Ashoka – Changemaker Europe, a meeting dedicated to supporting transnational cooperation for participatory democracy, will take place in Brussels from 12 to 14 November.
The conference includes information and training sessions. Topics covered include understanding European institutions, analysing future challenges on the EU stage. The meetings also aim to explore joint projects and partnerships, including the contribution of civil society organisations (CSOs) to strategies and best practices for creating and nurturing communities engaged in the development of democratic innovation. The work will also include sessions to brainstorm and develop joint actions to promote participatory democracy.
One of the participants of Ashoka Changemaker Europe is Maria Deskur, head of the Powszechnego Czytania Foundation, which works to improve literacy in Poland. Since 2021, she has coordinated a process of cooperation with almost 40 organizations to create solutions to literacy challenges.
She recently spoke at a major business conference in Poland, where FPC hosted three Literacy for Democracy & Business events. She focused on how literacy can help build inclusive workplaces and support critical thinking for democracy. The goal of the Universal Reading Foundation is to work with companies to make these ideas part of their everyday practices. The challenge Maria Deskur will address is keeping people motivated to collaborate over time. Society often looks for quick wins, participation takes time. The event will also touch on future conferences and the development of Literacy for Democracy.