© EU HAVE A DREAMEU HAVE A DREAM uses participatory theatre across five European countries to turn young people from passive observers into active democratic contributors, with proposals already reaching EU policymakers.
YOUNG, DISENGAGED AND READY TO BE HEARD
Youth disengagement from democratic life is one of Europe's most pressing challenges. Traditional consultation formats rarely reach those furthest from political processes, and for many young people, the gap between their concerns and the decisions that affect them feels impossible to bridge. EU HAVE A DREAM, coordinated by Italian non-profit Stranaidea and funded by the CERV programme, was designed to close this gap. Implemented across Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Germany, and Belgium, the project brings together young people, civic organisations, and policymakers in a shared creative space to debate Europe's future on issues from climate change to inclusion, mental health, and democratic participation.
THEATRE AS A TOOL FOR DEMOCRATIC RENEWAL
At the heart of the project is participatory theatre: co-created performances, fictional political candidates, and interactive debates that transform passive audiences into active democratic participants. Citizens' workshops have already taken place in Turin, Nicosia, Gelsenkirchen, and Thessaloniki, with eight national theatre debates staged across all five countries. The project aims to engage around 2,500 participants in total, culminating in a final international event in Brussels. By combining art, dialogue, and participation, EU HAVE A DREAM creates a format that is both genuinely engaging and easily transferable across different European contexts.
FROM STAGE TO POLICY TABLE
The project has already generated concrete youth proposals on climate, work, mental health, and European identity, delivered directly to policymakers at national and EU level. Beyond individual events, it will produce a replicable debate format and a Charter of Key Principles, ensuring its impact continues well beyond the project period. By connecting youth voices with decision-makers across five countries and at European level, EU HAVE A DREAM demonstrates that when young people are given creative, accessible spaces to participate, they engage — and their ideas travel far.
