The Center for Information, Democracy, and Citizenship (CIDC) at the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) recently hosted a specialized Training Retreat that brought together 17 young leaders from Bulgaria and Greece.
The three-day intensive program was part of the project, Youth Participate: Innovating Civic Engagement in Bulgaria Through Deliberative Democracy, funded by the US Embassy in Sofia and the Heinrich-Böll Stiftung (HBS) in Greece. The retreat united nine student-leaders from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) and eight Bulgarian youth leaders, selected as Democracy Youth Ambassadors (DYA).
The “You(TH) Participate” program aims to promote democratic values and creative models of active citizenship and participation. It also seeks to empower future leaders by training students to take leadership roles and develop their civic engagement knowledge and practice. In addition, the university students from Bulgaria will use the knowledge gained from the tailored capacity-building initiative to organize a youth-led citizen assembly in Bulgaria.
AUBG President Dr Margee Ensign welcomed the students at the start of the retreat by stressing the importance of youth participation in democratic processes. She highlighted the role of AUBG as a beacon of democratic values and active civic engagement in the Balkans.
“These young leaders represent our region’s best hope for democratic renewal. Their commitment to democratic values and willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue across borders is exactly what our region needs”, Dr Ensign said.
Building a Foundation in Deliberative Democracy
The training followed a comprehensive curriculum delivered by a diverse team of experts, including AUBG alumna and social impact documentary filmmaker Anna Stoeva, who conducted a compelling session on narrative building for deliberative democracy and social change. The program covered crucial aspects of deliberative democracy, including how to organize an impactful citizen assembly, public policy advocacy strategies, and effective policy change communication. Through group exercises, participants identified local issues and discussed potential topics for a youth assembly. One of the participants, Dimitris Eleftheriadis, a student from AUTh, reflected on the value of learning about deliberative democracy and citizen assemblies and said he looked forward to applying these skills back home.
Adapting Advocacy to Local Realities
On the final day, participants learned how to tailor advocacy efforts to regional differences in Bulgaria and Greece. The training concluded with sessions on persuasive communication and outlined actionable goals for the coming months.
“What makes this initiative unique is its focus on practical skills and applying learned concepts to local contexts,” said Dr Jacob Udo-Udo Jacob, Executive Director of the CIDC. “These young ambassadors are learning not just theory, but actual tools they can use to strengthen democracy in their communities.”
Moving Forward
The training retreat is part of a larger initiative that will culminate in a Youth Assembly scheduled for Spring 2025 at AUBG. The Democracy Youth Ambassadors will now begin working on local initiatives while preparing for the assembly. Participants will receive ongoing support and mentorship to help them implement the program.
A Timely Initiative
The event addressed concerns about low youth engagement in Europe, particularly in Bulgaria, where recent voter turnout has been around 30%. Amid low voter turnout in Greece, Vivian Kounio of Heinrich-Böll Stiftung noted the urgency of empowering young people to protect democracy. The retreat served as a launchpad for participants to lead democratic initiatives in their communities, inspiring a more active and engaged youth.
Besides the formal learning part, the training also included abundant networking possibilities. The shared lunches, dinners, and coffee breaks gave participants the opportunity to get acquainted with each other in a more informal way and bond over common interests in the hope of creating lifelong connections.
To achieve the ambitious goals of the “You(TH) Participate” program, the CIDC has engaged crucial stakeholders. The U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria has been a long-term supporter of AUBG, a university with the unique mission to prepare students of outstanding potential for democratic and ethical leadership in serving the needs of the region and the world. Heinrich-Böll Stiftung is a more recent supporter of the CIDC, with whom it shares common values and views on the impact of young people on today’s society.
