UNMUTE - Because Democracy Does Not Work in Silence

2026-07-22

Across Europe, young people face growing disconnection from democratic life marked by a) lack of civic spaces; b) widespread feeling of being unheard by institutions; c) outdated civic education; d) cultural and systemic barriers for marginalized youth to engage with society. UNMUTE addresses these needs directly, aligning with CERV Citizens Priority 1 and the EU Strategic Agenda 2024-2029 by empowering youth to reflect critically, engage meaningfully, and strengthen democratic participation, and promoting a sense of belonging to the EU. Specific objectives: (1) to foster critical reflection and awareness of democratic challenges. (2) to promote knowledge of rights and democratic processes in youth-friendly ways. (3) to empower young people to express their ideas and influence democratic life; (4) to strengthen social cohesion and a sense of European belonging. Target groups: a) Youth aged 14-18 over 300 individual participants b) Youth aged 18-30 over 250 individual participants UNMUTE places a particular focus on reaching marginalized youth, including migrants, low-income youth, and LGBTQIA+ communities 30% participation, while promoting gender-balanced participation 50% across all activities. Secondary target groups: a) youth workers, educators and b) policymakers will be engaged through dissemination, capacity-building resources, and civic proposals to ensure long-term multiplier effects. Through 8 activities: Act 1 (youth perceptions research), Act 2 (storytelling video and civic dialogue), Act 3 (co-creation labs), Act 4 (democracy bootcamps), Act 5 (migration simulations), Act 6 (debate forums), Act 7 (civic reflections), and Act 8 (final conference). UNMUTE creates a pathway from critical reflection to civic action, amplifying youth voices at national and European level. UNMUTE offers an innovative and youth-driven response to today’s democratic challenges, creating spaces for critical reflection, civic learning, and active engagement across Europe.

Spain, Cyprus, Lithuania, Italy

2026-01-01