Apply for World Forum for Democracy 2016

Deadline: 25 July 2016

Are you aged between 16-30? Are you interested in engaging with political decision-makers in a reflection on how education and democracy can reinforce each other and address the risks of new social divides? Are you actively involved in civil society Democracy initiatives? Are you ready to share own challenges faced in relation to education and learning? Then apply for World Forum for Democracy 2016.

The Joint Council on Youth along with the Council of Europe, through the Youth Department is inviting applicants for its 2016 World Forum for Democracy to focus on how education can help bridge the social divide and become a real asset for our diverse democracies.

The World Forum for Democracy is a unique platform for political decision-makers and activists to debate solutions to key challenges for democracies worldwide. By identifying and analysing experimental initiatives and practices, the Forum highlights and encourages democracy innovations at the grassroots and their transfer on a systemic level in order to strengthen the foundations of democratic societies. The Forum thus contributes to the evolution of democracy towards more participatory and inclusive structures and institutions.

Focus Areas

The Forum will explore how education and democracy:

Nurture active citizens with critical and analytical skills, as well as other key democratic competences.
Through grassroots innovation and bottom-up reform, promote and strengthen democracies and thereby help bridge social divides and improve opportunities for all.

Eligibility Criteria

Be aged 16-30 (exceptions can be made in special cases);
Be resident in one of the 50 signatory States of the European Cultural Convention of the Council of Europe; 20 places will be made available for participants from other regions outside the European continent;
Be able to communicate and work in English;
Be actively involved in civil society Democracy initiatives;
Be motivated to contribute to developing new ideas on youth and democracy;
Be supported by a youth organisation or network or informal group working on democracy; some non-organised individuals will also be accepted;
Be ready to share own challenges faced in relation to education and
learning;
Be ready to adopt a solution-oriented approach by bringing in new ideas and visions of democracy and education;
Be ready to dream education;
Be available to participate fully in the World Forum for Democracy and the preparation process beforehand.

How to Apply

All candidates must apply in 2 parts:

An online application form should be completed via given website
A short 1 minute video should be posted on YouTube, with the link attached to the online application form.

Eligible Countries

Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Belarus, Vatican City (Holy See), Kazakhstan.