Advocacy Lab: From Problems to Advocacy Action

Apply for the two-day online Advocacy Lab on 28 and 29 September, from 3:00 to 7:00 PM, and explore practical tools for advocacy, citizen engagement and driving social change.

How do we identify a problem we want to address? How can we better understand the experiences of people affected by an issue? Who has the power to bring about the desired change, and how can we mobilise support to make it happen?

These are some of the questions we will explore during the Advocacy Lab, a practical online programme designed for young people who want to strengthen their knowledge and skills in advocacy and civic engagement.

Rather than relying only on presentations, the programme will combine short expert inputs, real-world examples, interactive exercises and simulations, giving participants the opportunity to explore the different stages of the advocacy process in practice.

What will we do during the Advocacy Lab?

Over the two days, participants will explore how to:

Understand advocacy – recognise the key elements of an advocacy process and turn a broad concern into a concrete goal.
Listen to people – understand the experiences and perspectives of people affected by an issue and integrate them into an advocacy strategy.
Use data and evidence strategically – identify relevant information and learn how evidence can support advocacy decisions and actions.
Mobilise support – develop approaches for encouraging participation and collective action.
Map power and build alliances – identify key stakeholders, decision-makers, allies and potential obstacles, while exploring opportunities for coalition-building.
Develop an advocacy strategy – connect the different elements of the process and lay the foundations for concrete advocacy action.

The programme follows one continuous advocacy process:

UNDERSTAND – LISTEN – USE EVIDENCE – MOBILISE – MAP POWER – BUILD ALLIANCES – ACT – CONTINUE THROUGH MENTORSHIP

What happens after the programme?

The Advocacy Lab is also the starting point of a mentoring process.

Following the two-day programme, participants will have the foundations to develop their own advocacy assignment, which they will be able to further refine with the support of a mentor.

The aim is to help participants connect the knowledge and tools gained during the Lab with concrete problems, advocacy goals and possible actions.

If you want to better understand how social change happens and start developing your own advocacy strategy, apply for the Advocacy Lab!

Date: 28–29 September
Time: 3:00–7:00 PM
Format: Online – the participation link will be provided upon registration
Application deadline: 26 September

Apply: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_jkCRdr-l_e0CUncRthKAJgbFdZBOl4Omgs4pO7b2Kn7HBg/viewform

The programme is implemented within the ENGAGEUROPE – Mobilizing Citizens for the Future of European Democracy through Data-driven Advocacy, Engagement, and Mobility project, funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme.

Funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.