Laboratory for a more political digital youth work
The international HUB of the European DIYW-ROAD project took place in Madrid, hosted and organised by the Fundación CIVES. From September 23 to 25, 2025, European specialists, education professionals, and civil society representatives reflected on the role of digital technology as a space for inclusion, creativity, and democratic participation, but also on the inequalities and ethical challenges it poses. They also considered how to improve citizen participation and involvement in digital policy rules, including through better education.
The aim of the event was to create a meeting place to share experiences, discuss perspectives, and design joint proposals, bringing to the table the challenges and opportunities posed by digital technology in the context of democracy and human rights. To this end, some thirty experts from various European countries, from science, NGOs, youth work and digital activism gathered in Madrid.
In the Biblioteca Pública Municipal Eugenio Trías, directly located in the famous Parque Retiro in the heart of Madrid, the partners of the project were invited to inform about the various activities of the modern library, a library with the ambition to be an open, accessible and modern space for learning, information and collaboration. We thank the leadership for their inspiration. Citizenship-related learning and libraries are an important alliance.
The first session of the DIYW-ROAD HUB began with a warm welcome from Edurne Grau, patron of the Fundación CIVES, who wished the participants a successful stay and fruitful days of debate and reflection. Paula Alvira Rosende, coordinator of the Foundation, then explained how the activities for the following days would be organised, kicking off the various activities designed to encourage participation and collective reflection.
On Tuesday, participants shared their experiences and concerns in the field of digitalisation and created pedagogical paths on how to address the digitalisation as a relevant sociopolitical and environmental topic in education. Over the three days, through various sessions, they discussed the environment and digitalisation, the construction of identities , the relationship between governance and new technologies, among other issues.
In this way, Madrid became thanks to the hosting organisation and DARE member CIVES a European laboratory of ideas for three days to collectively think about how to use digital technology not only as a mere tool, but also to advance democratic rights, equality, participation, and social justice.
Impulse for a greater European debate
DIYW-ROAD is a project co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme and coordinated by Arbeitskreis deutscher Bildungsstätten (AdB, Germany) with the partners Fundación CIVES (Spain), Sozialprofil (Austria), Dinamo (Portugal), Partners Bulgaria Foundation (Bulgaria), and the DARE network – Democracy and Human Rights Education in Europe. The initiative explores how education for democratic citizenship and human rights can guide more critical, inclusive, and sustainable teaching methods.
As a result of this project, the study European Youth in the Digital Transformation” has also been published, a rigorous analysis of how the digital transformation is impacting the daily lives of young people.
During the next steps, the project team will consult young people about their pressing needs and questions regarding democracy and digitalization. In addition, work is underway on a new handbook for educators—youth workers, trainers, teachers.
