In a nutshell
The Democracy Camp is an ongoing Erasmus+ project that brings together young people for workshops, discussions and other non-formal learning activities on democracy, youth participation, media literacy and sustainability.
In 2025, it was a five-day intercultural exchange on democracy, media, inclusion and Europe - and the interconnections between them. It welcomed 65 young people, aged 16 to 26, from 9 European countries, in Vienna and Linz, Austria.
The main output of the Democracy Camp is the Youth Participation Handbook. It is the result of months of work by participants of the Camp, outlining ideas, insights and knowledge from the authors, as well as a practical guide for youth participation and recommendations for policymakers to improve the current state of youth participation in Europe.
No time to read the full document? Take a look at the 2-page summary here.
The Democracy Camp 2025:
From 3–7 September 2025, we explored two guiding questions: What participation tools are available to us? And how could we use these tools to promote a democratic and inclusive Europe?
Together, we identified a wide range of democratic best practices related to media and inclusion. We expanded our understanding of political levels from the city to the role of the EU, and we advanced skills relevant to political participation and running successful projects in the future.
What activities did we engage in?
- Digital kick-off at the beginning of August. Here, team members collected participants' ideas for topics, methods and anything else that's important to them. After all, it's their Camp. And of course, participants got to know each other and the partner organisations from nine countries!
- Democracy Camp from 3-7 September 2025! We were based in Vienna, Europe’s Democracy Capital, where we explored key democratic institutions, historical sites, and local initiatives. We also dived into Austria’s political system, collecting examples of democracy tools like citizens’ initiatives and assessing the impact of the European Democracy Capital initiative.
- On day 3, we headed to Linz, home of Ars Electronica. There, we engaged in activities such as meeting with local initiatives focused on integration and anti-discrimination. We also participated in workshops on project management, fundraising, campaigning, and public speaking. Additionally, we visited the Ars Electronica Centre, where we explored themes related to media and artificial intelligence.
- On Saturday evening, we celebrated youth participation at the famous Sound Cloud event in Linz – an immersive installation across the Danube.
After the Camp:
We published our ideas for improved youth participation and promising tools to foster a democratic and inclusive Europe in the 2025 Youth Democracy Handbook. We then sent this handbook to decision-makers across Europe, including all 720 Members of the European Parliament, to help bridge the gap between the EU and young people.
Who joined the Democracy Camp 2025?
Participation in the Democracy Camp was free of charge for all young people. The organisers covered all costs, including your travel to and from Austria!
There were only a few criteria:
- Participants were between 16 and 26 years of age
- Participants felt comfortable enough to speak English for five days
- We wanted our Democracy Camp to include as many diverse voices as possible, so applications were given preference if the applicant identified as part of a politically or otherwise marginalised group.
- If a participant was a minor, they needed the signature of their parents (minors were always accompanied).
Get a glimpse of the Democracy Camp 2025 on our Flickr album
