NEF - Second phase of Learning Democracy Initiative to be launched

The second phase of the Initiative for Learning Democracy in Europe (ILDE) is now being launched. ILDE was conceived as a follow-up of the European Year of Citizenship through Education in 2005 and is based on an analysis of foundation work in the field, which clearly demonstrates the need for more systemic actions to complement the policy pronouncements of governments.  

The phase comprises two projects, which are being launched with the cooperation of the Citizenship Foundation in London. The first project involves producing resource materials for young people in vocational education in the 14-18 age group, especially those least likely to proceed to higher education. The materials will encourage them to explore for themselves the significance of European citizenship in addition to their specific state citizenship and the ways in which Europe brings added value to addressing issues affecting their daily lives. The emphasis will be on designing resources in innovative ways to provoke the curiosity of young people about the place of Europe in the world.

The second project involves producing a handbook which will distil best policy and practice for promoting the idea of the school as a whole as a democratic space, both in its internal organization and in its relationships with the outside community. The handbook will be directed at foundations interested in more strategic funding in this field and at community/school developers, governors and heads of schools. As such, it will complement the Council of Europe’s (an active partner of ILDE) handbook aimed at the teaching profession and trainers involved in citizenship education.

The ILDE Steering Committee is chaired by the Bertelsmann Foundation and comprises Bernheim Foundation, Bernard Van Leer Foundation, Carnegie UK Trust, Fondazione per la Scuola (Compagnia di San Paolo), Freudenberg Stiftung, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and King Baudouin Foundation, as well as the direction of NEF.

Network of European Foundations
Director: Peggy Saïller
T +32 2 235 24 17
peggy.sailler@nefic.org
www.nefic.org