Active citizenship education for young people in Europe

Active citizenship is essential to the health of democratic societies. Yet, despite their potential to shape the future of European democracies, young people’s participation is often hindered by structural barriers and a lack of recognition for their efforts. 

This article explores the challenges young people face in becoming active citizens and the roles that schools and youth non-governmental organisations (YNGOs) can play in bridging this gap. 

Young people are not only future members of the workforce, but above all future citizens who can play a fundamental role. At the Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions (OBESSU), we believe that youth active citizenship is vital for sustaining community involvement and driving social progress. Without it, young people are left disconnected from critical societal decisions that significantly shape their futures. 

Barriers to and opportunities for youth participation 

Young people constitute roughly half of the world’s population, and yet they have limited power to shape decisions that affect them. It would be easy to point the finger at young people’s infamous ‘apathy’, ‘lack of interest’ or ‘disillusionment’.  

After all, although young people participated in large numbers in recent European elections, they still trail behind older generations in voter turnout. But this overlooks the causes behind these symptoms. 

On the one hand, young people face multiple barriersto becoming and being acknowledged as independent citizens, such as:  

• an absence of inclusive and accessible employment opportunities,  
• a reliance on unpaid internships,  
• a disconnect between education systems and job markets,  
• insufficient skills for financial independence.  

Many young people end up losing trust in the representative power of political institutions and in the openness of existing political processes. 

On the other hand, when mainstream channels of participation are closed, young people find their own alternatives, such as volunteering, community and international projects, advocacy and protest. The impact of these informal engagements is often overlooked, despite their benefits to building vivid and resilient democracies. 

It is inspiring to look at examples of the countless times students have taken the lead to bring change when it is needed – such as in 2018, when students and young professionals in the Netherlands effectively campaigned to participate as equal stakeholders in the negotiations that would end up framing the Dutch Climate Agreement. 

Young people can be much more politically active than they are often given credit for, but there are obstacles to their participation and a lack of acknowledgment for alternative forms of engagement that continue to undermine their active citizenship.  

This is where citizenship education comes in! 

Citizenship education and the European Union 

To sustain democracy, education cannot simply respond to the demands of the labour market. It should also be about ‘educating for and through the values that democratic institutions are based on’. Civic education is one of the most essential elements in building an engaged and informed society. No one is born with the inherent skills to navigate or participate in local, regional, national or global political systems – these skills are learned.  

When young people are equipped with knowledge and opportunities for active participation, they develop into citizens capable of holding governments accountable, engaging in public debates, taking ownership of their communities’ and countries’ futures, and safeguarding democratic values.  

This is why the European Union recognises the importance of fostering democratic values, civic engagement and intercultural understanding through education. Both the European Parliament and the Council of the EU advocate for stronger citizenship education to enhance democratic participation and promote European values across all levels of education and training. 

Approaches to bringing citizenship education into schools 

Schools have the potential to facilitate active citizenship and embed democratic values and principles in young people early in their lives. Nevertheless, many European educational systems lack sufficient civic education. So what can be done? 

• It is important that educational bodies raise learners’ awareness ofexisting opportunities for active citizenship and citizenship education, such as the European Youth Platform, or the education and training programmes and resources of the Council of Europe’s Youth Department, such as the Study Sessions. 
• At the same time, schools can support youth-led initiatives for student engagement, such as student representatives, unions and organisations, recognising and promoting their achievements, and offering them spaces and resources to operate effectively. 
• Finally, schools should establish partnerships with youth non-governmental organisations (YNGOs) and welcome informal and non-formal approaches to citizenship education, as recommended by the Council of the European Union. 

Enabling YNGOs to actively participate in the civic education of learners in schools and elsewhere would offer young people the opportunity to be exposed to diverse perspectives and methods and be engaged with real-world examples of how civic participation works in practice. 

When young people are equipped with the knowledge and tools to understand and engage in political processes, appreciate the impact of voting, comprehend the functions of government and navigate political systems, they are empowered to connect with the decisions that shape their futures.  

However, while the role of schools is fundamental, we at OBESSU feel that it will not be enough if it is not accompanied by a framework of validation policies that recognise, promote and support both formal and informal youth active citizenship – in schools and beyond.