Fostering Democratic Competencies and Community Engagement Among Czech Youth
The project Generation Symbiocene Participates!, coordinated by the civil society organization NaZemi, from February to October 2024, was designed to strengthen democratic skills and civic engagement among young adults in Czechia. Recognizing the importance of resilience and active participation for facing today’s social and environmental challenges, the initiative focused on intensive, hands-on learning rooted in participatory education. Its main goals were to empower young civic leaders and educators with facilitation tools, to foster authenticity and emotional resilience, to nurture advanced communication and cooperation, and to build a supportive community.
A cornerstone of the project was a series of three intensive seminars. These provided an immersive environment in which participants could learn by doing—experimenting with different group roles, practicing participatory methods such as the use of open-space technology, and engaging in reflective processes designed to foster deeper self-awareness and mutual understanding.
The project’s impact was evident in several ways.
First, participants reported significant growth in personal authenticity and resilience. The creation of a “safer space” and the integration of nonviolent communication techniques enabled individuals, particularly those less comfortable in groups, to become more open and expressive. As one participant reflected, “Generation Symbiocene showed me that to accept environmental grief is an important thing with transformative potential”.
Second, the program resulted in the development of advanced communication and cooperation skills. Participants began to use their new participatory and nonviolent communication skills in their personal and professional lives, becoming more attentive listeners, more tolerant of differing opinions, and more effective in setting boundaries. “Friendship and community is an essential base for my activism. Without it I could not do it”, noted a participant, highlighting the critical role of supportive networks in sustaining long-term civic engagement.
Third, the project established a vibrant, self-sustaining community. Most participants developed new friendships, allowing them to address difficult topics collaboratively and to initiate joint efforts beyond the project. The community’s respect-based culture was a significant source of collective strength and creativity.
Furthermore, participants reported a deeper understanding of global systems and power structures, which enhances their ability to critically analyze the causes of contemporary crises and to envision constructive responses. “Thanks to Generation Symbiocene, I realized the importance of building relationships in creating a better future. It starts with the relationship to ourselves, and also with relationships to the non-human world”, shared one participant, echoing the program’s holistic, transformative approach.
Generation Symbiocene Participates! demonstrated the transformative potential of participatory, community-based education in fostering democratic values and competencies among youth. The project not only strengthened the current cohort of young civic leaders but also offered a replicable model for similar initiatives seeking to nurture resilient, engaged, and empowered communities in Czechia and beyond.
The Generation Symbiocene Participates! project, supported by the Engaging Central Europe program of the Transatlantic Foundation, was implemented under the PROTEUS program and co-funded by the European Union.
The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Transatlantic Foundation (TF) or the European Union (EU). Neither the EU nor TF can be held responsible for them.
