The Pillar Program
a cASe+ program
Program overview
The PILLAR Program, developed in partnership with the Center for Information, Democracy, and Citizenship (CIDC), empowers university students to explore how information, media, and civic dialogue shape resilient democracies. This experiential learning initiative challenges student teams to research the spread of misinformation, assess its social impact, and design strategic, creative solutions that strengthen trust, understanding, and civic participation.
by the numbers
44
students engaged across 5 countries
1,000
high school students across 20+ schools reached
110,000+
social media impressions
Project Spotlight
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Crawling Down the Aisle: Breaking the Chains of Early Marriage
Fan S. Noli University’s team created an awareness campaign addressing early marriage as a critical barrier to education, gender equality, and democratic participation. By combining education with inclusive spaces for honest conversation and collaboration, the initiative equips young people with the knowledge and confidence to speak out and challenge harmful norms. Crawling Down the Aisle is driving meaningful social change grounded in equality, dignity, and human rights.
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МЕД (Kneading is Democracy)
МЕД (MED) is an educational initiative, created by students at new Bulgaria University, that uses an original interactive digital game to inspire democratic participation among high school and university students in Bulgaria. The game simulates real-life dilemmas related to disinformation, activism, and freedom of expression, encouraging players to discuss, vote, and reflect on democratic choices. By bringing civic dialogue and critical thinking into classrooms, students leave more confident in their ability to make informed choices and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
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DemoVox
DemoVox, created by students at Rochester Institute of Technology Kosovo, is a civic education tool that makes legal and democratic information more accessible, understandable, and trustworthy for citizens in Kosovo. By simplifying laws, clarifying rights, and offering multilingual resources, it bridges the gap between institutions and the public while fostering active, informed participation. Promoting critical thinking, media literacy, and transparency, DemoVox strengthens civic engagement and resilience against disinformation.
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Action for Democracy
Action for Democracy, created by students at Illia State University, Georgia, promotes civic engagement and strengthens democratic values among ethnic minority youth in Georgia. Through workshops, training, and interactive tools, it builds understanding of democratic principles, civil rights, and local self-governance. By empowering young people to address real issues in their communities, the initiative fosters lasting democratic participation across diverse populations.
outcomes
PILLAR demonstrates how informed, engaged students can strengthen the foundations of democracy through creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. By applying research, storytelling, and media strategy, PILLAR: