As part of its commitment to promoting informed voting and civic participation, the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), in coordination with Fundación Construir and the Observa Bolivia network, supported the successful national launch of the youth campaign “VOTA BUS: A Journey Toward a Living Democracy,” held on July 25 in Plaza Avaroa in La Paz. The event is implemented under the PRO-Election Bolivia project funded by the European Union through the Foreign Policy Instrument (FPI). The Chargé d’Affaires of the EU delegation to Bolivia, ECES, and Construir’s coordinators gave a speech for the launch, highlighting the importance of encouraging a youth-informed vote.
The event, which brought together authorities from the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, the Bolivian Ombudsman, international cooperation representatives, and over twenty civil society organisations, marked the start of a nationwide tour aimed at fostering active citizenship among young people aged 18 to 28 through educational, artistic, and participatory experiences focused on the value of the vote and democracy.
The VOTA BUS, a travelling bus transformed into an interactive and experiential space, will visit various cities across the country with an innovative program that combines theatre, music, workshops, and a Democracy Fair featuring more than 50 civil society organisations. The initiative, which involves over 200 young volunteers in its implementation, has been recognised for its ability to engage Bolivian youth in a playful yet educational way. As part of the campaign, the song "Mi voz, mi voto", the anthem of democracy, was premiered, composed by an Aymara (western) artist and a Camba (eastern) artist as a symbol of national unity. Through this campaign, ECES reaffirms its commitment to transparent and inclusive electoral processes, strengthening the exercise of informed and engaged citizenship in the lead-up to the August 17 elections.
Listen to the song here!
30 July 2025
