Post by European Climate Foundation

We’re proud to support initiatives that bring people back into meaningful dialogue. In Czechia, the CzeXperiment project is showing how facilitated, face-to-face conversations can bridge divides – even on polarising topics. This YouTube series brings together people with opposing views on Ukraine to take part in a structured citizens’ dialogue. The outcome was something powerful. Participants who started on opposite sides found common ground—not by debating facts, but by sharing a simple, human truth: a shared fear of war. That moment shifted the conversation, opening the door to empathy, mutual understanding and, ultimately, a joint recommendation delivered to the President of the Czech Senate. This is what participation looks like in practice: ✅ Constructive conversations across divides. ✅ Real-world impact beyond the room. ✅ New grassroots initiatives emerging from lived experience. With over 5.8 million organic views and a young, highly engaged audience, CzeXperiment is proving that civic debate and participation, when done well, can reconnect people with each other and with decision-making. This work is a joint effort by the European Climate Foundation (ECF), Blíž k sobě Foundation and Kladné nuly foundation, demonstrating the power of collaboration in strengthening participatory democracy. At ECF, we’re proud to support this work as part of our efforts to strengthen participatory democracy and build momentum towards a future Czech Citizens’ Assembly. 📺 You can watch the film that came out yesterday and see how dialogue can turn division into action: https://lnkd.in/eeaiiJGv 🇨🇿 The video is in Czech – make sure to switch on automatic English subtitles.