The “TUNI” project was a 24-month international initiative aimed at strengthening democratic participation and building a more inclusive Europe through the active engagement of young people. The project focused specifically on young trade union activists, a significant yet often underrepresented group, empowering them as agents of change and civic participation.
The main objective was to enhance the involvement of young trade union members in public life and enable them to represent the needs and priorities of their peers. By leveraging their existing organizational structures, participants developed leadership skills and strengthened their capacity to act as multipliers within their communities.
The project was implemented through distinct phases, including research, training, and awareness activities. Following an analysis of the key challenges faced by young activists, an innovative training curriculum was developed. This was followed by a four-month “Trade Union Academy” involving 35 participants, who created individual action plans and transferred knowledge to over 700 additional young members.
A study visit to Slovenia played a key role in facilitating the exchange of best practices. In parallel, a comprehensive online campaign titled “Unions are IN – engage, act, influence” reached more than 700,000 people across Europe.
The project concluded with a consortium visit to Brussels to explore opportunities for youth trade union participation in European policy-making, as well as a final conference. This conference served to present the new participation model and laid the foundation for the sustainability and continuation of the project’s outcomes.