On 18 June, the Deutsches Institut für Gutes Leben (DIfGL) hosted an event exploring how schools can strengthen democratic participation and empower young people to see themselves as political actors.
Professor Bryony Hoskins presented findings from the EU Horizon G-EPIC project, which examined political self-efficacy, civic engagement, and girls‘ empowerment across several European countries. The research demonstrated that inclusive civic education can significantly increase young people’s confidence in understanding politics and participating in democratic life.
Tim Pires Alves shared insights from the German implementation of the project and reflected on both the opportunities and challenges facing civic education in German schools.
The discussion was moderated by Dr. Robert Keeling, brought his expertise in UK–German relations and international municipal cooperation to the conversation. His perspective helped connect the research findings with the broader importance of democratic resilience and cross-border collaboration.
One of the most valuable aspects of the evening was the exchange between different European perspectives, particularly those of London and Berlin. While educational systems and political cultures differ, many of the challenges facing democratic education are remarkably similar across Europe.
A particularly important finding presented during the event was that girls‘ political self-efficacy declines significantly during adolescence in nearly all participating countries. Rather than losing interest in politics, many young women lose confidence in their ability to influence political processes and create meaningful change. This underlines the importance of educational approaches that empower young people to recognise that their voices matter and that democratic participation is both possible and impactful.
The G-EPIC project also showed that relatively small classroom interventions can have measurable effects. Through collaborative learning, positive role models and inclusive teaching methods, students reported greater confidence in their political knowledge, their ability to participate in democratic processes and their capacity to contribute to society.
The evening reinforced a central message: democracy cannot be taken for granted. Building resilient democratic societies requires sustained investment in civic education that is accessible, inclusive and evidence-based, enabling all young people to develop the confidence and skills needed for democratic participation.
We sincerely thank Professor Bryony Hoskins, Tim Pires Alves and Dr. Robert Keeling for their valuable contributions. We also extend our gratitude to the Berliner Landeszentrale für politische Bildung and the Berlin Senate Chancellery for supporting this event and their continued commitment to democratic education and civic dialogue.
