During the LOCT-IN local event held on 2–3 October 2026 at Spazio Faber in Tempio Pausania, MV International (MVI) delivered a participatory workshop on youth and civic education in collaboration with M.A.NGO – Muoversi Assieme NGO (MANGO). More than 30 young people took part, alongside civil society actors, local stakeholders and representatives of public authorities, bringing different perspectives together around participation and inclusion.
Maria Grazia Pirina, President of MV International, led the session “Participatory Pathways: Youth, Civic Education and Democracy” as part of the organisation’s 2026 work programme, supported by an Erasmus+ structural grant in the field of youth.
Civic education through a participatory approach
The event’s educational framework combined civic participation, storytelling, simulations and democratic awareness. Its non-formal learning approach was designed to connect democratic concepts with real-life experiences and equip young people with tools to engage in civic life. The emphasis was on making participation understandable, relevant and accessible, rather than treating democracy as a subject removed from everyday experience.
In Tempio Pausania, this civic education focus met the local themes of inclusion, public spaces and young people’s involvement in community life. The presence of young participants, civil society and public authorities created a shared setting in which youth participation could be considered from both a learning and a local community perspective.
Strengthening civil society cooperation: MVI, Mine Vaganti NGO and MANGO
The exchange in Tempio Pausania highlighted cooperation between MV International (MVI), Mine Vaganti NGO (MVNGO) and MANGO – Muoversi Assieme NGO, bringing together complementary contributions to youth participation and civic learning. MANGO organised the first local event of LOCT-IN – Youth as Local Policy Auditors, an Erasmus+ KA154-YOU project focused on observing and mapping public spaces, exploring accessibility and inclusion, and engaging young people in dialogue with local institutions.
Within this setting, MVI contributed its dedicated session on civic education and democratic awareness, led by its President, Maria Grazia Pirina. Mine Vaganti NGO contributed training expertise through the involvement of one of its trainers in the local programme, while MANGO coordinated the LOCT-IN event and its community-based activities. These contributions connected civic education with practical opportunities to explore the spaces, services and decisions that shaped young people’s everyday lives.
The cooperation also provided an opportunity to share educational approaches and practical expertise and strengthen stakeholder connections. It illustrated how civil society organisations could support one another’s growth and enhance their local impact.
Local dialogue within a European youth programme
MVI’s 2026 work programme, supported through the Erasmus+ youth structural grant, aims to strengthen young people’s participation in democratic life, promote inclusion and reinforce the capacity of civil society organisations to support youth engagement. Participatory workshops are one of the ways in which this programme brings civic learning and opportunities for dialogue closer to young people.1
The Tempio Pausania workshop brought that European commitment into a local community setting. By linking MVI’s youth education work with a civil society-led initiative involving public authorities, it provided an opportunity to connect youth perspectives, community concerns and democratic participation.
A view of the gathering during the workshop.
MV International thanks MANGO, the young participants, local stakeholders and public authorities for their involvement and contribution to this shared moment of civic learning and dialogue.