CivicBoost. Youth voices in action.
Pot in Pot, società cooperativa
Italy
CivicBoost is a youth-led civic activation project engaging students from IIS Giustino Fortunato in Rionero in Vulture, in Southern Italy. Through creative labs, peer research and civic campaigns, young people explore their relationship with democracy and transform their insights into civic initiatives and proposals. The project responds to growing youth disengagement from democratic processes, particularly in rural areas, by creating spaces where young people can reflect, express their voices and actively contribute to civic life in their community.
CivicBoost is a youth-led civic activation project that empowers young people to explore their relationship with democracy and transform their reflections into creative civic action. The project engages 22 students from IIS Giustino Fortunato in Rionero in Vulture (Basilicata, Southern Italy), a rural area where opportunities for civic participation are limited.
Through a Youth Civic Lab structured in four modules, participants explore their values, their relationship with democratic participation and civic engagement, and the issues that matter most to them through participatory theatre and storytelling. They then design and conduct peer-to-peer research involving 150–200 students to explore motivations and barriers related to civic engagement.
Based on these insights, participants co-create civic awareness campaigns using formats such as microgames, storytelling, performative actions or social media content.
The project culminates in a Youth Manifesto for Civic Participation, presented publicly to schools, community members and local stakeholders.
CivicBoost runs from January to December 2026 and is co-funded by “Civic Power: Italy” of Civitates – The European Democracy Fund.