Description
The project will promote the development of student councils by developing a structured system of interaction between youth, student councils in schools and the Local Youth Council in Olcecko. The project will cover 9 middle and high schools whose students are members of the Local Youth Council. Activities will mainly consist in exchange of ideas. We will help each group develop new knowledge and skills in the area of active citizenship. In return, young people will design activities for other partners. This will result in more community interaction and volunteering. This is a step forward to building a coherent youth policy in the community. The project will develop youth recommendations for the city budget. The project will be implemented in Olecko community between March and December 2015.
Summary of project results
"The experience of the Olecko Youth Council and student councils in schools in Olecko suggest that local youth do not understand the opportunities to participate in making decisions about the school and the community. While young people do elect their representatives into the youth council there is later no communication with them and they are not looked upon as representatives. No relationships exist between students, student councils or youth councils. The project aimed at supporting three types of beneficiaries: students, student councils and the Olecko Youth Council with a view to building a system of interactions to influence local policy. In the long term, the project's goal was to involve young people in local decisions and common projects for the local community. Nine groups of students representing all middle and secondary schools in Olecko were trained to be able to interact with the Olecko Youth Council and build a cohesive youth policy. The project helped organise the first ever meeting of representatives from all schools, i.e. student councils and youth councils. A video was produced about the Olecko Youth Council based on which a class scenario about local youth representation was produced. The class was delivered a total of 63 times all schools.The Olecko Youth Council received 52 proposals from students. A city game was developed for student councils. Young people in four schools conducted a needs assessment based on which the Olecko Youth Council developed and submitted budget proposals to the local council. The first amateur LegaFest song festival and a Youth Government Week were organised. A campaign was staged to promote the Olecko Youth Council elections. The project beneficiaries were young people in middle and secondary schools in Olecko."
Summary of bilateral results