Democracy Defenders Accelerator (DDA) was our hands-on programme for civic activists across the world. The participants learned how to design and deliver civic engagement projects and practise participatory leadership skills — through both the running of real-life projects and working on project ideas. The entire ten-month learning process was supported by mentors and facilitators. As a result, 30 young people completed the programme and 17 project concepts were developed and 11 of these initiatives were piloted with real actions already during the programme.

Syscraft

An international team from Canada, Montenegro, Argentina, and the Netherlands developed a concept and prototype to make complex systems easier to understand. The primary goal is to facilitate systems change by fostering greater alignment and collaboration between partners and stakeholders.
Team members: Andee Pittman, Guillermo Martin Croppi, Marijana Sundic, and Mathieu Akko Muus

Harvesting Hope: Europe’s Fight for Food Security

A European peer-to-peer initiative raising awareness about the use of chemicals in agriculture. It calls on decision-makers in Europe to ban harmful chemicals. The project leverages social media and direct networks, offering resources to individuals on how to get involved actively.
Team lead: Onyx / Dimitrios Karagiannidis

Nature and the Woman Marginalised: A Case Study from Cameroon

This project organised gatherings and a workshop to engage women in Cameroon in discussions about climate change. Founded on the principle that climate justice cannot exist without gender justice, the initiative seeks to address gender inequality in climate change decision-making.
Team lead: Ngangjoh Memunatu Riyuh

E-Ranger

A programme in Indonesia aimed at raising awareness about internet privacy among school students. The team, composed of teachers, has developed tools, conducted workshops, and plans to create a curriculum addressing these critical topics in schools.
Team lead: Sam Michael Nugraha Situmorang

Accessibility for PwDs

This project aims to improve access to public transport for people with disabilities in Indonesian cities. Using research and data, the initiative seeks to raise awareness among decision-makers and the public to promote inclusive, democratic decision-making regarding transportation infrastructure.
Team: Luthfy Ramiz, Syifa Annisa, and Gio Pradipta

Enhancing Women’s Civic and Political Engagement via Digital Technology

Initiated in Mexico, this project empowers women as community leaders by recognising their contributions and equipping them with digital tools to enhance civic participation. Workshops and discussions facilitated the exchange of experiences and practices.
Team lead: Mar Marín and her local team

Integration and Trauma Recovery Among Afghan Refugee Women in Italy

Designed to support Afghan refugee women in Italy, this project established a women’s group and hosted workshops to aid integration, cultural adaptation, and trauma recovery. It also aims to raise awareness about the inclusion of Afghan women in Italy.
Team: Sharifa Behzad and local partners in Italy

RED (Raise, Empower, Disseminate) for the Youth

A project in Albania addressing low youth participation due to the lack of a dedicated budget for young people in Kodovjat, a community of 3,500 inhabitants (Census 2011). The team created a calendar of activities to motivate and empower youth, combining democracy, culture, and capacity building.
Team: Nensi Dragoti and local team

ASEAN Youth Week – The ASEAN Youth Advocacy Network Project

This initiative in the Philippines provides civic engagement training for young people across Southeast Asia. It offers a platform for developing advocacy skills to address youth issues in collaboration with networks such as ASEAN and the UN. The project has involved over 600 participants through online and hybrid training.
Team lead: Emmanuel Mirus Ponon and local team in the Philippines

Democracy Literacy for Students

Led by educator Uswatun Hasanah (Anna), this project addresses the lack of political, democratic, digital, and media literacy. Working with 25 young people, it organised school discussions, capacity-building sessions, and student involvement in the Indonesian Opinion Festival.
Team lead: Uswatun Hasanah and students in Central Java, Indonesia

Critical Research for Evidence-Based Policy-Making in Sri Lanka

This project enhances democracy in Sri Lanka by building civil society’s capacity to conduct critical research and engage effectively with legislators. Stakeholder discussions and focus groups map how local government policies impact communities.
Team lead: Pathirannehelage Lakshita Prasad and external team

Additional Project Ideas Developed

Six additional project ideas were developed during the DDA programme, although they were not piloted:

1. Youth Brain Drain in Albania: Tackling the migration of young people from Albania.
   Team: Brunilda Brati

2. Digital Literacy for Youth in North Sulawesi: Aiming to improve digital literacy among young people.
   Team: Lei Leily and Cevi Agis Firmansyah

3. Overall Quality of Democracy in Germany: Reducing radicalisation and polarisation.
   Team: Lukas Crombach, Nadya Melati, Nensi Dragoti, and Rangga A. Akhli

4. Deja Vu Cycles / Misassessment of Processes in Society: Addressing disinformation in Georgia.
   Team: Smaranda Olariu and Nato Gogrichiani

5. Engaging Youth to Address Human Rights Violations: Raising awareness about violence against women and supporting victims.
   Team: Gabriela Sulkaj, Erta Allamani, and Neysa Thifal Aurellia Basista

6. Personal Privacy Awareness in Universities: Promoting personal data privacy among university students.
   Team: Sholahuddin Al-Fatih