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Description
During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, we noticed social marginalization of groups of young people from deprived local communities in Osijek-Baranja County: insufficient interest of the community and local authorities in their potentials and needs during the pandemic, and lack of mentoring leadership to encourage civic action and solidarity, their civic and political participation in the local communities from which they originate and in which they socialize during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The aim of the project is to achieve civic participation of marginalized groups of young people in local communities in the deprived area of Osijek-Baranja County (during and) after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Through mapping "invisible" groups of young people in the deprived area, organizing meetings through the innovative methodology of the philosophical cafe, identifying needs, problems and potentials, we will select and implement their best ideas in the form of civic action in the community. In this way, a minimum of 50 young people will take on the role of active citizens, understanding the importance of civic participation as a carrier of a democratic society. We will also create a "red button" document, a crisis document for young people, intended for government officials, in which young people will shape the requirements and needs for future support to young people. Along with this document, GENERATOR will enclose a recommendation and instruction to institutions and government representatives for the future inclusion and civic participation of young people in local communities.
Partner on this project is Đola Association from Darda, a well established and active in the area of culture and art, workinh with youth of different nationalities; their role is mentoring and supervision.
Summary of project results
During the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the most affected groups has been socially marginalized youth from disadvantaged communities in Osijek-Baranja County (OBŽ). Previous research by the Institute for Social Research in 2016, titled "Youth in Times of Crisis," revealed that young people lack knowledge about democracy and civic participation and show little desire to engage in political life. The pandemic has only worsened this situation, further isolating youth and stripping them of any social or political influence. The community''s response has primarily been limited to offering psychological support on an individual basis, making these young people the invisible victims of isolation and generational discrimination, sidelined as insignificant actors in society.
However, through meetings with stakeholders from local civil society organizations (CSOs) and institutions in OBŽ, we''ve observed that youth maintain communication, stay informed about social issues, and have the potential to raise awareness, foster solidarity, and engage in community action. For instance, young members of the Đola Association in Darda are in the process of establishing a Youth Club, Osijek''s Mladforma youth are taking on the role of watchdogs during local elections, and high school students in Beli Manastir are involved in developing the "Jewish Osijek" app, aimed at preventing discrimination against minorities. Despite these promising examples, they are rare instances of youth activism, acting as small, isolated oases of engagement.
We conclude that the primary issue for vulnerable youth groups from deprived communities in OBŽ is social marginalization, a lack of interest from the community and local authorities in recognizing their potential and needs, and the absence of mentorship to guide them. These youth need someone to listen to them, help articulate their frustrations, needs, or problems, and encourage civic action and solidarity, strengthening their civic and political roles within their local communities during and after the pandemic.
By mapping these "invisible" groups of youth in OBŽ, organizing meetings through innovative methods like a philosophical café, and documenting their needs, problems, and potential, we will select and implement the best of their ideas in the form of civic initiatives within the local community. This will also serve to highlight to local authorities and institutions the importance of supporting and collaborating with these groups of young people.
The key activity of establishing collaboration with local communities began with mapping the youth groups through interviews with representatives from organizations working with youth or local governments. This provided insight into youth activities, how they participate in the community, and their civic engagement.
One of the main actions was the "Philosophical Café" which contributed to the project outcome of empowering vulnerable individuals, engaging 67 marginalized young people (aged 14-18) in civil society activities. Through these workshops, we explored the youth''s needs, highlighted their roles as active citizens, and brainstormed ideas to address issues within their local communities. For example, the Democratic Community of Hungarians in Croatia helped us organize a Philosophical Café for high school students of Hungarian descent in Bilje, and we conducted similar activities in Bilje''s primary school, encouraging youth to connect with the Youth Council of Bilje.
We also held Philosophical Cafés in Beli Manastir, in cooperation with the Serb Democratic Forum, and in Darda, supported by our partner, the Đola Association. This partnership led to signing a cooperation agreement with Đola and ongoing efforts to integrate mapped youth groups into these activities. Additionally, we held supervisory meetings to discuss logistical challenges and implement civic initiatives.
During May, we drafted and sent the "Red Button" documents, advocating for youth participation in local governance, receiving responses from the Cultural Development Center in Bilje. Discussions with local government officials and educational representatives followed, with meetings scheduled for late 2023.
In May, three civic initiatives and two meetings with youth were organized. The first initiative was at the Hungarian Cultural Center, where Hungarian youth designed a physical space called "Logos Point" for gathering and sharing ideas. The second initiative, led by the Bilje Youth Council, involved a treasure hunt called "Biljko Explores Its Community" to engage local youth in discovering and reflecting on their town’s resources. The third initiative, "Culture for Us," supported by Bilje Primary School, addressed the lack of cultural activities in the region by organizing a theater visit to the Cultural Center in Osijek for local youth.
Many of the young participants from rural communities were introduced to the concepts of critical thinking, civic participation, and the work of civil society organizations (CSOs) for the first time through this project. Their involvement in activities strengthened their capacities, skills, and knowledge, equipping them for future initiatives and activism in their local communities. Moreover, by acting as a bridge between the youth and local governments, we believe that this project has created a foundation for lasting improvements in the conditions for young people.
One of the key achievements of this project was the collaboration with other CSOs and institutions, such as the Youth Club of the Red Cross Darda, the Roma Resource Center in Darda, the Civic Democratic Initiative, the Council of the Serbian National Minority of Kneževi Vinogradi, the Red Cross of Beli Manastir, the Youth Council of Bilje, the Cultural Development Center of Bilje, the informal youth initiative MLADFORMA, and others. These organizations supported our efforts and participated in the project activities, contributing to the project’s success.
Participation in the workshops and consultations provided by the ACF has also strengthened the capacity of our organization.
A Philosophical Café held at the Hungarian Cultural Center in Croatia included 14 young representatives from the Hungarian minority. These youth highlighted several unmet needs and issues within their local communities that local authorities have neglected, especially due to political tensions. Two significant issues raised by the youth were inadequate transportation and a lack of spaces for socializing. Additionally, there is a lack of intercultural education between the Croatian majority and the Hungarian minority, which results in limited social integration between the groups.
We aim to collectively create a "Red Button" document that will outline these challenges and communicate them to local authorities. Furthermore, we have mapped young members of the Roma community through the Roma Resource Center, who will participate in a Philosophical Café in February. We will also involve young people from the predominantly Serbian Youth Club of Jagodnjak in future café discussions.