10 years of RFCDC – and we’ve been part of the journey from the very beginning 💪

The Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture by the Council of Europe shows: democracy must be learned, lived, and actively shaped – especially in times of polarization and uncertainty.

As a long-standing partner of the Council of Europe, Zentrum polis plays a key role in the national implementation in Austria 🇦🇹
From contributing to early initiatives in citizenship and human rights education to coordinating the German translation of the RFCDC and leading pilot projects:

👉 We bring European standards into practice
👉 We support educators and education systems
👉 We strengthen democratic competences in everyday learning

Whether it’s RFCDC, Digital Citizenship Education, or current initiatives like the European Space for Citizenship Education – our collaboration with the Council of Europe is both a mission and a responsibility.

Democracy education works. And it needs strong partnerships.

🔗 https://www.coe.int/en/web/education/newsroom/-/asset_publisher/fkf5o6A9gZZK/content/celebrating-a-decade-of-the-reference-framework-of-competences-for-democratic-culture-why-it-matters-more-than-ever

#DemocracyEducation #RFCDC #CouncilOfEurope #CivicEducation #ZentrumPolis #FediLZ

10 Jahre RFCDC – und wir waren von Anfang an dabei 💪

Der Referenzrahmen: Kompetenzen für eine demokratische Kultur des Europarats zeigt: Demokratie muss gelernt, gelebt und gestaltet werden – gerade in Zeiten von Polarisierung und Unsicherheit.

Als langjähriger Partner des Europarats spielt Zentrum polis eine zentrale Rolle bei der Umsetzung in Österreich 🇦🇹
Von der Mitwirkung an frühen Initiativen der Demokratie- und Menschenrechtsbildung über die Übersetzung zentraler Materialien bis hin zur Koordination der deutschsprachigen RFCDC-Ausgabe und konkreten Pilotprojekten:

👉 Wir bringen europäische Standards in die Praxis
👉 Wir unterstützen Lehrkräfte und Bildungssysteme
👉 Wir stärken demokratische Kompetenzen im Alltag

Ob RFCDC, Digital Citizenship Education oder aktuelle Initiativen wie der European Space for Citizenship Education – die Zusammenarbeit mit dem Europarat ist für uns Auftrag und Verantwortung zugleich.

Demokratiebildung wirkt. Und sie braucht starke Partnerschaften.

🔗 https://www.coe.int/en/web/education/newsroom/-/asset_publisher/fkf5o6A9gZZK/content/celebrating-a-decade-of-the-reference-framework-of-competences-for-democratic-culture-why-it-matters-more-than-ever

#Demokratiebildung #RFCDC #Europarat #CivicEducation #ZentrumPolis

There’s a persistent illusion we live with:

that rights, once written down, stay.

History suggests the opposite.

They hold only as long as people remember what it took to create them, and what it costs to keep them.

https://associationredefine.substack.com/p/episode-2-voices-of-revolution-teaching?r=6l8ed8

#Democracy #HumanRights #DigitalRights #CivicEducation #EU #PoliticalEducation #HistoryMatters #DemocraticValues #RightsAndFreedoms

What if democracy wasn’t taught… but experienced?

1,000 young people stepped inside a civic metaverse to live it.
This report captures what happened — and what it might change.

https://open.substack.com/pub/associationredefine/p/the-european-union-and-democracy?r=6l8ed8&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

#DigitalDemocracy #YouthParticipation #EUDemocracy #PeaceEducation #XR #Metaverse #EUProjects #CivicEducation #InnovationInEducation

You cross a border. Your phone doesn’t notice.

No extra charges. No disruption. No second thought.

But it wasn’t always like this.

In our latest EU in Practice episode, we explore how the EU quietly removed one of the most frustrating barriers in everyday life, and what that reveals about how Europe actually works.

https://open.substack.com/pub/associationredefine/p/eu-roaming-no-extra-charges-explained?r=6l8ed8&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

#EuropeanUnion
#EUPolicy
#DigitalEurope
#Roaming
#SingleMarket
#CivicEducation
#EUinPractice
#DigitalRights

Engaging Kids in Democracy: Voting for Cartoon Favorites

Discover how a polling station in Portugal engages kids by letting them vote for their favorite cartoon characters and explore civic tech opportunities.

masonQ

Real thinking doesn’t happen automatically.

It needs structure, psychological safety, and the right questions.

Through Youth4Peace and the EU Democracy Campus, we developed a small set of tools used in debates and workshops with 1,000+ young people.
https://associationredefine.substack.com/p/tools-for-building-better-thinking?r=6l8ed8

#CivicEducation
#YouthParticipation
#DemocracyEducation
#Youth4Peace
#Facilitation
#Dialogue
#CriticalThinking
#EducationTools

You’ve probably seen the CE mark thousands of times.

On phone chargers, toys, kitchen appliances, power tools.

Two tiny letters printed somewhere on the label.

Most people never notice them.

But those letters represent one of the most quietly powerful systems in Europe: a shared framework that helps ensure products sold across the EU are safe to use.

It’s a small symbol with a very big system behind it.

#EuropeanUnion
#EUPolicy
#CivicEducation
#SingleMarket
#ConsumerProtection

King John did not sign the Magna Carta because he believed in human rights.
He signed it because he was cornered.

And yet, that reluctant signature helped plant one of the most radical ideas in political history:

Power must obey rules.

Eight centuries later, we still live inside that argument.
https://associationredefine.substack.com/p/introducing-the-right-chronicles?r=6l8ed8
#MagnaCarta
#HumanRights
#RuleOfLaw
#Democracy
#HistoryMatters
#RightsChronicles
#CivicEducation
#PoliticalHistory

Celebrate Civic Learning Week March 9-13 with film! This national event makes civic learning a priority for a stronger democracy. Our teaching resources for award-winning films can bring civics to life and inspire civic participation. For grades 5-12 plus adult/higher ed.

⭐ This collection includes films that are also great for Women's History Month!

Learn more: https://journeysinfilm.org/film/civics-and-civic-engagement-lessons/?utm_source=Mastodon&utm_medium=Social+Media&utm_campaign=Civic+Learning+Week&utm_content=link

#CivicLearningWeek #CivicEducation #WomensHistoryMonth #Education #Homeschooling #Movies #Democracy #Activism #CommunityEducation #FreePress #RankedChoiceVoting #Government