We believe in democracy’s core promise: government for and by the people. But democracy is in trouble.
In Europe and beyond, young people are losing faith in its institutions and mechanisms, while public discourse, political participation and civic engagement are being reshaped in ways that threaten its future.
The digital world increasingly influences how people talk and think about the world around them, but too often works against democracy, rather than for it. Authoritarian alternatives are gaining ground.
It’s time to try something different.
The Evens Foundation aims to foster democratic resilience and imagination by backing experimental work at the intersections of democracy, youth and technology.
We look for unexpected partnerships and opportunities, for approaches that are unconventional or outside of established playbooks. We bring people together, platform those who are pushing for positive change, and ask questions other people shy away from.
Our work is structured around two pillars. The first is about people: rebuilding a culture where democratic conversation is not just possible, but can thrive, online and offline. The second is about tools: building the digital infrastructure democracy needs to function and respond to changes in society.
Youth spaces and real-world connection
Physical spaces where young people can build genuine connection and engage across differences have largely disappeared. We want to help create new ones, explore innoative models, and support those already trying to do this.
Polarisation
The way information is spread and consumed rewards outrage and punishes nuance. We are investing in research, training, and creative interventions that change how disagreement works, especially for younger audiences.
Voices for democracy
Authoritarian narratives are loud and well-funded. Democratic ones aren't. We’re exploring how to build stories, communities, and campaigns that talk about and invite engagement with democracy in places young people actually pay attention to.
Digital tools for democracy
From AI tools that help politicians better represent their constituents, to platforms that scale citizens' assemblies, to companions that support first-time voters, we invest in building the infrastructure democracy is missing.
Recommender systems
Algorithms shape what people believe about the world. We advocate for redesigning them — through legislation, evidence, and pressure — so they work for democracy rather than against it.
The Evens Foundation was founded in 1990 by Irene Evens-Radzyminska and George Evens as a commitment to Europe, built from the wreckage of World War II and a belief in unity and solidarity.
Under their daughter Corinne Evens, the Foundation grew into a Europe-wide network of educators, researchers, artists, and practitioners working across intercultural dialogue and education.
Today, a new generation is steering the Foundation forward. Jonathan Evens and Déborah Flon have reoriented its focus around democracy’s contemporary crises, with a willingness to take risks that most institutions won't.
The Foundation operates from Brussels, Antwerp and Warsaw, guided by an Ethical Charter grounded in political neutrality, plurality, and liberal democracy.
We don't do safe bets. As Georges Evens put it: "il est inutile d'espérer pour entreprendre, ni de réussir pour persévérer."
