Democracy Reloading helps municipalities
engage young people in decision-making
through tools, training, and support
We provide support to municipal authorities in designing and implementing youth participation in municipal decisions and in using Erasmus+ funds to improve it.
Our operation includes the development and maintenance of this online platform, the production of assessment tools and publications and the organisation of training activities for municipal youth policy officers and young people.
We expect to increase the number of municipalities with meaningful youth participation policy, to improve existing municipal youth participation structures and strategies, and to increase the number of Erasmus+ projects realised by municipalities in the field of democratic youth participation.
Our story
It started as a cooperation project among some Erasmus+ Youth agencies in 2015 with the coordination of SALTO Participation (that was then hosted by Bureau International Jeunesse).
In 2020 the cooperation was extended to more national agencies and it became an official long term cooperation program recognised by the European Commission.
At the moment 16 countries are involved in the project. The financial and cooperation framework of the Democracy Reloading Partnership is provided by the network of Erasmus+ Youth national agencies.
Erasmus+ Youth offers opportunities to organize projects for the mobility of young people and youth workers.
The Partnership is coordinated by the Belgian (French speaking) national agency of Erasmus+ Youth: Bureau International Jeunesse (BIJ). BIJ is a department of Wallonie-Bruxelles International co-managed by the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles and set up to manage international programmes for young people in Wallonia and Brussels outside the school system. It offers specialized support to young people, youth workers and policy makers in designing and implementing high-quality youth projects in Belgium and beyond.
Laurence Hermand
Director of BIJ
Laszlo Foldi
Coordinator of Democracy Reloading
Antonio Boto
Communication (DYPALL Network)
You can write to the Democracy Reloading Team -> democracy.reloading (@) gmail.com
The Partnership is supervised by its Steering Committee that involves the representatives of the most active Erasmus+ Youth national agencies:
Anna Villani (Italy), Inez Adriaensen (Belgium-FL), Aurelie Marchand (Belgium-FR), Linda Janmaat (the Netherlands), Gry Nesse (Norway), Eva Jarosi (Hungary), Carla Marqes (Portugal), Boris Kolman (Slovakia), Anne Rolland (France), Maria Avelino (Spain) and Thekla Christodoulidou (Cyprus).
Representatives of the strategic partners are also invited to the meetings of the Committee:
Bruno Antonio (DYPALL Network), Ruxandra Pandea (Council of Europe), Judit Balogh (Europe Goes Local), Brigita Medne (SALTO Participation), Jonas Agdur (KEKS)
Democracy Reloading is supervised by its Steering Committee that involves the representatives from the Erasmus+ Youth National Agencies in Italy, Belgium-FL, Belgium-FR, the Netherlands, Norway, Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, France, Spain and Cyprus.
Democracy Reloading collaborates with important European organisations such as the Council of Europe Youth Department, SALTO Participation, DYPALL Network, Europe Goes Local and KEKS.
We are open to further collaboration with interested relevant organisation that share similar objectives to revitalize democracy in Europe.
A European platform of civil society organisations, local authorities and research institutions focusing on youth participation in decision-making processes at the local level.
We stand for active and meaningful involvement of young people in local democracies through cooperation with local authorities and we provide the space and the resources for capacity building and exchange of good practices among our members.
SALTO-YOUTH stands for Support, Advanced Learning and Training Opportunities for Youth.
It works within the Erasmus+ Youth and the European Solidarity Corps programmes.
SALTO Participation and Information encourages Participation in Democratic Life and Media Literacy by being a source of inspiration and trustworthy information.
It develops resources and organizes training and events to actively promote and foster democratic participation in Europe.
is a Council of Europe project coordinated by the Youth Department and aiming at revitalizing democracy through strengthening mutual trust between young people and democratic institutions and processes.
The Youth Department is part of the Directorate of Democratic Participation within the Directorate General of Democracy and Human Dignity (“DGII”) of the Council of Europe.
The Department elaborates guidelines, programmes and legal instruments for the development of coherent and effective youth policies at local, national and European levels.
- Use and promote the tools of the Democracy Reloading.
- Take part in its European or national training courses and events.
Contact your Erasmus+ Youth national agency and ask about their involvement and their national activities.