Josephine Schnee

Image Josephine Schnee, Team Democracy International
Function
Project officer
Email
schnee@democracy-international.org
Organisation
Democracy International
Summary
As a Project Officer at Democracy International, Josephine Schnee works at the intersection of activism, youth engagement and democratic participation. She contributes to the organisation of the Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy, supporting programmes that empower citizens and foster grassroots involvement in democratic processes. With a strong background in political education and civic engagement, Josephine is passionate about creating spaces where activists and young people from around the world can exchange ideas, collaborate, and take action for more participatory societies.
Biography

Josephine holds a Bachelor’s degree in Politics and Sociology from the Friedrich Wilhelm University of Bonn and a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Cologne and the University of Tampere, Finland.

She gained hands-on experience in international civic engagement through the ASA Programme, a volunteer initiative by ENGAGEMENT GLOBAL on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Within this framework, she co-developed Ukrainian Vibes – European Public Sphere, an online dialogue project that received national recognition and won third place in the European Charlemagne Youth Prize 2022.
Additionally, Josephine completed a Schuman Traineeship at the European Parliament’s Youth Outreach Unit, where she deepened her expertise in participatory democracy and youth activism.
With strong facilitation skills and a deep commitment to participatory democraticy, Josephine brings energy, empathy, and creativity to her work—connecting communities, building partnerships, and supporting initiatives that strengthen direct democracy worldwide.

Responsibilities:

  • Facilitating the Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy – the world’s largest conference dedicated to modern direct democracy
  • Managing international projects, including Life as an Activist , focusing on democratic participation
  • Designing and facilitating learning opportunities on topics such as direct democracy, activism, and youth participation – with a focus on empowering citizens to engage in democratic processes
  • Responsible for editorial coordination of mailings and outreach materials 
Quote
Democracy is not something we inherit — it’s something we build every day. It begins with knowing and using the tools we have as citizens to shape our societies and hold power accountable.