The importance to vote for European elections needs to be communicated to citizens at large, and to young people in particular. CoR member Carin Lidman (SE/PES), together with Aros Basket, Cityoffice of Europa direkt Västerås, and Förbundet Agenda 2030 organised an EU Local Dialogue for young basketball players "A slam-dunk for EU".
Organised as a skills' camp, this event was open for both members and non-members, offering a unique opportunity for individuals to enhance their basketball skills while also engaging in discussions and activities related to the forthcoming EU elections. Led by the esteemed coaches and players from Aros Basket, participants had the chance to work in small groups, rotating through various activities such as shooting drills, passing exercises, and skill development sessions.
Additionally, between basketball activities, each group received informative sessions about the EU elections, delving into their significance and the importance of voting.
By integrating basketball training with civic education, the aim is to foster both athletic development and civic engagement among participants. This holistic approach will not only improve basketball skills but also cultivate a sense of civic responsibility and awareness.
Event's outcome showed the way for the next steps:
- Meet the first-time voters on their own arena, for example sports camps, youth clubs etc.
- Make the arrangement together with leaders that the youngsters already have faith in, for example the sport-coach for their team.
- Do the talking while they gather.
- Follow up the talking on a coming event, and a youth council has been created
- Make an event of the voting. Go to the polling place together and have at Swedish fika afterwards together!
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