In times of growing polarization and the need for nationwide austerity measures, civil society actors are coming under increasing pressure. With a new funding program and the new funding period of "Live Democracy!", the city of Leipzig wants to support local actors in the field of democratic education and social cohesion. Associations can submit a digital application for the 2025 funding year until July 31, 2025. Applications for micro and youth fund projects can be submitted until the funds are exhausted. Non-profit associations are eligible to apply. All details can be found in the funding principles at www.leipzig.de/demokratiefoerderung.
"Resolute action against attacks on democratic values means strengthening trust in institutions, promoting civic engagement and revitalizing democracy from the local level," says Vicki Felthaus, Mayor for Youth, Schools and Democracy.
When people and opinions are visibly drifting apart, when in times of active disinformation campaigns and dwindling trust in institutions, facts are increasingly only recognized if they fit into one's own world view, places of encounter, self-efficacy and education are all the more urgently needed. Political education plays a central role in this, because it is much more than imparting knowledge - it is a democratic competence: it strengthens the ability to make judgments. It promotes dialog. And it helps us to remain capable of acting in a complex world.
"When asked what a municipality can do to strengthen democracy, part of the answer is to strengthen local civil society and share responsibility," says Pia-Mareike Heyne, Head of the Department for Democracy and Social Cohesion. "With our new funding procedure, we want to support actors who work against all forms of extremism, strengthen democratic education and actively promote social cohesion."
The funding procedure has been redesigned and developed in such a way that the application and billing process is as simple as possible for the sponsors. The program is aimed specifically at non-profit associations and sponsors, but also particularly at their cooperation partners, such as local initiatives. There is also a special procedure for funding projects by young people for young people.
Sharing responsibility: The Democracy and Social Cohesion Department is responsible for issuing the funding, for which the funding principles have now been published. However, the awarding process is also being democratized: As part of a funding conference in September, an award system is to be set up in which politics and civil society are actively involved in the allocation of funds and the process is therefore completely transparent.
