Digital Democracy for All: Insights from Athens

As part of the Horizon IDEAL project, a focus group was held in Athens at the Centro Community Center of IASIS on Thursday, the 26th of June. The session brought together six professionals from the 3rd sector working with mental retardation and migrant population, as well as two researchers with academic backgrounds in social inclusion and mental health. The discussion centered on barriers to democratic participation and how digital tools could foster more inclusive civic engagement—particularly for vulnerable groups such as migrants, people with disabilities, and those living in remote areas.

Participants highlighted key challenges such as bureaucratic complexity, lack of accessible information, digital inequality, and general mistrust toward consultation processes. At the same time, they expressed optimism for the potential of technologies like chatbots, voiceovers, and mobile-friendly interfaces to support accessibility and trust. Emphasis was placed on cultural and linguistic integration, the need for intercultural education, and the importance of user-centered platform design—tailored to different generations and educational levels.

The session offered valuable insights for the development of the IDEAL platform, underlining the need for safety, anonymity, intuitive navigation, and tools that truly reflect the voices and realities of marginalized communities. Participants also stressed the importance of ongoing feedback mechanisms, ensuring that citizens are not only consulted, but continuously heard and empowered.

In closing, the Athens focus group served as a powerful reminder that inclusive civic engagement begins with listening—deeply and intentionally. The insights gathered reaffirm the Horizon IDEAL project's mission to co-create digital spaces that are not only accessible, but genuinely representative of those who are often left out of democratic processes.