THE SINCRONY PROJECT

#Youth have always been at the forefront of social change—from the civil rights movements to Black Lives Matter and climate activism. Yet, their engagement in formal politics is declining. Why? Many feel disconnected from traditional political structures, seeing them as outdated or ineffective. Others lack exposure to democratic processes in school or at home. With education levels rising, political engagement should follow, but instead, alienation from party politics prevails. ?? Still, there’s hope. Youth participation in #activism, #volunteering, and social movements is growing. ?? We invite you to read more about these and many other topics on the article "Focus on: If young people care, why do they not engage more with democratic life?" at https://lnkd.in/eTkk4pZ9

Do you ever feel like politicians don’t care about the young people’s concerns? I have been able to see firsthand the efforts that the European Commission is making to reverse this perception. Following her reelection, President Ursula von der Leyen asked each of her 26 commisioners to schedule a youth policy dialogue within the first hundred days of the new mandate. Together with 20 other young people from across the European Union, I had the privilege of engaging with commissioner Wopke Hoekstra on EU climate and tax policies. Thanks to the teams at DG CLIMA and TAXUD for the well organized day, especially to Elias Matthiessen and Martina Ceccarelli. EU Environment and Climate Thanks to this commission for its commitment to youth engagement and for recognizing the impact of climate inaction on future generations. There are moments when you genuinely feel that you have the power to make a difference. A strong message: climate action and economic fairness must go hand in hand. https://lnkd.in/dSxWWW2y https://lnkd.in/dDyfrBwy #WEUtalk2025 #YouthPolicyDialogue #AskWopke

At THE SINCRONY PROJECT, we are committed to empowering all young people by exploring new ways to shift power and ensure it is distributed more equally among the younger generation. ?? Let’s amplify youth voices! ??Learn more about THE SINCRONY PROJECT at https://lnkd.in/ds_NQU3p

THE SINCRONY PROJECT strives to amplify the voices of young people through an inclusive approach. Today, we are sharing a summary of the webinar “Inclusive Democracy: Marginalised Voices Reclaiming Power—Fostering Inclusivity within Civil Society Organisations, with a Focus on People with Disabilities (PwD) and Youth” by the Youth Democracy Cohort. ?? Some key takeaways from the session included: ?? To effectively empower young people, it is crucial to consider the cost of excluding people with disabilities and to ensure the participation of marginalised groups during planning and budgeting. ?? The availability of adaptation tools—such as braille or sign language interpretation—was identified as a positive factor in fostering engagement among young people and their communities. ?? Adultism, along with entrenched mindsets and cultural norms among older generations, was highlighted as a barrier to meaningful youth participation. ?? Read more at https://bit.ly/4gQx4F9

?? How do young people participate in politics across Europe? This question has likely sparked discussions in our workplaces and homes. It is not easy to answer, as our political engagement is shaped by various factors beyond where we live or our economic status. Previous experiences with politics, our understanding of the concept, feeling recognised as part of a community, and our migrant background are some key influences. ?? Issue No. 81 of Young People’s Studies Magazine, titled “Young People and Political Participation: European Research”, delves into 20 years of studies on youth political engagement. ?? "It is surprising just how complex the matter is, how difficult it is to reach final conclusions one way or another and, above all, how little we know about why and how young people participate in politics in this globalised society.” ?? Read more at: https://lnkd.in/e7PsdeN3?

?? Elvira Cicognani, THE SINCRONY PROJECT Coordinator from the University of Bologna (Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna), dives deep into the unique methodological approach of THE SINCRONY PROJECT and explains its distinctive intersectional framework. Intersectionality is more than just a concept; it is an approach and an analytical tool aimed at understanding, analyzing, and transforming the complex dimensions of power and inequality. This perspective emphasizes that power and people's experiences are shaped by multiple social categories such as gender, sexuality, race, class, and disability, which intersect in inseparable ways. By adopting an intersectional approach, THE SINCRONY PROJECT strives to transform power relations and achieve social justice, explicitly addressing those who are most excluded. ?? Watch: https://lnkd.in/duE4aPAG #SINCRONYProject #Intersectionality #UNIBO #Youth

In Europe, the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027 and the EU-Council of Europe Youth Partnership Sector Strategy 2030 are both in progress—but how are they connected? The Under 30 podcast by the EU-Council of Europe Youth Partnership invites us to reflect on and analyse both strategies in a discussion with experts Frederike Hofmann-van de Poll and Miriam Teuma, hosted by Dariusz Grzemny and Tanya Basarab. ?? Listen to the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/d3-HUJ9e

Finding new ways to shift power, and ensure that it's equally shared across the younger generation requires time and teamwork. In the following video, Cinzia Albanesi, Coordinator of the Community Psychology Laboratory and the Master’s Degree Program in School and Community Psychology at Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna , explains why THE SINCRONY PROJECT will use co-creation methods to generate future recommendations. ?? Watch: https://lnkd.in/exrJWAb2

The communities surrounding us play a crucial role in shaping our transitions from one stage of life to another. The study "Social Communities in Transitions: Young Danes’ Narratives on the Change and Maintenance of Social Communities" by Maria Bruselius-Jensen and Niels Ulrik S?rensen, explores how young people’s perceptions of social communities and their functions across different social contexts evolve during transitional periods. ?? The stage of life we are in, the maintenance and redefinition of our communities, and the effort required to sustain them are some of the key topics explored in this research. ?? ?? Read the full article at: https://lnkd.in/eQrMB2i5.

The policy recommendations of THE SINCRONY PROJECT aim to integrate learnings and insights as they emerge throughout the process, rather than only at its conclusion. ?? How will we approach this strategy? Sofia Marques da Silva, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Psychology of the Universidade do Porto (FPCEUP) and full member of the CIIE, together with Isabel Menezes, PhD, Full Professor and Director of the CIIE - Centre for Educational Research and Intervention, share their perspectives on this topic. ?? Watch: https://lnkd.in/efRyMEES