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Y2Y PILLAR

Participation and Information Literacy for Leadership, Awareness, and Resilience

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About

In the context of rising challenges to democratic processes and the proliferation of disinformation in Eastern Europe, there is an urgent need to support the next generation of leaders in developing the skills and knowledge to uphold and advance democratic principles. Young people and university students are not only the future leaders but also the most vulnerable to the influence of disinformation due to their high engagement with digital media. Project PILLAR aims to leverage the Y2Y approach to create a peer-led network that champions democratic engagement and combats the spread of false information.  

PILLAR

  • Encouraging active engagement in democratic processes among young people and university students.

  • Providing the tools and knowledge to critically evaluate information and counter disinformation.

  • Developing the next generation of leaders who are committed to democratic values and practices.

  • Raising consciousness about the importance of democracy and the threats posed by disinformation.

  • Building the capacity of individuals and communities to resist anti-democratic influences and participate effectively in civic life.

Student Image

PILLAR is a multifaceted initiative that seeks to empower university students, using a modest budget, to create and implement their own dynamic products, tools, or initiatives that they believe will be most effective in realizing democracy’s promise in their societies, ensuring scalable and impactful civic education and community engagement campaigns.  

Within the project scope, university students from different countries will discover novel solutions to addressing the threat to democracy by deliberately:  

  • Developing localized partnerships with foundations, NGO, non-profits, associations, and other like-minded organizations that promote democratic citizenship, promotion of informed public discourse, youth engagement and activism in their communities and countries that leverage mutual resources.  
  • Forming collaborative partnerships with other universities to develop joint Y2Y campaigns on a relevant issue together over the course of the semester that also include a strong call-to-action and long-term sustainability plan. 

Participating Universities in 2025

  • Fan S. Noli University

    Albania

    9 team members

  • Ilia State University

    Georgia

    4 team members

  • Rochester Institute of Technology - Kosovo

    Kosovo

    5 team members

  • University St. Kliment Ohridski - Bitola

    North Macedonia

    5 team members

  • New Bulgarian University

    Bulgaria

    7 team members

  • St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo

    Bulgaria

    12 team members

Meet the Finalists

On June 5, 2025, the final round of the Y2Y PILLAR competition brought together student-led civic innovation from across the Balkans to the campus of the American University in Bulgaria. After a day of powerful presentations and critical conversations, three standout projects were selected by the jury for their creativity, community impact, and democratic relevance:

1st Place – New Bulgarian University
МЕД (MED)
МЕД—short for “Mесенето Е Демокрация“ or “Kneading is Democracy”—is an educational initiative that reimagines civic participation for a new generation. Through an interactive digital game simulating real-life dilemmas around activism, disinformation, and free expression, МЕД empowers students to debate, reflect, and engage as active citizens. Designed to be used in classrooms across Bulgaria, the project promotes the idea that democracy is not a distant concept, but a lived, daily practice.

2nd Place – Rochester Institute of Technology – Kosovo
DemoVox
DemoVox is a civic education platform that translates complex laws and democratic processes into accessible, user-friendly language for citizens in Kosovo. Available in multiple languages, the platform demystifies institutional processes, clarifies citizens’ rights, and fosters trust in democratic systems. By closing the information gap between the public and institutions, DemoVox equips citizens to participate more actively and critically in public life.

3rd Place – Fan S. Noli University, Albania
Crawling Down the Aisle: Breaking the Chains of Early Marriage
This grassroots awareness campaign tackles early marriage as both a personal and civic issue—one that limits educational opportunity and democratic engagement. Using storytelling, school visits, community dialogue, and informational materials, the project creates space for honest conversations across generations and challenges the norms that constrain young girls’ futures. Crawling Down the Aisle champions education, autonomy, and equality as democratic rights.

Each of these projects exemplifies what happens when young people approach civic challenges with creativity, empathy, and a clear sense of purpose. Together, they show that democracy grows stronger when youth are given the tools—and the trust—to lead.

Partners

The CIDC application features a collaboration with EdVenture Partners (EVP), a leader in peer-to-peer, experiential learning programs, and is realized with the generous support of America for Bulgaria Foundation.

 

 

 

 

Y2Y PILLAR is funded by the America for Bulgaria Foundation (ABF), which is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonpolitical American grant-making foundation working in partnership with Bulgarians to strengthen the country’s private sector and related democratic institutions.

ABF builds on the success of the Bulgarian-American Enterprise Fund, an investment fund created in 1991 by the U.S. Congress with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development. For more information, please visit us4bg.org.

Upcoming Events

05
June
Y2Y PILLAR Final Competition

Y2Y PILLAR Final Competition

1:30 pm | BAC Auditorium