The Europe Challenge

The Local Challenge 

Bremen faces rising democratic disillusionment, disinformation, and declining political participation, particularly among young people and those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. Fake news circulates rapidly through social media, eroding trust in democratic institutions, while language barriers and low media literacy distance many residents from civic life. In the last federal election, 15% of Bremen’s voters supported a party classified as far-right by security authorities. In a city marked by social inequality, poverty, and high cultural diversity, there is an urgent need for spaces where people can meet, talk openly, listen respectfully, and develop the skills needed to navigate democratic life.

The Initiative

The Democratorium turns the library into a living forum – a place where strangers become conversation partners, differences are explored rather than avoided, and common ground is discovered in unexpected places. In these welcoming spaces, people from many walks of life gather to talk about the issues shaping their city and the wider world. Across three library locations – the Central Library, Gröpelingen, and Vahr – participants take part in a progressive workshop series designed to build the skills a democratic society needs to thrive. They practise nonviolent communication, learn how to engage with opposing views without losing their own voice, strengthen their tolerance for different perspectives, sharpen their media literacy, and develop tools to counter populist or discriminatory rhetoric.

Each session is hands-on: expert input blends with roleplay, interactive exercises, and group discussion, so that new ideas are not just heard but experienced. The Bremen Public Library brings its strength in education, facilitation, and inclusive community engagement, while the Bremen State Center for Civic Education contributes deep expertise in political education and media literacy. Together, they create a space where dialogue is not an abstract ideal, but rather something people live and practise side by side.

What’s Next?

By the end of the programme, participants will leave the Democratorium not just with new knowledge, but with the confidence to use it, whether that means challenging misinformation in an online thread, listening patiently to a neighbour with a different opinion, or starting a conversation that once felt too risky. The skills they practise here – dialogic listening, respectful debate, critical thinking, and media literacy – will ripple out into workplaces, schools, family tables, and community gatherings. The workshop model will be documented and adapted for other Bremen library branches, extending its reach into new communities.

Contact theeuropechallenge@culturalfoundation.eu if you have any questions or want to be connected with the team behind the project.