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Icse & Co. Manager
The ENGAGE project, formally titled Expanding New Generations’ Access to Governance and Engagement, is an Erasmus+ funded initiative focused on strengthening civic participation and
political literacy among Europe’s young people. Coordinated by Maison de l’Europe des Landes
WIPSEE in collaboration with partner organizations from Austria, Romania, Croatia, Poland,
and Italy, including ICSE & Co, the project aims to mitigate the political disengagement of
young people, help provide trust in democratic institutions, and give European youth the tools to
curb the spread of misinformation, political polarization, and civic apathy within European
societies. Through a combination of civic education activities, democratic simulations,
participatory workshops, and youth engagement initiatives, ENGAGE empowers young people
to become active and informed participants within democratic life while also strengthening their
understanding of politics and their civic responsibility. The overall objective of the project is to
enhance meaningful youth participation in civic and political life by providing young people and
youth workers with practical tools, educational resources, and participatory opportunities that
encourage democratic engagement and informed decision-making. To achieve these goals,
ENGAGE has implemented a broad range of educational and community-based activities,
including the development of the Civic Competences Framework, Local Civic Education
Workshops, participatory educational resources, European Parliament simulations, and youth
engagement training activities.
Since the beginning of the project, several important educational foundations and participatory
resources have already been developed by the partner organizations. One of the project’s
foundational achievements has been the creation of the European COMPASS of Civic and
Political Participation Competences for Youth. This framework was developed through
collaboration between youth workers, experts, and partner organizations in order to establish the
project’s methodologies, learning objectives, and strategic approaches toward civic education
and democratic participation. ICSE&Co actively contributed to this process during the Working
Group held in Zagreb, Croatia, in April 2025. During the mobility, participants worked together
on the co-design of the COMPASS by discussing the structure of the framework, identifying key
competences, and refining educational methodologies connected to youth participation and civic
engagement.
Following the Working Group, ICSE&Co continued contributing to the development of the
COMPASS by focusing specifically on competences related to Ethical Social Media and News
Validation. The organization drafted competence descriptions, collected relevant academic and
educational references, and participated in peer-review processes to ensure consistency and
coherence across the educational framework developed by all partner organizations. In addition,
ICSE&Co contributed to the official launch of the ENGAGE website by preparing informative
materials about the organization and reviewing the Italian-language content of the platform.
A major part of the work completed so far has focused on the development of Local Civic
Education Workshops. These workshops were designed to create interactive spaces where young
people can explore topics such as democracy, voting, media literacy, fact-checking, public
opinion, and youth participation through participatory learning activities. Detailed workshop
outlines and facilitation guidelines have already been prepared in order to support youth workers
and educators implementing the project within local communities. Activities such as “To Vote or
Not to Vote?” encourage participants to examine democratic participation by conducting surveys
and discussions regarding voting behavior and political engagement, while activities such as the
“Debating Club” focus on strengthening communication skills, public speaking, negotiation, and
democratic dialogue.
Another important achievement completed so far has been the organization of the Forum on
Civic and Political Participation of Young People held in Florence in September 2025. Following
the participatory methodology developed through the ENGAGE framework, ICSE&Co
organized the local forum involving twenty-five young participants. The preparation process
included the recruitment of volunteers, development of the forum agenda, creation of graphic
materials and social media campaigns, participant selection, and coordination with political
decision-makers and local representatives. Among the invited speakers were Enrico Ricci,
President of the Economic Development Commission, and Luca Milani, PD group leader and
former President of the Florence City Council.
During the Forum, participants engaged directly with democratic participation activities and
discussions centered around civic engagement, critical thinking, collaborative action, and ethical
communication. The event also emphasized the importance of creating inclusive and non-formal
spaces where young people feel comfortable expressing opinions, discussing political issues, and
participating within democratic dialogue. Following the event, ICSE&Co contributed to the
Capitalisation Report on the Civic and Political Participation of Young People by sharing the
results of the Italian Forum, participant feedback, and methodological recommendations for
future implementations of the ENGAGE model.
Another major educational activity already prepared within the ENGAGE project is the Local
European Parliament Simulation Workshop focused on Youth Mental Health and Digital
Wellbeing. This simulation introduces participants to European Union institutions and
policymaking processes by allowing them to take on the roles of Members of the European
Parliament, journalists, policymakers, and political groups. Participants debate and negotiate a
fictional EU legislative proposal related to youth mental health and digital wellbeing while
developing skills related to negotiation, coalition-building, public speaking, and democratic
compromise.
As the project continues, ENGAGE will move toward the broader implementation of workshops,
simulations, and participatory civic education activities across partner countries and local
communities. Youth workers will continue facilitating activities focused on democracy, media
literacy, civic engagement, and political participation using the educational methodologies and
resources already developed through the project. Additional dissemination activities, including
articles, social media campaigns, online content, and public events, will also continue in order to
strengthen public awareness and encourage broader participation among young people.
ICSE&Co has already begun these dissemination efforts through Instagram, Facebook, website
publications, and video content related to the Florence Forum and ENGAGE activities.
Ultimately, ENGAGE seeks to contribute to the long-term resilience of democratic societies by
fostering a generation of informed, critically engaged, and active young citizens capable of
participating meaningfully within both local and European democratic processes. Through
workshops, simulations, educational resources, and participatory learning experiences, the
project aims to strengthen civic competences, encourage democratic participation, and promote
inclusive and active citizenship among young people across Europe.
