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Description
Young people in Lithuania have a lot of potentials to contribute to fundamental changes in society, as research shows - they have a good understanding of the importance of their civic power, but they lack alternative forms that would increase their involvement. Every fifth young person aged 25-29 in Lithuania is not active - they do not study, work or own a business. Lack of employment or alternative forms of participation creates social tensions for young people, which has a direct impact on subsequent limited participation in society.
The project “Education of active citizens by Implementing the Scandinavian hojskole model in Lithuania” aims to strengthen the citizenship and active participation of young people by creating the first Folk High School in Lithuania to train social leaders. On the one hand, the project would offer a new, alternative form of engagement by educating active citizens, on the other hand, the project is directly aimed at working with the development of rural areas. During the project, young people will directly apply the acquired competencies in order to strengthen regional development and civic processes in rural areas.
To achieve this goal, the project will bring together a team of local and international experts to implement the “Folk High School” pilot concept in Lithuania, measure the impact on different target groups, build a long-term model that fits the country''s context, and strengthen partnerships with relevant institutions.
The main result of the project is a sustainable and further developed, constantly operating model of the “Folk High School” in Antalieptė, which empowers young social leaders.
Summary of project results
Young people in Lithuania have a great potential to create fundamental change in society, they are well aware of the importance of their civic power, but they lack alternative forms of engagement. One in five young people aged 25-29 in Lithuania is not engaged - not in education, employment or starting their own business. Lack of employment or forms of participation creates social tensions for young people, which directly affects their subsequent limited participation in society. The project "Developing Active Citizens through the Scandinavian Hojskole Model in Lithuania" aims to strengthen young people''s citizenship and active participation as a means of creating the first Folk High School in Lithuania to educate social leaders. The importance of the project is highlighted by its potential to strengthen the citizenship and active participation of young adults (18-39 years old) through a unique Folk High School model in Lithuania. This model brought an alternative and innovative way of education, which gave young people the opportunity to acquire not only academic knowledge but also important skills and experience for personal and professional development.
The project activities not only promoted active citizenship, but also contributed to community development and social integration by creating sustainable interactions with businesses and other organisations.
The project created a 4-month non-formal education programme based on the Scandinavian Folk High School model.
Participants of the programme got to join 6 different educational models with themes and study tasks dedicated to each week. Participants went on
investigations in local areas, met with local authorities and citizens, discussed their livelihoods and social issues and got a chance to find creative
and innovative solutions to some of them. Participants also contributed actively to the cultural life of the local town by creative events and open
activities.
Main activities implemented and products developed:
- Development of the methodology of the first Folk High School in Lithuania
- The methodology is discussed and improved at the partner meeting in Iceland.
- Careful selection of the pilot activity team (leader, mentors and lecturers) and participants
- Workshops, sessions, slow travel, working with local organizations, decision-makers and reflection methods to achieve the set objectives
- Participants create small-scale change in selected communities based on their own initiatives
- created database of organisations and people who support the school
- Impact measurement document and material to support the activities generated
Key project results:
- Participants gained new knowledge, skills and experience for personal and professional development leading to active civic engagement.
- Strengthening the capacity of the Innovators'' Valley organisation contribute to ensuring continuity of methodology and activities through partnerships and collaboration.
- Local communities benefited from active youth and their cultural activities and activation in the region.
Summary of bilateral results
Relevance of the project and partners'' contribution:The project has created the first Folk High School in Lithuania and the activities implemented have had a significant impact not only on the participants, NGOs, but also on the community and the education sector. The partners contributed to the success of the project and to the achievement of the results by helping to design and develop a sustainable education programme. The main tools of the partnership were the codevelopment of the Smart Village strategy and educational methodology.