Empowering Youth Voices: Responsibility, Integrity, Solidarity, and Civic Engagement in the Balkans

forthcoming

RISE Balkans aims to strengthen youth participation in democratic life, transparency, and anti-corruption initiatives across Albania, North Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Croatia. The project responds to gaps in youth civic engagement, as shown in the 2024 Flash Eurobarometer and Transparency International reports. Although motivated for societal change, young people often lack structured opportunities, resources, and trust in institutions to influence policymaking effectively. Led by a consortium of academic institutions and civil society organizations, RISE Balkans empowers youth aged 18–26 through civic education, experiential learning, mentoring, and cross-border exchanges. Participants will engage in practical initiatives, including law-making simulations, anti-corruption actions, and structured dialogues with institutions. They will be equipped to influence legislation, contribute to anti-corruption policy reforms, and foster transparent governance at national and European levels. The project will produce open-access tools, including a multilingual civic education toolkit and a digital engagement platform, ensuring sustainability beyond the project’s lifetime. Its objectives are to: (1) increase youth knowledge, skills, and motivation for democratic participation; (2) empower youth to design, implement, and sustain civic initiatives promoting responsibility, integrity, solidarity, and engagement; and (3) strengthen regional cooperation and youth advocacy for democratic reforms. Through a dynamic sequence of national and regional activities—including Good Governance Clinics, storytelling hubs, regional thematic forums, and a European advocacy mission—RISE Balkans will cultivate a new generation of engaged, resilient civic leaders. The project directly addresses Priority 3 of the CERV-2025-CITIZENS-CIV call and contributes to building a more inclusive, participatory, and transparent European democratic culture.