28 November, 2024
Location: Staré Lýceum (Konventná 15), Bratislava, Slovakia
As part of the Global Democracy Coalition (GDC) campaign, ‘Thank You Democracy’, the European Democracy Youth Network (EDYN) is hosting this regional intergenerational dialogue focused on strengthening democracy across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). This event brings together youth activists and senior experts to share perspectives, research, and case studies aimed at addressing the region’s current democratic challenges and fostering youth participation in democratic processes.
THURSDAY, 28 November, 9:00 – 13:00
| Time | Session | Description |
| Registration | ||
| 9:00 – 9:10 | Opening Remarks | Ľubica Kováčová, Executive Director, EDYN |
| 9:10 – 9:30 | Amplifying voices, strengthening democracy: The work of the Global Democracy Coalition | Elisenda Balleste Buxo, Project Coordinator, Global Democracy Coalition Nicolette K. Kalfas, Research Assistant, Global Democracy Coalition |
| 9:30 – 10:30 | Looking at the Past to Understand the Future: an Intergenerational Dialogue on the State of Democracy in CEE This session brings together senior experts as well as youth activists to assess the state of democracy in Central and Eastern Europe, by looking into the past to illuminate the challenges of today. Panelists will discuss pressing issues such as disinformation, polarization, populism, inequality, and restrictions on freedoms, sharing insights from research, case studies, and personal experiences. | Speakers: Pavol Kosnáč, Director, DEKK Institute Jakub Rychlý, EDYN Czech Republic and Co-Founder of Nekrachni Lilla Héjas, EDYN Hungary Pavol Demeš, Visiting Distinguished Fellow, German Marshall Fund of the United States (TBC) Moderator: Justin Lane, Co-Founder and CEO, Culture Pulse |
| 10:30 – 11:00 | Coffee break | |
| 11:00 – 12:15 | Shaping Tomorrow: Youth Perspectives on Building the Future of CEE Democracies In this session, panelists will showcase impactful initiatives (research-based data, regional developments) driving democratic change and share their views for more inclusive and resilient European democracies. Panelists will discuss the role of youth in shaping democratic practices and explore opportunities for collaboration between generations to create lasting democratic impact. | Speakers: Tomáš Hrustič, Senior Program Manager, NDI Slovakia Vladislava Gubalova, Senior Fellow, GLOBSEC Fedor Blaščák, Director, Open Society Foundation, Slovakia Sofia Šillerová, UN Youth Delegate from Slovakia Moderator: Justin Lane, Co-Founder and CEO, Culture Pulse |
| 12:15 – 13:00 | Lunch and Networking |