RISEBA highlights the importance of democratic values and youth civic engagement at the final conference of the international OUR VOICE project
On 23 September 2026, the final conference of the international Erasmus+ project OUR VOICE – Increasing Awareness and Active Involvement of Young People in our European Democracy took place. The event highlighted the importance of democratic values, critical thinking and active civic engagement among young people, while introducing RISEBA students to international collaboration opportunities and the project’s results.
The aim of the OUR VOICE project was to raise young people’s awareness of democratic processes in Europe, strengthen their civic literacy and encourage them to take an active role in public life. As part of the project, interactive learning materials were developed, international workshops were organised and a digital learning environment was created, enabling young people to discuss the challenges facing democracy, civic responsibility and ways to influence developments in society.
As a project partner, RISEBA made a significant contribution to the development of educational content designed to help young people understand democracy as an ongoing, evolving process. The content also aimed to foster critical thinking, the ability to evaluate information and the confidence to express opinions supported by sound arguments. In collaboration with the project partners, RISEBA also organised an international hybrid workshop in Riga focusing on active participation in democratic life.
The final conference brought together representatives of the international project’s partner organisations from Sweden, Iceland and Türkiye, who shared their experiences of implementing the project and discussed its achievements. The discussions placed particular emphasis on the role of young people in developing a democratic society and the importance of education in fostering active citizenship.
The students’ own stories added particular value to the conference. Kristiāna Avotiņa, President of the RISEBA Student Council and a fourth-year full-time student on the Public Relations and Advertising Management programme, and her fellow student Agate Blanka shared their experiences of participating in the project and reflected on the importance of international collaboration for young people’s personal and professional development. In May 2026, both students had the opportunity to take part in an international project mobility in Sweden, where they joined young people from other countries to discuss democracy, civic engagement and Europe’s shared values.
The OUR VOICE final conference also served as an invitation to RISEBA students to make greater use of Erasmus+ and other international opportunities, get involved in projects, take part in discussions and become active agents of change.
RISEBA continues to foster an international, open and values-driven learning environment in which academic knowledge is complemented by practical experience, intercultural collaboration and the development of civic responsibility.
Democracy begins with participation – and every young person’s voice matters.
