SPARK | KMOP

FOCUS AREA > CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND GOVERNANCE

SPARK

Fostering Political Participation among Young Europeans with Intellectual and Psychosocial Disabilities

An initiative promoting civic engagement and participation of young individuals with disabilities in democratic life in the EU.

Operated by: KMOP Education & Innovation Hub

CHALLENGE

SPARK aims to empower youth organizations and local policy actors to lead initiatives for the inclusion of young people with disabilities in democratic life

Academic studies and reports from the European Parliament, the European Commission, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) reveal multiple barriers faced by individuals with disabilities in exercising their democratic rights, ranging from legal obstacles to practical challenges. The significant impact of disability on political participation, often referred to as the ‘disability gap’, highlights that despite progress in promoting inclusivity across various spheres, individuals with disabilities still face hurdles in exercising their democratic rights and are often perceived as engaging only in matters related to disability – a dehumanising assumption that fails to recognise them as fully developed and complex human beings.

The Project

SPARK - Fostering Political Participation among Young Europeans with Intellectual and Psychosocial Disabilities

GA Number

101186990

Project Status

Ongoing

Funded by

Erasmus+

Info & contacts

Title that explicitly says that this is a collective work

Capacity building for youth workers

A tailored capacity-building program and a comprehensive toolkit, including practical resources and guidelines, aim to provide youth workers with the skills needed to empower young people with disabilities to actively participate in political processes and exercise their democratic rights.

Digital marketplace for youth organisations

A user-friendly digital platform to facilitate collaboration, knowledge exchange, and resource sharing among youth organisations across Europe, including a series of webinars to provide training, guidance, and support for effectively utilising the digital marketplace.

Policy recommendations for inclusive political processes

Evidence-based policy recommendations to inform legislative and regulatory frameworks aimed at enhancing the political inclusion of young people with disabilities. Policy dialogues and debates among stakeholders are facilitated to address barriers to their political participation, while targeted advocacy events and initiatives are also implemented to raise awareness about the importance of inclusive political processes.

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FUNDED BY

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.