Austria's YEP trains young activists to reshape democracy from within
Austria's social enterprise YEP is pushing for greater youth involvement in democracy. Founded in 2018 by Rebekka Dober and Linda Simon, the organisation has already engaged 45,000 young people in political participation. Now, it is rolling out new initiatives to strengthen their influence even further. YEP's latest project is a 'democracy training' programme, designed like a self-defence course. Scheduled to launch in 2027, it aims to teach young people practical skills for engaging in politics. This follows years of work, including the 2023 'Democracy Makes School' project, which reached 22,000 participants.
The organisation has also secured an 'impact agreement' with Austria's Ministry of Education. This deal ensures that youth demands shape vocational school curricula, with a new focus on 'life skills' in the first draft. A network of 400 peer recruiters helps expand YEP's reach, targeting those aged 14 to 20, and sometimes up to 30. Trust in politics among young Austrians remains low. The Democracy Monitor reports that only 41% of 16- to 26-year-olds trust parliament. YEP's mission is to change this by making democratic participation more accessible. Dober, from Lower Austria, and Simon, from Tyrol, have led the nonprofit since its founding six years ago.
YEP's efforts are expanding, from school curricula to specialised training. The organisation continues to work with government bodies and young people to increase political engagement. With 45,000 participants already involved, its influence on Austria's youth democracy movement is growing.
