Youth board: Coordinators
The Understanding Europe Coordinators facilitate young, inclusive and diversity-oriented educational work in Europe. They are one of the five youth bodies of the Foundation.
Understanding Europe
Understanding Europe is an educational network by and for young people committed to civic participation and to a democratic and open-minded Europe.
At the centre of the project are young peers aged between 16 and 27. Active in youth-led organisations in thirteen European countries, they form the project’s European network and shape it on many levels and in different capacities. Together, the peers develop workshops on politics, media and democratic participation, and implement the workshops in schools and other educational settings in their countries.
Facts & Figures
- Each year, about 150 peers and 12,500 students from 13 countries participate in the network.
- At the annual European Summer School, 20 peers learn to facilitate trainings for trainers.
- During biannual meetings, 20 peers are trained to implement the project at local levels.
- Each year, 6-8 young fellows develop new educational formats on democracy & media.
- All educational formats can be used digitally.
Courses
Currently, there are two digital and in-person workshops available for students and young people aged 14 and older. The formats are based on the approach of Peer Education, which aims to strengthen participation and self-determination. The peers act as role models and mediators at eye level with young people in and out of classrooms.
- Europe: Here, pupils are taught basic knowledge, current debates and personal points of connection to the EU and Europe.
- Participation: This course offers space to reflect on democracy and youth participation on local, national and European levels.
- Media & Journalism: This course format imparts digital media skills and knowledge with a focus on topics like journalism or fake news.
- Social Justice: Pupils get the possibility to learn how to acknowledge privileges, understand responsibilities and differentiate between self-perception and external perception.
- Climate Justice: This course deals with general knowledge about the climate crises and the Sustainable Development Goals, and, further, shows ways into a sustainable future.
Inclusive & diversity-oriented education
Peers are prepared for their work in classrooms through a qualification programme. Following the concept of democratic citizenship education, it provides knowledge and skills to enable young people to actively participate in society.
Engaging with inclusive, diversity-sensitive and racism-critical approaches plays a central role. The programme creates a safe space for learning and collaboration, offering young people opportunities to explore, get to know themselves as well as better understand other world views and experiences.
Experts in school and in non-formal education are important to this project as they take part in mutual knowledge transfer processes.
