Youth-led civic narratives
Twenty young people are expected to create ethical, fact-aware narratives, checked against a shared quality rubric.
Ongoing · October 2026 – February 2027
Youth Narratives and Civic Dialogue – Our Story, Our Democracy
About this exchange
Youth Narratives and Civic Dialogue – Our Story, Our Democracy (YES-now) is a youth participation project coordinated by Highlights e.V. with Debatni klub Grada Nisa, the City of Niš Debate Club, in Serbia. The project period runs from June 2026 to May 2027. It is designed to help young people take a more visible part in democratic life through civic dialogue, narrative-building, and conversation with local decision-makers.
The planned programme centres on two mobilities for the same group of 20 young people, ten from Serbia and ten from Germany, aged 18–30. The first is in Niš from 14 to 22 October 2026. Participants are expected to work in a civic narrative lab, using peace-journalism principles as a participation method, and to present youth messages in a structured dialogue with Palilula Municipality. The second is in Erlangen from 1 to 7 February 2027. It is planned as the point where those narratives become at least ten concrete youth recommendations and a structured dialogue with local decision-makers.
After the mobilities, the partners plan four local follow-up events, one online and one in person in each country, to share the narratives and recommendations with a wider group of young people and local stakeholders. The application describes this wider reach as about 100 additional people. A youth co-design group from both countries is part of preparation and implementation. These activities and results are what the application sets out to do. They are not reported here as already delivered.
OBJECTIVES
What we want to achieve
- Strengthen the ability to read polarising or misleading civic narratives and to respond in an ethical, fact-aware, and non-escalatory way
- Support participants to draft at least 10 feasible youth recommendations on distrust, polarisation, and disengagement from democratic processes
- Build political self-efficacy through structured dialogue with local decision-makers, with responses and follow-up points documented
- Leave both organisations with a narrative-and-dialogue model they can continue after the project
ACTIVITIES
What we'll do
Youth co-design and preparation
A youth co-design group from Serbia and Germany is planned to help shape themes, outreach, and the programme before the mobilities.
Civic narrative lab in Niš
A mobility in Niš (14–22 October 2026) is planned as a civic narrative lab, using peace-journalism principles to co-create articles, audio, video, or statements.
Municipal dialogue in Palilula
During the Niš mobility, participants are expected to present youth messages in a structured dialogue with Palilula Municipality.
Recommendations lab in Erlangen
A seven-day mobility in Erlangen (1–7 February 2027) is planned to turn those narratives into at least 10 concrete youth recommendations.
Dialogue in Erlangen
The Erlangen mobility includes a structured conversation with local decision-makers, with responses and follow-up points to be documented.
Local follow-up events
After the mobilities, the partners plan four local events — one online and one in person in Serbia, and the same in Germany — to share the narratives and recommendations with a wider group of young people.
Young people aged 18–30 from Serbia and Germany who join the two mobilities, including participants with fewer opportunities, plus a wider group of young people and local stakeholders at the planned follow-up events.
KEY RESULTS
What we aim to achieve
At least 10 youth recommendations
The Erlangen mobility is planned as the point where those narratives become feasible recommendations on distrust, polarisation, and disengagement.
Documented local dialogue
Dialogues in Niš and Erlangen are intended to record decision-maker responses and follow-up points, so participation is not only symbolic.
Wider local reach
Four follow-up events are planned. The application describes them as reaching around 100 additional young people and stakeholders.
Delivered with
- Debatni klub Grada Nisa — Serbia
LEARNING
Competencies you'll develop
- Ethical, fact-aware, and non-escalatory civic communication
- Reading polarising frames and checking claims before sharing them
- Drafting feasible recommendations for the local level
- Preparing questions and speaking in dialogue with decision-makers
- Safer participation in online civic discussion
- Intercultural teamwork between young people from Serbia and Germany
