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Democracy is not only something we believe in. It is something we practice. And it does not sustain itself on its own.
In times of growing polarization, shrinking civic space, and normalized indifference, democracy cannot be reduced to institutions, procedures, or slogans. It survives only when people choose to engage — when they take responsibility for how power is used, how rights are defended, and how solidarity is practiced in everyday life.
Democracy as a Verb is a two-day, in-person gathering for Humanity in Action Senior Fellows who engage with democratic change not only as observers, but as active participants.
Instead of asking what democracy is, we ask a more demanding question: what does democracy require from us — here and now?
At the heart of the project is participation. This is not a space for passive listening, but for shared work, reflection, and exchange. Through a mix of formats, Fellows are invited to speak, listen actively, question, and create together.
Language plays a central role. Participants are invited to reflect on the verbs that shape their civic lives. To protect, to oppose, to reconcile, to mentor, to disrupt, to repair and many more – these acts make up a democracy. These verbs also become entry points into personal stories shared through short, TED Talk–style micro-talks. Together, these stories show how democratic values such as freedom, dignity, solidarity, rule of law, and resilience are enacted — and tested — in professional, civic, and personal contexts.
Dialogue continues in World Café conversations, where Fellows engage in peer learning and collective sense-making around key democratic challenges. Ideas move across tables and perspectives, evolving through exchange rather than debate, and grounding abstract values in lived experience.
Creativity becomes a shared language through the artivistic activity “The Verb Bank – A Civic Lexicon” — a participatory installation that gathers words, phrases, and expressions describing how participants “practice democracy” in their everyday lives. Language is treated not as decoration, but as a civic tool: something that can inspire, mobilize, and connect.
The gathering also creates space to move from reflection to action. In facilitated workshop “Grammar Lessons in Democracy”, Fellows work together to translate verbs, roles, and structures into concrete follow-up initiatives, partnerships, and forms of cross-border collaboration within and beyond the Senior Fellow Network.
This is not a conference.
It is not about easy agreement.
It is an invitation to show up as a democratic actor — to speak honestly, to listen carefully, and to contribute to a shared effort to sustain democracy as a practice, not a slogan.
🟧 Program and formats
The programme will consist of different formats, with content co-created by the Fellows themselves. These include:
- Micro-talks in TED Talk style (up to 10 minutes), where Senior Fellows will share:
- Their experiences of practicing democracy,
- or/and innovative approaches to urgent questions and challenges of democracy.
- World Café discussions hosted by Senior Fellows, who will introduce their station with a “democracy verb” — a key concept close to their field of engagement, work, or expertise (such as to participate, to build community, to protect or to disrupt). They will then facilitate discussion with participants.
The program will combine different interactive, creative, and hands-on sessions.
🟧 Participants
If you are an HIA Senior Fellow working in a context where democracy is under pressure — or quietly taken for granted — this gathering invites you to pause, reflect, and engage with others facing similar tensions.
We are seeking Fellows who are ready to contribute their experience, question their own assumptions, and take part in a participatory, co-created process. This is not about showcasing individual achievements, but about shared responsibility and collective learning.
The event is designed for approximately 30 participants affiliated with the HIA networks. The cohort will primarily consist of participants from Poland and Germany, with additional representation from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Netherlands, and Denmark.
We will choose participants based on:
- Motivation — as expressed in your application form,
- Experience and expertise in the subject matter,
- Diversity — including gender, geographical focus, and professional backgrounds,
- A balanced mix — bringing together people with different experiences, and levels of involvement with HIA.
We also encourage those who have lost contact with HIA or are relatively new to the network to apply!
🟧 Logistics
The event begins Saturday morning. Participants should plan to arrive Friday evening, with departure on Sunday after 2pm. We will provide accommodation in double rooms in Warsaw from Friday, 6th until Sunday, 8th March 2026. The gathering will include lunch on Saturday and Sunday, one dinner, and coffee breaks throughout the programme.
Travel costs will be reimbursed up to a certain amount, depending on your location. Reimbursement will be processed after the event.
We accept the applications (through this form) on a rolling basis, but not later than February, 10. You will be notified about the results until February 16, the latest.
🟧 If you are ready to treat democracy as a verb—action over abstraction—we invite you to apply.
Democracy as a Verb is organized and hosted by Humanity in Action Poland in cooperation with Humanity in Action Germany, with the support of the EVZ Foundation.