The SigneDemocracy project officially began with a Kick-off Meeting held in Bratislava, Slovakia, on 30 March 2026, bringing together partners from Slovakia, Greece, and Bulgaria.
During the meeting, partners reviewed the project objectives, roles, and work plan, and agreed on the first implementation steps. Particular attention was given to the initial research and contextual analysis, which will explore the needs, experiences, and barriers faced by Deaf and hard-of-hearing young people in relation to civic and democratic participation. Partners also discussed the preparation of the Training-of-Trainers programme and the future Local Deaf Youth Parliaments.
SigneDemocracy aims to empower Deaf and hard-of-hearing youth as active European citizens through democratic participation, civic engagement, intercultural dialogue, and greater visibility of sign languages. Following a by-Deaf-for-Deaf approach, the project will develop accessible educational resources and create opportunities for meaningful youth participation.