Strengthening Youth Democratic Participation in Slovakia
The MPS–Model Parliament of Slovakia project, implemented by the civil society organization of the same name from February 2024 to April 2025, was designed to strengthen democratic participation and political literacy among high-school students through experiential civic education. Through simulated parliamentary conferences and related outreach activities, the project created a practical space in which young people could better understand politics, legislation, and public decision-making.
The project pursued two central objectives. First, it aimed to educate students about democratic institutions by their participation in simulated parliamentary and regional decision-making processes. Second, it sought to encourage longer-term civic engagement by showing participants that their ideas and involvement can have relevance beyond the classroom and can contribute to public life in meaningful ways.
A hands-on methodology guided the project’s activities. MPS organized two national conferences and three regional conferences, reaching more than 500 students as well as volunteers, journalists, legal experts, public officials, and academic partners. Participants worked in committees, debated current public-policy issues, and prepared proposals following real-life legislative and self-government processes. Across the project, they produced numerous policy and legislative outputs. Additional awareness-raising activities and outreach through schools and media helped broaden the project’s public reach.
One particularly important success story emerged from the MPS project’s regional conference in Košice. The event created a valuable space for engaged young people from eastern Slovakia to connect with representatives of the city and discuss concrete local challenges. Students were able to present their views and ideas directly to local representatives. This exchange did not end with the conference itself; it encouraged further cooperation that contributed to the creation of a new Youth City Parliament in Košice. This outcome reflects the project’s broader significance: it not only deepened young people’s understanding of democratic processes but also helped open a path toward their more sustained participation in local public life.
On a broader level, the MPS project contributed to strengthening youth civic engagement in Slovakia by combining national visibility with regional participation. It also led to a notable policy success related to the restriction on the use of mobile phones in primary schools, which the organization linked to its advocacy efforts and to cooperation with the commissioner for children and the minister of education. Together, these outcomes suggest that the initiative was able not only to support civic learning, but also to demonstrate how youth-focused engagement can connect to wider public discussions and institutional processes.
Throughout its implementation, the project helped build a stronger network linking students, volunteers, academics, journalists, public representatives, and institutional partners, creating a foundation for continued cooperation and future development.
The Model Parliament of Slovakia is a strong example of how democratic participation can be encouraged through practical experience, institutional cooperation, and sustained youth engagement. Its achievements during the grant period show that when young people are given structured opportunities to debate, collaborate, and engage with public issues, they can participate with seriousness and commitment. By linking civic education with public life, the project laid important groundwork for the continued development of youth democratic participation in Slovakia.
The project MPS–Model Parliament of Slovakia, 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 European Union, the European Education and Culture Executive Agency, or the Transatlantic Foundation. Neither the European Union, the granting authority, nor the Transatlantic Foundation can be held responsible for them.
