Short summary:
Based on the experience of Institut de l’Engagement in supporting thousands of engaged young people, this talk explores how civic engagement can rebuild trust, agency, and democratic participation in the age of AI. It also shows how philanthropy enabled the creation of innovative civic education initiatives, such as the Brevet Premiers Secours de la Planète and AlgoEthics, to strengthen democratic resilience among younger generations.
Full description:
For more than a decade, Institut de l’Engagement has supported thousands of young people who have demonstrated commitment, courage, and leadership through civic engagement, volunteering, and service to others.
Through this experience, we have discovered that civic engagement does far more than support individual pathways: it reveals essential human skills for today’s world — initiative, empathy, critical thinking, cooperation, and responsibility. It also acts as a democratic lever by reducing inequalities, strengthening young people’s confidence and mental wellbeing, and restoring trust in collective action and institutions.
This talk explores what we have learned from working with young people across France: how civic engagement can rebuild trust and democratic participation by giving people a concrete experience of agency and collective action.
It also examines why democratic education must evolve in the age of AI. In a world shaped by misinformation and algorithmic influence, democratic literacy now includes algorithmic literacy.
Through initiatives such as the Brevet Premiers Secours de la Planète and AlgoEthics, Institut de l’Engagement is experimenting with scalable forms of civic education designed to strengthen democratic resilience among younger generations.
Finally, the talk highlights the role of philanthropy as “democratic risk capital”, enabling civil society organisations to innovate faster than institutions alone.
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