Funded by

Erasmus+, KA2

Information
Contacts
Ginevra Roli
Project Officer - SERN

MIK - ON

Promoting the active participation of young people in democratic life

About the project

The MIK-ON project is rooted in the recognition of the critical role that young people play in shaping the future of society. As the next generation of leaders, it is essential to equip them with the skills and competencies necessary to actively participate in their communities and articulate their voices effectively within a democratic framework. This project specifically aims to empower youths from marginalised areas, enabling them to express their viewpoints and engage in both local and European democratic discourse.

These young individuals often face societal exclusion, growing up in segregated environments and grappling with stigmatization and poverty. By investing in these youths and enhancing their ability to express their ideas, MIK-On seeks to connect them with peers from other European countries, fostering a sense of belonging within a broader European context. This investment is crucial for today’s and tomorrow’s democracy and for the integration of marginalized citizens and the cultivation of a cohesive European identity.

In an era of rapid societal change, it is crucial for young people to develop the skills needed to navigate complex issues.

The project provides a platform for young participants to share their challenges and learn from the experiences of peers in another European country, helping them realise that they are not isolated in their struggles. This transnational experience is expected to empower them and enhance their sense of agency. Furthermore, the project aims to produce lasting outputs that will continue to benefit the participants and their communities even after its conclusion. By presenting their thoughts and creative works, participants will become advocates of important messages, rights, and empowerment, creating a ripple effect that will encourage their peers to reflect on and benefit from the project.

Objectives

The general objective of the project is to contribute to the active participation of young people (16-18 years old) from disadvantaged neighbourhoods in democratic life.

The specific objectives are:

  1. to strengthen young people’s personal, social, and citizenship competences by developing skills for effective participation,
    for expressing their voice in different contexts through non-formal learning contents;
  2. to develop and strengthen youth’s motivation and courage for active democratic participation by experiencing a sense of belonging and European identity.

International seminar in Bologna

17–22 February 2025 | Bologna, Italy

The MIK-ON project officially kicked off in Bologna with a four-day seminar bringing together young people from Bologna (Italy) and Linköping (Sweden) to explore how to actively participate in democratic life.

A total of 22 participants aged 16–18 – 10 from Sweden and 12 from Italy – along with 10 youth workers took part in the activities, designed to encourage reflection, dialogue, and collaboration across borders.

The programme included:
– Team-building sessions
– Brainstorming workshops on democracy, participation, and identity
– Artistic activities to express shared concerns

During the discussions, one theme stood out: racism. Many participants had either experienced or witnessed discrimination in their daily lives. With the guidance of the local collective Collettivo Franco, they transformed their reflections into powerful posters conveying anti-racism messages, which were later displayed across the city of Bologna.

Local activities and results in Bologna

March - June 2025 | Bologna, Italy

In Bologna, the MIK-ON project developed through a series of creative and participatory activities involving young people, local organisations and community spaces. The approach combined artistic expression, social reflection and community engagement, with a strong focus on anti-racism, inclusion and youth participation.

Preparation and follow-up

Before hosting the Swedish participants, local partners organised three preparatory meetings, including one involving parents, to build a shared understanding of the project. After the mobility, two follow-up meetings were held to reflect on the experience and co-design the final public event.

Workshops and creative process

The core of the project consisted of a structured pathway of workshops, where participants explored different forms of expression:

  • Creative writing and lyrics (Zoopalco Collective): development of texts and rhymes on anti-racism and discrimination
  • Beatmaking (Soundlab APS): creation of original music using digital tools, followed by recording sessions at OARecords (OfficinAdolescenti)
  • Street art and mural (BLQ – Block Culture): co-design and realisation of the MIK-ON mural in Giardino degli Olmi (Borgo Reno)
  • Videomaking: production of 8 music video clips and documentation of the project
  • Self-publishing and fanzine (Collettivo Franco): design of cassette covers for the music produced
  • Screen printing workshop: printing of the cassette covers
  • Boxing workshop (Pugilistica Navile ASD): group activity focused on physical expression and teamwork

Several of these activities also involved young people from local youth centres in the peripheral areas of Bologna, strengthening the connection between the project and the local community.

Events and public visibility

The project included moments of public engagement, allowing participants to share their work with a wider audience:

  • Open Mic event (20 February 2025): live performances by young artists from Bologna and Linköping

As part of the project’s legacy, the posters created during the Poster Art workshop were displayed across the city, contributing to a public awareness campaign.

Mobility experience

During the exchange, participants from Bologna and Linköping took part in joint activities designed to combine creativity and intercultural dialogue:

  • Poster Art workshop (Collettivo Franco)
  • Street art tour (BLQ – Block Culture)
  • Cooking workshop with Casa di Quartiere Rosa Marchi

Local network and community involvement

A key objective of the project was to connect different areas of the city, particularly central and peripheral neighbourhoods. To achieve this, the activities involved several local youth centres (Cresco) and a wide network of organisations, including: Cucine Popolari Bologna Social Food, Circolo Arci Guernelli, Casa di Quartiere Katia Bertasi, Labàs – Municipio Sociale Autogestito, Spazio di Comunità Hayat, Salto, Borgomondo and MC Smezzo.

