QUEST – Bringing Unity, Innovation & Learning for Democracy

ongoing

Quest is an independent, democratic and participatory network of +90 European educational organisations. QUEST mission is to support children's rights in education in three main areas: democratic, inclusive and sustainable education. Born in 2017, QUEST formally became a European Network in 2022 to officialise its wide relations and its ability to act as a filter between educational organisations and European Institutions. As a young network, QUEST has grown significantly; Globally, it now represents 108 members worldwide and 32 countries, quintupling its membership and tripling its country in three years. As a multiplier of best practices, QUEST reunites many pioneers of innovative education as well as more traditional schools/educational organisations willing to innovate their practices. QUEST has a dedicated policy team and actively contributes to over six networks, alliances, and coalitions at the European level. A project team is managing nine active projects ranging from democratic participation in state schools, to gender education in kindergarten to outdoor learning, decolonial curriculum in secondary schools and child-centered pedagogies. A membership team is organising member forums, conferences, in person and online events to socialise and capacitate our members. Also thanks to the project “QUEST - BASE” (FPA Civil Society Cooperation in Education 2023/2025) QUEST has laid a solid foundation for its operations, processes, and methodologies which allowed it to solidify the job of its headquarters. Building on the work done, with the project QUEST- BUILD we are now focused on optimising our systems and scaling our impact with the main focus on 1) Expanding and empowering our network through stronger member engagement, an annual conference, and learning Academies for membership capacitation. 2) Reinforcing our headquarter to boost our influence in EU education policy through evidence-based advocacy.