Highlights from the digital hub: diving into democracy, active citizenship and leadership
Over the past three months, the digital hub hosted by Learning Library as part of the EYT “Do you know your democracy project?” has been a space buzzing with creative ideas, collaboration, and meaningful conversations. Here’s a closer look at what we’ve been up to recently:
Meeting in August
We kicked things off with a fascinating exploration of democracy around the world. In small groups, we dug into the political systems of two countries from different continents, comparing everything from their government structures to how democracy is practised. It was incredible to see the diversity in voter participation, press freedoms, and political challenges. Some of the findings were surprising—like how strong civil societies can thrive even amidst political instability. By the end, we weren’t just learning facts; we were asking big questions about what makes democracy work and what it needs to grow stronger.
Meeting in September
Next, we shifted the focus to something closer to home: our role as citizens. What does it really mean to actively participate in our communities?
Out participants explored three key pieces:
– Knowledge: understanding how systems work—because you can’t change what you don’t understand.
– Skills: the tools we need, like critical thinking and organising, to make an impact.
– Values: attitudes like respect, responsibility, and tolerance that keep our communities healthy
This meeting left our participants inspired to think about how small actions—whether it’s voting, volunteering, or simply staying informed—can create powerful effects of change.
Meeting in October
In our final meeting, we dove into what it means to lead. Leadership isn’t just about being in charge; it’s about bringing people together, solving problems, and making decisions that matter. We started with a self-assessment to understand our strengths and areas to grow, then explored essential skills like communication, conflict resolution, and team-building. The hands-on activity was a highlight, where everyone got to put these skills into practice To sum it up, we shared stories of young leaders who’ve made an impact, proving that age doesn’t define your ability to inspire change.
