Youth Democracy Cohort

???Lesotho: Breaking Barriers to Democracy!???? Voting isn’t just about showing up—it’s about?ensuring access and inclusion for all. Many young people in Lesotho face barriers such as?missing identification documents, misinformation, and geographic isolation. The?Development for Peace Education (DPE) Project?is actively working to? educate, ?? engage, and ?? empower?young people—ensuring they have the?knowledge and resources?to fully participate in the democratic process. By fostering a?culture of civic engagement, this initiative is shaping a future where?every young person can make their voice heard. ???How can we better support youth participation in democracy? Share your thoughts below!??? ???More info:?https://lnkd.in/eX5qM38r ??Led by?WYDE Civic Engagement ???Implemented by?the Bacha Re Bacha Youth Forum ??Powered by?the European Union ???? & European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) #WYDEngagement #YouthDemocracyMap #DPEProject #LesothoVotes

Has youth political engagement declined? Not really, it’s just evolved. ???While traditional political participation, like voting and party membership, remains important, young people today are changing the way they engage with politics. Less about party loyalty, more focus on single issues ? Less waiting for change, more direct action ?? They’re rallying around causes that matter to them, like education, human rights, and the environment. They’re organising through decentralised movements rather than aligning with one party, trade union or institution. What’s the cause that drives YOU to take action? Drop your thoughts below!

???The Bojaki Project- Empowering Young People in Lesotho! ?? Barriers like limited access to ID services, misinformation about the voting process and geographic constraints prevent people in remote areas from registering to vote. The Bojaki Project is changing that ? Engaging 10,000 youth across five districts ? Using social media and community events to increase first-time voter registration ? Combating misconceptions about voter registration This will create an informed, motivated generation of voters who see the value of electoral participation in shaping their communities. When young people are engaged, democracy wins! ? More info ??https://lnkd.in/e8nQ9MVf ??Led by WYDE Civic Engagement ??? Implemented by the Bacha Re Bacha Youth Forum ? Powered by the European Union ???? & European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) #WYDEngagement #YouthDemocracyMap

??? Does Gen Z really find democracy “dull” or are we failing to equip them with the knowledge to engage? This recent Guardian article https://ow.ly/kriM50V3opB sparks an important debate: is young people’s disillusionment with democracy rooted in a lack of historical awareness? Share your thoughts in the comments ??

?? Last week, the Kofi Annan Foundation kicked off the final week of training for #WYDE Accountability Hubs in #Tanzania! This initiative is part of the WYDE Civic Engagement project, where the Youth Democracy Cohort advocates for youth inclusion in democratic systems and advances global conversations on democratic participation through youth-led research. #WYDEngagement #WYDEcommunity

??What do young people in the EU think about politics and the future? The EP Youth Survey 2024 reveals key insights from 16-30-year-olds across the EU. ?? Dive deeper into what matters most to young Europeans with the full report, factsheets, and infographics! ?? https://lnkd.in/dJ-mxnuB ?? Coming in June 2025: The Global Youth Political Participation Index, offering country snapshots and filling critical data gaps by fostering youth-led research. Stay tuned!

[EN] ?? Call for Applications: CheckDesk Fellowship! Do you want to fight misinformation and build a more informed society? As part of the Digitalise Youth project, our partner Code For Africa (CfA) is offering a 10-month incubation programme for media organisations and watchdog civil society organisations based in the Sahel, West Africa and Horn of Africa regions. Participants will receive support, training and resources to establish or strengthen their dedicated fact-checking unit or ‘CheckDesk’ and increase resilience to mis/disinformation. The project focal countries are: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Togo. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4bc9T6P ??? Apply by 24 February 2025: https://bit.ly/3QtcZtE [FR] ?? Appel à candidatures : Bourses CheckDesk ! Vous souhaitez lutter contre la désinformation et construire une société plus informée ? Dans le cadre du projet Digitalise Youth, notre partenaire Code For Africa (CfA) propose un programme d'incubation de 10 mois pour les organisations médiatiques et les organisations de la société civile basées dans les régions du Sahel, de l'Afrique de l'Ouest et de la Corne de l'Afrique. Les participants recevront un soutien, une formation et des ressources pour établir ou renforcer leur unité de vérification des faits ou ? CheckDesk ? et lutter contre la désinformation. Les pays concernés par le projet sont le Bénin, le Burkina Faso, le Cameroun, l’éthiopie, la Guinée, le Mali, la Mauritanie, le Niger, le Sénégal, la Somalie, le Soudan, le Soudan du Sud, le Tchad, le Togo. Pour en savoir plus : https://bit.ly/3XcNLnb ??? Candidatez avant le 24 février 2025 : https://bit.ly/3QtcZtE

?? Youth aren’t the future—they’re the NOW. Some governments are walking the talk, while others are just making promises. Does policy translate to real power for young people? ?? Lowering the voting age sounds great—but does it actually bring new voters to the polls? ?? Quotas open doors, but are youth voices truly shaping policy, or just ticking boxes? ?? Government-backed programs exist, but how many are youth-led vs. controlled from above? ?? What’s your take? Are young leaders in your country making real impact, or are they just being included for optics? ?? Read the full analysis here → https://lnkd.in/dJxTx-_s #YouthEmpowerment #CivicEngagement #PolicyImpact

Empowering Citizens, Strengthening Democracy! ???? The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) is committed to promoting democracy in Ghana by educating citizens about their rights, responsibilities, and civic participation. How? Through interactive programmes like high school democracy quizzes, townhall meetings, and social media debates, they empower youth and women to engage in the democratic process. ??Led by WYDE Civic Engagement ? Powered by the European Union ???? & European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) #WYDEngagement #YouthDemocracyMap https://lnkd.in/eXU_sTYx

??? Engaging the Next Generation: What’s Missing? Political participation isn’t just about showing up, it’s about feeling like your voice matters. But for many young people, the path to engagement is filled with obstacles, from a lack of representation to systemic barriers that make entry difficult. How can we create a system where more young voices shape the policies that affect them? Let’s explore solutions together. ?? Read more: https://lnkd.in/dfkKbu_z #YouthEmpowerment #CivicEngagement #YouthLedResearch