At Commonground Initiatives, we do democracy by reclaiming the demo in democracy and working with the people on the ground.
Commonground Initiatives is a nonprofit organisation on a mission to strengthen democratic processes through the revitalisation of community participation and the strengthening of community-led movements.
Our work aims to enable, connect, and co-create with local groups and organisations to revitalise long-term and sustainable community engagement, participation, and influence.
Instead of top-down approaches, we want to support locally-led, adaptation-based strategies that empower underserved and peripheral communities to take the lead in shaping democracy on their own terms.
By strengthening local movements and leadership, we help build civic agency, ensuring that community voices are heard and actively shaping decision-making processes.
We believe that the commitment to strengthening democracy requires involving and activating communities in civic development, whether in a small rural town or a big European capital. To protect and strengthen democratic practices in the face of today's threats, we know that a long-term, consistent process for community participation and revitalising locally-led community movements is the key.
WE RECLAIM THE DEMO IN DEMOCRACY •
WE RECLAIM THE DEMO IN DEMOCRACY •
Our Vision for the Future of Democracy
Democracy comes from the ancient Greek word “δημοκρατία”, which literally means “the power (kratos, or “κράτος”) of people (demos, or “δῆμος”). Democracy cannot exist without the “demo”.
When democracy is under threat, we need to go back to its essentials meaning and work on strengthening people’s agency and their power to mobilise change.
We believe that community movements have the potential to pave the way towards environmental, social, and cultural innovation, influencing decisions that protect these causes and safeguard the collective's wellbeing.
At Commonground Initiatives, we want to work towards a vision where community leadership impacts local development at scale and shaping global efforts towards more sustainable, inclusive, and democratic futures for all.
Our Approach to Community Revitalisation
We see our organisation as more than just an activism organisation—we like to think of our space as a…
collective incubator for new and transformative practices of community participation. We create space for experimentation, learning, and co-creation, where local groups can test and refine strategies that foster deeper civic engagement and democratic action.
As an ecosystem connector, we bring together local civil society organisations, community leaders, and informal citizen groups across underserved areas in the Mediterranean, facilitating collaboration, mutual capacity building, and collective action.
A capacity catalyst, curating, documenting, and exchanging effective practices and strategies for community-led impact.
Beyond knowledge-sharing, we want to lead from the frontlines, positioning as a thought partner and advocate, working with—not just for—groups striving for democratic shifts in their contexts.
Finally, we think of our work as a playground for innovation, a space to pilot nontraditional, creative, and experimental approaches.