The European Democratic Education Community

The European Democratic Education Community (EUDEC) is a European non-profit organization that
promotes democratic education as a sensible educational model for all democratic states. EUDEC aims to
further democratic education in Europe. Founded in February 2008as a project of the United Kingdom-
based Phoenix Education Trust, the organization has been an independently registered non-profit NGO in
Germany since 2009.

EUDEC's members are individuals, schools and institutions throughout Europe with decades of experience
in democratic education. The organization of EUDEC reflects the democratic education philosophy which
advocates with school students playing an active role at all levels of the organization: e.g. as individual
members, in conference-planning, the organization of programs and on the EUDEC Council itself.

EUDEC facilitates a network of mutually supportive democratic education enthusiasts and institutions in the
form of online information about democratic education in theory and practice, publications, conferences,
meetings and seminars, school partnerships and exchanges.

As of October 2014 the Community represents about 58,000 people and 53 groups from 29 countries
including more than 58,000 school students, 43 schools, many start-up groups and 3 organizations
including the German National Association of Free Alternative Schools (BFAS), UK-based Phoenix
Education Trust and the Swiss Union of Student Organizations (USO), as well as numerous individual
members.

The Community was formed in parallel with the European Democratic Education Conference, which is now
a part of the Community's regular activities.

There are two main pillars of democratic education; self-determined learning and a community based on
equality and mutual respect. Students in democratic schools and universities choose how to spend their
time in school, pursue their interests and prepare themselves for their lives and chosen careers. Learning
can take place in classrooms, just like in conventional schools, but there are many ways to learn outside of
classrooms, such as independent study, internet research, playing games, volunteering, doing projects,
visiting museums, travel and discussions with friends and teachers. The best setting for learning, or indeed
working, is one in which our rights and opinions are respected. Democratic schools have school meetings
in which all members of the community have an equal vote, regardless of age or status. This process is one
of the ways that democratic schools create an environment in which children can flourish and grow up to be
tolerant, open-minded, responsible individuals who know how to express their opinions and listen to those
of others and be active citizens of a modern democratic society.