Young people’s participation is crucial to civil society by building a sense of belonging, solidarity, justice and responsibility, caring for people in need, and sensitivity towards people who are from different cultural backgrounds. Also, democracy needs young people – and young people need democracy. It is in youth that remains the future of democracy as they are tomorrow’s leaders and decision makers.

This program aims not only at providing means and resources to get young people involved. It also aims at offering an accessible approach to the rather abstract and complex notion of Active Citizenship and what it takes to be active citizens. Consequently, before getting down to business, it is very important to better understand what is the meaning of Active Citizenship, what set of skills it requires and what can we consider to be active citizenship actions.

The intention of this document is to transfer some transversal knowledge to the persons who will act as Facilitators in the implementation of “Change Makers Academy” Program with youth. “Change Makers Academy” Training Program builds on both individual and group learning, always respecting participants’ needs. To achieve the learning goals, the learning process should be carefully planned and framed within the principles of NonFormal Education and Informal Learning, Self- directed learning, Learning to learn, and Experiential Learning. In practice, it means that a self-directed learning approach strongly supported by Facilitators, having in mind the different learning styles, with frequent reflections on experienced activities and learning process, will be fostered. The overall goal is to give a comprehensive introduction of these key concepts that each Facilitator can further deepen according to their needs and interests.

This document contains 4 scenarios implemented by 4 partners’ organisations from Romania, Poland, Sweden and Portugal that were Pilot tests of the program. These scenarios can be used by facilitators while implementing the Change Makers Academy program in their community.

• Scenario 1 “ALL ABOUT CYBERBULLYING”
  Aim: To raise awareness about the issue of cyberbullying between young people aged 14 to 15 years old in secondary school, in Ploiești Romania.
• Scenario 2 “SAY NO TO XENOPHOBIA”
  Aim: To promote empathy with others who are different and raise awareness about the inequality of opportunities in society amongst young people in middle and high schools in Poznań, Poland.
• Scenario 3 “CHANGE MAKERS ACADEMY BOOTCAMP IN SWEDEN“
  Aim: To give young people space to identify why and how to become an active citizen and get the experience of practically working with one challenge of active citizenship: Involvement in NGOs, in Orebro, Sweden.
• Scenario 4 “CHANGE MAKERS BOOTCAMP IN PORTUGAL“
  Aim: To bring together young people in Cascais, Portugal to explore what is active citizenship, what can be the role of young people in the community and how to make the most of being a European Union citizen.
  

This report was developed bringing together perspectives and reflections on active citizenship and engagement of youth in society. Data was collected through web search, review of scientific literature and policy documents regarding the topic, a survey for youth, interviews with experts in the field and the collection of international good practices.

With the analysis of this data, we want to set the basis to develop an innovative
Change Makers Training Experience and mobile escape rooms kits, addressing
active citizenship in youth and youth workers.