Global barometers show an alarming decline in confidence in democracy and a greater gap between the elite and the majority population. In Slovakia, citizens' satisfaction with the functioning of democracy is declining. At the same time, support for anti-system and extremist parties increased. The number of people believes in conspiracies is increasing - every second Slovak already believes them. Most citizens think that a greater commitment from decent people would help democracy.
The project team has been working closely with various initiatives in Slovakia for years and has noted an increased need for assistance, networking and skills development during the survey.
The project aims to build a sustainable and coordinated network, connecting active citizens and initiatives throughout Slovakia and to provide voluntary assistance for solving local problems with an overlap to the defence of the public interest. The project also focuses on least developed regions, where citizens feel helpless in pursuing the public interest. The project contributes to the return of confidence in democratic mechanisms.
The project aims to contribute to the return of confidence in democratic mechanisms, to contribute to strengthening citizens' self-confidence and assertiveness - to develop civic and leadership qualities through practice, to translate passivity and disappointment into assertiveness and sense of competence/belief, regions, social classes, strengthen empathy across different environments.
The project will benefit mainly active citizens (civic leaders, formal and informal civic initiatives from the regions), entrepreneurs from the regions of Slovakia (systematic addressing and involvement of entrepreneurs to support the network and its civic members), but also the general public.