Multimedia outputs

The project also resulted in a range of audiovisual materials documenting the experience and showcasing participants’ work:

Local activities and results in Linköping

March - November 2025 | Linköping, Sweden

Also in Linköping, the participants discussed and expressed their opinions in creative ways during creative workshops. 

The youths actively took leadership for their projects and collaborated with their peers. Youth workers supported in making contact with local experts and collaborating partners for the creation of outputs. During the months between the mobilities, the Swedish participants intensively prepared for the exhibition in June 2025. 

Workshops and creative process 

The Swedish participants chose to work through the following expressional methods: 

  • Film manus writing: The group jointly came up with a film manus about gender norms and how to present their absurdity in a humoristic short movie 
  • Film production: Under the lead of three youths, the whole group was involved in the filming, set up, camera and post production. The music of the film was written and produced by a youth from Bologna. 
  • Song writing and production: One participant produced his own song, from lyric writing to production, singing and life performing. 
  • Podcast: A group of participants scripted and produced a podcast about being young in today’s society, about social media, safety, and growing up between cultures. 
  • Food waste project: participants planned the catering of the final event, focusing on food waste prevention. They got inspired from the trip to Bologna, where they had seen “Cucine popolari” and their concept against loneliness, exclusion and food waste. 
     

The group of participants worked both with guidance and completely autonomously. The group developed fast from strangers to friends, bound by the common experience and mutual support for each others’ projects. Their development, engagement and leadership skills were impressive and the outcomes exceeded any expectations. 

The group was also active in planning, carrying out and promoting the dissemination event at Skylten in June 2025. 

Mobility experience

During the mobility in Linköping, participants from Bologna and Linköping took part in joint activities designed to combine creativity and intercultural dialogue: 

  • Joint promotion of the dissemination event 
  • Preparation for the presentation of their work during the exhibition event 
  • Art workshop with group painting together with Ung Konst Öst 
  • Team building activities and typical cultural activities such as paint ball, kupp, canoeing 
  • Catering preparation for the event: all participants from Sweden and Italy together prepared the food for the dissemination event 

 

Dissemination events 

The project results were presented to the public in two local activities in Linköping: 

  • Exhibition event at Skylten in June 2025 with live performance of all produced songs, movie showing of two project movies, poster art, poetry and podcast. 
  • Interactive Exhibition in the central library of Linköping in November 2025: the project’s results, produced creative outputs and the participants’ experience was exhibited in the central library of Linköping, inviting visitors to express their opinions to the chosen topics gender equality, racism and discrimination. 

Creative production and public exhibitions

23–28 June 2025 | Linköping, Sweden

The MIK-ON project placed strong emphasis on creative production as a tool for youth participation and expression. After months of local activities, young participants from Bologna and Linköping came together for a final transnational experience in Sweden, where they transformed their ideas into tangible outputs. Working collaboratively, they produced a wide range of creative materials, including paintings, posters, videos, songs and podcasts, addressing key themes such as racism, gender inequality and identity.

These works were presented to the public through an exhibition hosted at Skylten, the cultural centre of Linköping. The exhibition not only showcased the creative outcomes of the project, but also provided a space for dialogue between young people and the local community, highlighting the importance of giving youth a voice on socially relevant issues. Beyond the exhibition itself, the process fostered collaboration, intercultural exchange and mutual learning, reinforcing the role of creativity as a powerful means of engagement and inclusion.

Dissemination and educational outreach

On 24 October 2025, the final event of the MIK-ON project took place in Bologna, hosted at the Cineteca di Bologna – Sala Scorsese, within the framework of the Settimane Pedagogiche. The event brought together more than 100 participants, including young people, educators, stakeholders and members of the local community.

The programme featured the public screening of the MIK-ON documentary, offering an overview of the project journey and the experiences of the young participants. This was followed by a presentation of the international exchange activities, highlighting the creative outputs developed and the key themes addressed throughout the project, such as inclusion, identity and active participation.

The event represented an important moment of dissemination and reflection, creating a space to share results with the wider community and to emphasise the value of youth engagement in addressing social challenges. How do we move from talking about youth participation to actually making it happen?

The Handbook: Youth Engagement and Dialogue for More Democracy

The MIK-ON handbook offers a concrete answer. Built on a collaboration between Italy and Sweden, it shows how young people can be actively involved in democratic life as creators of dialogue, ideas, and change.

Through a mix of workshops, debates, and creative processes, ranging from video and music to visual expression, the project supported young people in turning their views on issues like identity, belonging, and discrimination into tangible outputs and public actions.

This handbook is designed for municipalities, educators, and youth workers who want to go beyond consultation and build real engagement. It provides practical methods to create safe spaces, facilitate meaningful dialogue, and guide young people from reflection to action.

The message is simple but demanding: young people are ready to engage. The question is whether we are ready to create the conditions for it.

Explore the handbook (also available in IT and SE) and start building spaces where young voices participate and shape the conversation.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
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