to respond to the statements and issues generated by young people. The origin and content of these issues will be made public through popular VAA applications, amplifying the voice of young people.

"HORIZONTAL" actions:

The project uses Voting Assistance Applications (VAAs) as accessible, user-friendly digital tools that promote civic oversight of elections and informed voting. VAAs allow for the dissemination of concerns that may be overlooked by mainstream media and politicians. Ahead of the 2024 European Parliament elections, the focus is on integrating youth-related issues into VAAs to make them more attractive and useful for young people.

Project partners:

• Center for Citizenship Education (Warsaw, Poland) | Project Lead
• Danes je nov dan (Ljubljana, Slovenia)
• Itamat (Brescia, Italy)
• Tree Company (Antwerp, Belgium)

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.