A question of time- volunteering, social and civic engagement in a connected society

Breakfast meeting-Thursday 22 February


Volunteering, social and civic engagement are a fundament of democratic societies and the social cohesion of a society. It, however, also depends on common free time and this seems to be increasingly limited. At the same time, social media allows for new forms of participation not requiring synchronised rest time, such as Hashtag activism. Yet, can these new forms compensate for the “traditional” ways of commitment? Is digitalisation undermining or facilitating civic engagement? And if there is a lack of civic engagement, what can the EU do to help countering this development?

To address these issues, the EP Interest Group on work-life balance will hold on Thursday 22 February 2018 a breakfast meeting on “A question of time –volunteering, social and civic engagement in a connected society”.

We would like to discuss the necessity of re-synchronising our private and working life in a digitalised society and reflect on possible ways. How will these developments affect volunteering and civic engagement and what does this mean for social cohesion? Could new forms of social media compensate - at least partially - the lack of common free time?


Thursday 22 February 2018

08h00-09h30 at the EU Parliament


Event hosted by MEP Thomas Mann & MEP Evelyn Regner

Discussion:

Prof. Dr. Paul-Stefan Roß, Cooperative State University Stuttgart, Faculty of Social Science

Gabriella Civico, Director of the European Volunteer Center

Chris Van Droogenbroeck, Belgium Trade Union LBC-NVK, Commerce Sector

The meeting will be held in English. We are looking forward to a lively discussion!

Download the invitation

Please register by Wednesday 15 February 2018 :

REGISTER HERE

Source