“Democracy is not a static achievement — it must be nurtured and defended.”

As part of our Member Spotlight series, we spoke with Maartje Huernink, Project Officer at VoltThere, about cross-border democracy, digital political education and why citizen empowerment is more urgent than ever.

VoltThere is affiliated with the first pan-European political party. What defines your mission as a foundation?

VoltThere is a European political foundation affiliated with the pan-European movement and party Volt Europa. Our mission is to strengthen democratic participation through knowledge sharing and bridge-building between EU member states, aspiring ones and neighbouring regions across Europe and MENA.

While most political foundations are anchored in a single national context, our work is inherently cross-border. Our topics, teams and audience are European by design. This allows us to approach democracy, institutional reform and geopolitical challenges by comparing experiences across countries and focusing on practical solutions rather than purely national perspectives.

You are currently developing ECHO, a digital learning platform. What gap are you trying to address?

ECHO is an interactive digital learning platform currently under development. We will start by providing accessible courses on democracy, EU processes and political engagement to citizens across Europe and beyond. The next step will be to collaborate with other organisations on relevant course topics and implement it within their training activities.

The platform represents our commitment to creating a two-way street of democratic knowledge exchange, where organisations and countries can both support and learn from one another.

Via this message, we invite all ENoP members to get in touch (volt.there@voltnederland.org) to explore how we can collaborate and strengthen one another’s efforts to increase the impact of our engagement with partner organisations.

What initiatives best illustrate your approach to democratic participation?

One initiative we are particularly proud of is the Diaspora Tour, a pilot launched in 2025 and led by a coordinator in Kosovo. It aims to empower diaspora communities across Europe by providing tools, networks and platforms for meaningful civic engagement.

We recognise that engagement is a two-way street: diaspora communities bring invaluable perspectives that enrich European democracy, while institutions can learn from global approaches to governance and social cohesion. Through events spanning heritage, identity and practical political participation, we aim to transform diaspora members from passive observers into active contributors.

We also supported democratic processes during elections in Moldova, highlighting the importance of protecting democratic systems against foreign interference and disinformation, and encouraging citizens to make their voices heard through voting.

In addition, we recently launched the Campa app, currently being tested during local elections in the Netherlands and Germany. It is a practical tool that helps teams track and coordinate campaign efforts.

As a relatively young organisation, what challenges are you facing?

Like many political foundations, we face the challenge of building long-term financial sustainability while remaining independent and focused on our mission. Operating across borders adds complexity in terms of regulation and coordination.

At the same time, demand for credible political education is growing, while public trust in institutions is under pressure. Improving our visibility and building the right partnerships remains an important priority.

What advice would you share with other organisations in the ENoP network?

Invest early in solid governance and financial processes. For a young and fast-growing organisation, governance and documentation management are not a luxury — they enable impact and credibility.

Cross-border collaboration works best when expectations and processes are made explicit from the beginning. That is when initiatives truly come alive. And also: keep it fun during these “dark” times.

What does supporting democracy mean for VoltThere today?

Supporting democracy means more than election campaigns or institutional reform. It means empowering citizens with knowledge and skills to participate, creating spaces for constructive political dialogue across borders and fostering critical thinking — especially in a shifting digital information environment.

We now have fewer democracies than autocracies globally. Democracy is not a static achievement. We have to keep nurturing it — and sometimes fighting for it — to ensure it remains part of our world. Democracy is built by people. You can make a difference. Don’t stay silent when you see non-democratic practices.

What does being part of ENoP mean for your organisation?

Being part of ENoP provides access to peer organisations facing similar challenges, as well as shared expertise and potential collaborations.

Strengthening democracy is a collective European effort. It cannot be achieved in isolation. For an organisation like ours that operates across borders, ENoP represents the kind of collaborative infrastructure that makes our bridge-building work possible.

About Maartje Huernink

Maartje Eva Huernink is Project Officer at VoltThere, the pan-European foundation affiliated with Volt Europa, where she supports initiatives aimed at strengthening democratic participation and civic engagement across Europe and neighbouring regions. Based in the Netherlands, Maartje brings experience working with cross-border political projects and community outreach, coordinating activities such as roundtables, learning platforms and stakeholder engagement events that advance democratic resilience and dialogue. She holds academic and professional experience in European studies and political engagement, and actively contributes to civic discussions, including events on democratic journeys and integration for partner countries such as Moldova.