Youth for Consensus Democracy

The project “Youth for Consensus Democracy: From Dialogue to Participation” aims to promote the broader inclusion of young people from Burgas in democratic processes by developing skills in argumentation, active participation, and dialogue facilitation. Twelve youth facilitators will be trained to initiate four public dialogues on topics of public interest. Over 200 young people will participate in these dialogues, and at least four local institutions—the Municipality of Burgas, the Regional Education Administration, schools, and media outlets—will be involved in the process. The consensus proposals reached will be presented at a final roundtable discussion with decision-makers, and a short documentary film will promote the results and reach at least 50,000 viewers online.

The partnership between ASU Delphi and Bilitis Foundation is at the heart of the initiative. Delphi brings years of experience working with youth, institutions, and communities in Burgas, while Bilitis contributes expertise in inclusive methodologies, facilitation, and advocacy for rights and equality.

The main objective of the project is to develop a practical model for youth participation based on dialogue, trust, and cooperation with authorities. Through the project, young people will formulate consensus-based proposals and discuss them with institutions. The project combines an educational approach with civic action, promotes a culture of participation, and builds skills for conducting constructive dialogue.

Specific objectives include:

• – developing skills for facilitation, argumentation and civic engagement;
• – building a network of trained youth facilitators;
• – promoting young people’s participation in local decision-making processes.

To achieve these, the project includes the following main activities:

• – Developing a methodology – for facilitating consensus-based dialogue in the community that promotes equal participation and respect among different viewpoints.
• – Youth Academy for Consensus Democracy – training young people to develop skills for facilitating consensus-based dialogues.
• – Conducting 4 public dialogues – organizing a series of public events led by the trained youth on topics of public importance.
• – Presentation of proposals to local authorities – the recommendations developed during the previous activity will be presented to local authorities through a “flash discussion”;