International Erasmus+ seminar in Tallinn highlighted the importance of children’s voices in a democratic society

In the beginning of Octoberr, from 8 to 10, a practical seminar titled “Participation in
Democratic Life in Early Childhood Education” took place in Tallinn. Led by the Estonian
Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps Agency, more than 60 representatives from the
early childhood education sector—teachers, educational leaders, directors,
policymakers, and Erasmus+ coordinators from all over Europe—came together.
During the multi-day seminar, discussions focused on the background, theory, methods,
and practices of giving children a voice and involving them in decision-making, all
illustrated through Estonian early childhood education examples. The event featured
presentations, workshops, and group discussions that offered fresh perspectives and
heightened awareness of the importance, necessity, and challenges of participation.
Anne-Mai Runno, chief programme officer and participation priority coordinator at the
Estonian Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps Agency, who was also one of the
event organisers, highlighted the positive atmosphere despite the seriousness of the
topic. “The mood was very friendly, all participants expressed their views actively and
the discussions were deep and productive,” she said.

Why participation?

Dr Charlie Moreno-Romero, an educational researcher from Colombia who has lived in
Estonia for over 20 years and founded the democratic school Suvemäe at Tallinn Arts
Gymnasium, explained that participation is an extremely important topic that every
democratic society must address. “Engaging young people—even preschoolers—in
democratic processes helps build a strong sense of belonging, voice, and agency. As a
result, they grow into confident, empathetic, and responsible citizens,” he said. “The
outcome is adults who value inclusivity, evidence-based thinking, and collective
problem-solving. This, in turn, helps us combat polarization, prejudice, and
misinformation,” he added, underscoring the role of participation in resolving societal
challenges.

International cooperation opens new doors

Experts from Estonia, Poland, Lithuania, Greece, Spain, the Czech Republic, Latvia,
Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Turkey, Austria, Finland, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Cyprus,
Slovenia, and Bulgaria exchanged their experiences. Runno noted that a Europe-wide
network and long-term cooperation initiatives like LTA PEACE+—dedicated to
participation—help participants stay informed and share best practices. “An
international event offers the opportunity to discover new perspectives, and
participation in the LTA Peace+ network gives us access to the latest research,
initiatives, and experts on democracy. In the Erasmus+ context, establishing
partnerships is also very important for potential future projects,” she said.

Theory alone is not enough – practice was also explored

Runno added that the practical component brought significant added value to the event.
“The content of the seminar was most appreciated, and participants were grateful that
we presented concrete examples from kindergartens and addressed topics in depth,”
she said. In addition to theoretical insights, specific participation-enhancing practices
were discussed using examples from Estonian kindergartens. Guest contributors
included Kristina Lee, Head of Education at Sipsik Kindergarten in Kohila; Ingrit
Kaldoja-Vahtra, Head of School at Väike Päike Kindergarten in Viimsi; and Maiki Liivas,
Deputy Head of Education at Linnupesa Kindergarten in Tallinn. On the final day of the
seminar, 10 October, participants visited all three kindergartens. This allowed them to
gain a deeper understanding of how environment and purposeful approaches to child
participation look in practice.