The WE journey began with a bold mission: to strengthen the sense of belonging to the European Union by developing a shared vocabulary and engaging groups often excluded or disengaged.
In December 2022 and January 2023, 16 events were held in Rome, Turin, Arques, and Budapest.
These activities laid the foundation for the Words of Europe vocabulary, a key element of the project aimed at enhancing citizen participation through a bottom-up approach. Before the events, partners aligned on methodologies and goals, receiving training on the "World Café" method and adopting an additional approach called "Future Dialogues". These methods created safe spaces for open expression and encouraged participants to think optimistically about Europe's near future.
This process was enriched by ongoing online consultations hosted on our website. Participants were invited to share keywords reflecting their current perceptions of the EU and their aspirations for the future of Europe.The events began with an introduction to the European Union and provided platforms for participants from diverse backgrounds—migrants, young people, first-time voters, civil society representatives, and volunteers—to share their opinions, ideas, and expectations for the EU and its future.
Discussions were held in small groups to ensure active participation, focusing on identifying the “keywords of Europe” based on the participants' perspectives and experiences. A key outcome of the events was the transition from individual to collective viewpoints, as participants collaboratively selected the main “Words of Europe” through a participatory process. These words were archived for use in future project phases, setting the stage for deeper engagement and fostering a sense of community around the project, particularly in the lead-up to the European elections.
