Our Stories, Our Rights: Citizenship and Democracy

Fostering leadership that drives systemic change

With Wings and Roots e.V. initiated the project “Our Stories, Our Rights: Citizenship and Democracy” together with the Italian organization IParticipate to create collaborative educational and advocacy formats around political participation and media-based civic engagement. Combining non-formal adult education with storytelling, media production, advocacy training, and campaign strategy development, the project equips activists without full citizenship rights in Germany and Italy to take an active role in democratic processes — fostering leadership that drives systemic change well beyond the project's duration and strengthening partner organizations' capacity to advocate for citizenship law reform.

Quick Facts

Location: Transnational

Years: 2025-present

Themes: Political Participation, Citizenship, Belonging, Democracy, Social Justice, Human Rights, Narrative Change

Moments from Our Stories, Our Rights: Citizenship and Democracy

Why this matters

More than 14 million people without German citizenship live in Germany — 1.5 million of them born there. In Italy, 5 million non-EU residents include 1.3 million minors raised and educated in the country. In both countries, these residents cannot vote, cannot run for office, and face restrictions on assembly, movement, and employment — excluded from political participation while subject to the policies that govern their lives.

And yet many are already organizing, advocating, and fighting against this democratic deficit. "Our Stories, Our Rights" builds on that existing energy and expertise. This collaboration not only professionalizes educational efforts for non-citizen adults and counters harmful stereotypes — it strengthens European democracy by demonstrating that collective, cross-border action is essential for achieving equitable policies and a genuine sense of belonging.

What we do

We build on the existing skills, knowledge, and experiences of adults without German or Italian citizenship who are already active in migrant and racial justice organizations — deepening their capacity for political engagement through non-formal adult education. Through storytelling, media production, advocacy training, and campaign strategy development. Participants develop compelling narratives rooted in lived experience, strengthen their capacity to engage in democratic processes, and build cross-border solidarity with peers in Germany and Italy. The result: more visible, skilled, and effective migrant-led voices in public discourse — and a stronger, more inclusive European democracy.

PROJECT COMPONENTS

Exchange of educational methods, joint planning, and training development The project began with a series of meetings in Florence between October and December 2025, where project coordinators Olga Gerstenberger (With Wings and Roots e.V.) and Sonila Tafili (IParticipate) exchanged educational methods, shared practices in adult education and community organising, and jointly developed the concept for the Berlin workshop. The collaboration continued in February 2026 with a three-day preparation meeting in Berlin — bringing together the coordinators, trainers, and With Wings and Roots board member Miman Jasharovski — and included a study visit and exchange with Mallika Basu at the Migrationsrat Berlin, focusing on naturalisation support, grassroots political participation, and advocacy strategies. Learning and Exchange Activities From 26 March to 1 April 2026, 15 participants from Germany and Italy came together in Berlin for five days of intensive training. Participants developed personal narratives, strengthened storytelling skills, and produced short-form video content using mobile phones — combining hands-on media production with peer exchange, reflection, and public dialogue. Facilitated by Masha Burina, Sujin J. Noël, and Siyawash Jekta, the workshop moved from foundational storytelling to practical media production and concluded with group reflection, shared outputs, and planning for continued collaboration. A public screening of "The Right to Have Rights" at Migrationsrat Berlin opened the workshop to wider community dialogue, followed by a discussion with workshop participants, Miman Jasharovski, Jennifer Kamau from International Women Space, and Senka Majda from IParticipate. Three online follow-up sessions extended the learning process, covering storytelling and the power to win, campaign planning and collective action for migrant justice, and lessons from successful campaigns. Creation of a Handbook The project will produce a trilingual handbook (English, German, Italian) consolidating best practices, training materials, and participant contributions from across the project. Documenting lessons learned in political participation, storytelling, media production, and advocacy, it will serve as a lasting and replicable resource for non-citizen adults, trainers, and organizations advocating for rights and democratic inclusion across Europe. Dissemination and Events Two public events in Berlin and Florence will present the project's key outcomes — including the handbook, training materials, and participant-produced videos — creating a platform for dialogue among migrant communities, educators, activists, and policymakers. All materials will be disseminated via social media, newsletters, and EU platforms, ensuring broad accessibility for migrant-led organizations and advocates across Europe.

KEY IMPACTS

Strengthens the political participation of non-citizens and newly naturalized residents already active in migrant and racial justice movements, expanding their capacity to engage in public debate and civic processes
Deepens existing skills in storytelling, media production, and campaign strategy — enabling participants to craft compelling narratives rooted in their activism and lived experiences, putting migrant-led voices at the center of public discourse
Builds cross-border solidarity and transnational exchange between activists and trainers in Germany and Italy, creating durable connections that extend well beyond the project's duration
Produces replicable tools and resources — including a trilingual handbook — that extend the project's impact to organizations and activists across Europe

Disclaimer

The project was funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

Related Events

Belonging and Empowerment: Migrant Struggles for Equal Rights from Berlin to Europe

December 6, 2024 | 6 - 10 pm

bUm - Raum für solidarisches Miteinander, Paul-Lincke-Ufer 21, 10999 Berlin

What does (not) belonging mean from Berlin to Europe? What common struggles are needed for a Europe in which the right to have rights belongs to everyone? In the evening event, we will listen to stories of belonging, empowerment and migrant struggles for political participation and discuss how we can unite struggles from Berlin to Europe across borders and between actors.

Discussion: Seeding a Global Network on Migration and Belonging:

June 4, 2024

Online

Our movements for belonging cannot succeed without addressing migration. It raises fundamental questions about borders, and the very containers around which we organize identities and rights. In 2024, half the world’s population will vote in major elections, and migration will be one of the central wedge issues.