EUDEC, the European Democratic Education Community, is a non-profit network that promotes, supports, and connects Democratic Education across Europe.
We believe that young people have the right to be active participants in their own learning and in the communities they’re part of. Democratic Education empowers them to make real choices, take responsibility, and experience democracy in action, every day.
With around 200 members across Europe, EUDEC represents:
- 100+ Schools
- 10+ Member Organisations
- And numerous individual educators, students, parents, and advocates, in 30+ Countries
Together, we bring decades of experience in practicing, founding, and supporting Democratic Education, from grassroots school creation to international advocacy.
What We Do
EUDEC serves as a hub of knowledge, connection, and support for the Democratic Education movement. We offer:
- Accessible information about Democratic Education in both theory and practice
- Publications, guides, and practical resources
- Conferences, seminars, and regular online forums for networking and inspiration
- School partnerships, exchanges, and visits
- A mutually supportive network of schools, start-up groups, educators, families, and students
Whether you’re starting a new school, transforming an existing one, exploring alternatives as a parent or student, or researching educational innovation, EUDEC connects you to people who share your vision.
Our Aims
Our work is guided by a set of clear and ambitious aims:
- To support all forms of Democratic Education throughout Europe
- To promote Democratic Education as a practical and powerful model for all democratic societies
- To establish, in legislation, the right to found and attend Democratic Schools in every country
- To provide support — both practical and moral — to Democratic Schools and start-up initiatives
- To facilitate exchange and cooperation between schools, creating strong networks for mutual learning
- To reach future educators by offering information and training opportunities to colleges and teacher education programs, giving them a real understanding of what Democratic Education means in theory and practice
Our Mission
EUDEC’s mission is to make Democratic Education visible, viable, and valued across Europe.
We are building a Europe where every young person has the right to choose their own learning path and participate equally in shaping the environments they grow up in. Our goal is to become the leading advisory and support network for Democratic Education, providing tools, connections, and advocacy for:
- Schools and start-ups
- Educators and teacher trainers
- Students and parents
- Policymakers and researchers
Because democracy in education strengthens democracy in society, be part of a growing European movement for change, JOIN US
Read more about EUDEC’s history, or about how EUDEC defines Democratic Education.