AEGEE Election Observation methodology, which includes research tasks and meetings with stakeholders, has been developed to shape our missions in a way which maximizes the learning impact on our young observers by combining elements of both formal and informal education. This approach answers to one of the main objectives of the organisation, referring not only to analyse the youth engagement in the electoral process, but by applying a youth perspective, AEGEE Election Observation trains and deploys young people and provides them with professional election observation experience.
Our missions are designed to facilitate the greatest possible learning experience for participants by employing multiple formats, actively and creatively engaging them in the production of their own knowledge.
Prior to deployment, observers conduct research on youth participation, the political landscape and electoral system in the host country. This exercise does not only serves as one of the main avenues for collecting information final report, but is also the first opportunity to exchange views, experiences and expectations among young people from widely divergent backgrounds.
On the opening day of a mission, the participants are given the opportunity to formulate their expectations for the project. It is against these expectations as well as against our own objectives that participants are asked to evaluate each day in “reflection groups” that take place following the last session of the day. This serves not just as a mechanism to support observers, but also for the Core Team as a constant source of feedbacks that help to improve its work on a very short term.
The mission is designed around different meetings with stakeholders and local interlocutors, to discuss the core questions of the participation of young people in the electoral process. Observers, have thus the possibility to interact and make questions to high level authorities.
AEGEE Election Observation gives to the observers the possibility to experience democracy in practice, thus the educational programmes of the missions also include visit to the Parliament building as well as to other important institutions of the host country.