Embodying Democracy
A space for youth/social workers/trainers to explore and learn about democracy through their bodies
Let’s make democracy a daily habit—together!
A space for youth/social workers/trainers to explore and learn about democracy through their bodies
This training is designed for youth workers, trainers, and activists who want to explore how democracy can be lived daily—not just as a concept, but as a practice embedded in actions, habits, and collective attitudes.
The event revolves around three interconnected pillars:
1. Tools to Read and Act on Reality
Goal: Explore practical tools (not just theoretical) to map, analyse, and intervene in personal and collective realities, adapting them to diverse contexts.
Methodologies:
- Village, 3D Modeling, 4D Mapping, Sensing Journey (just to mention few amongst the tools availbale in Social Presencing Theater and Theory U) are used to advance projects (e.g., monitoring, needs assessment), read specific contexts (personal, community, or associative), and adapt standard practices to real-world situations (e.g., large groups, non-formal settings).
- Peer-to-peer learning will be fostered by sharing experiences with others who have applied these tools in broad contexts (not just training groups) to discover variations of standard methodologies and learn how to translate theory into action (e.g., collective decision-making in associations).
Example: The Sensing Journey fosters an active perception of needs—repeating it turns it into an attitude that supports distributed responsibility without delegating to predefined roles.
2. What Triggers Change?
Reality is that intellectual understanding (knowing what and why to change) is not enough to spark action. This part of the programme will explore “What mechanism turns awareness into action?” because change requires more than rationality: emotion, perceived urgency, trust in the process, and a supportive social context (e.g., collective rituals, shared practices).
3. Wise Agency: Democracy in Action
Our definition: Wise Agency for democracy is not just planned, organised action—it’s also an internalised attitude that guides daily choices.
Our focus will be on:
- Small, everyday actions (accessible to all, in any context, no permissions needed) can become so integrated that they feel automatic.
- Systemic impact comes from the sum of micro-actions.
- Democracy as a daily practice—individual and collective.
Example: Organising a protest requires external conditions (permits, people, etc.), while habit of democracy anyone can adopt immediately.
Who Can Apply?
Anyone that:
- Works directly with youth (e.g., local youth clubs, NGOs, informal groups).
- Provides services or training opportunities for youth/social workers.
- Is officially resident in an Erasmus+ Programme Country (EU + associated countries).
Why participating?
- to co-create a high-impact training on embodied democracy
- to expand your network with like-minded people and organisations across Europe.
- to gain visibility as a co-organiser of an innovative project.
How to Join?
Fill in this expression of interest form by 5 September 2026. We’ll contact you to discuss details and make possible your participation.
Questions?
Contact Paola Bortini at paola@alp-network.org
Let’s make democracy a daily habit—together!