GARDEM – Community gardens: Forward-looking learning centres for democratic values
The project aims to turn community gardens into local learning centres for adult education.
Grant Agreement Number: 2021-1-NO01-KA220-ADU-000033613
Funded by: Erasmus+ Duration: 28/02/2022 – 27/02/2024
Challenge
Voluntary civic participation and activities which encourage it are critical to the strengthening of democratic political culture and values, especially these days that a democratic backsliding can be observed across the globe.
There are several initiatives in strengthening democratic attitudes through recreational activities, such as community gardening. The logic of these actions is to encourage civic participation and create civil society, through social inclusion.
Turning spaces such as community gardens into learning centers and adult education spaces, which will provide guided activities and participation, is an innovative approach to tackle the declining support for democracy through guided civic voluntary participation.
Innovation
The GarDem project is working towards turning community gardens into local learning centres for adult education, developing guidance on the organisation and supporting the operation of such environments. Its purpose is to strengthen democratic attitudes through civic engagement and civic participation, as well as to promote resilience and adaptability to the changes and uncertainties due to the climate crisis.