Ardit Shaqiri

Association for Democratic Advancement - Democracy Lab

WHO WE ARE Democracy Lab is committed to building networks and partnerships focused on building, developing and sustaining a functional democratic system in Macedonia and Western Balkan States. We aim to connect different CSOs to enhance their human capacities, share experiences, build coalitions and provide tools and resources to enforce democracy and its values. WHAT WE DO Democracy Lab aims to strengthen democratic values in Macedonia and Balkans with a special focus on youth and Civil Society Organizations by: Building human capacity Our primary focus are young journalists, social science and information technology students, youth leaders, and grass-root organizations. We are committed to nurturing a new generation of agents of change who will help advance democratic development in their respective communities and Macedonia at large. Fostering active citizenship through civic engagement opportunities What we are working towards is a Macedonia as a nation of citizens, not idle spectators. We contribute to achieving this ideal by providing research, advocacy and outreach, and program design, tools and resources for civic engagement activities. Digital support for active participation and accountability For a democracy to work citizens must hold the government accountable. In the age of information this can be streamlined by using modern technology. Supporting initiatives to develop digital tools and resources to empower citizens to actively participate in government via in-truth based advocacy and social monitoring is key to promoting democratic values in Macedonia. Awareness and public debate One of the essential attributes of a free and democratic country are respect for human rights and freedom of speech. As such, Democracy Lab is committed to raising awareness for topics relevant to Macedonia's democratic development and foster freedom of speech by gauging problematic topics via public debates.