Girls in Democracy: Launching a New Training Programme for Young Women
On 14 September 2026, more than 100 participants from Croatia, Portugal, Lithuania and Poland came together online for the “Girls in Democracy” event, marking an important step towards the launch of the project’s training programme for girls and young women.
The event introduced the newly developed Girls in Democracy training programme, which aims to equip young women with the knowledge, skills and confidence to participate more actively in democratic and public life. The programme consists of four interconnected areas:
- Gender Equality and Women’s Rights, developed by Inspiring Girls (Portugal);
- Civic Participation and Political Literacy, developed by CZ-ART (Poland);
- Leadership and Strategic Thinking, developed by DKolektiv (Croatia);
- Advocacy and Action Development, developed by Mano Europa (Lithuania).
The programme launch was complemented by expert presentations exploring different aspects of women’s participation in public and democratic life. Dr. Antonija Petričušić, Dr. Maria Kanal, Dr. Cláudia Cavadas and Izidė Marcinkutė shared insights on young women’s political participation, emotional labour, leadership, strategic thinking and successful youth advocacy.
The event also created an opportunity for participants from different countries to exchange perspectives and learn more about the challenges and opportunities young women face when engaging in public life.
What comes next?
The online event was only the beginning. From October 2026, the Girls in Democracy training programme will be implemented in Croatia, Portugal, Lithuania and Poland. Girls and young women will have the opportunity to participate in learning activities focused on gender equality, civic and political participation, leadership, advocacy and developing their own ideas for social and democratic change.
Through the upcoming national programmes, Girls in Democracy will create spaces where young women can develop their voices, strengthen their skills and explore how they can contribute to democratic life in their communities and beyond.
Follow the project to find out how to participate in the upcoming training activities in your country!
The project is co-funded by the European Commission under CERV programme.
