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Description
Being a young person who just starts to know all the norms and regulations, who is not yet familiar with the decision- making process in his/her country, it is easy to get confused on the roadmap “how can I be an active inhabitant of my district”. Research that has been made shows that there are opportunities to get involved, but youngsters do not use them. Why? That’s what we want to find out and change.
“Give a Way to Youth!” is a complex project that includes 11 interconnected activities that will be made with the aim to improve youth opportunities to influence decision-making processes in rural areas of Latvia, so they could feel more confident about their ability to initiate changes and feel that they belong to Latvia. Several project activities directly involve youngsters but the main task of the project is to follow the process of youth participation, to analyze it, in order to improve youth policy in the regions of Latvia.
We want that all the paths to active participation in the decision-making process in rural areas become more visible and smoother for young people, so their experience from this participation could make them satisfied and they would like to make more project initiatives in the future.
The partner plays an important role in the project:
- Ensure capacity building (in the form of training);
- Will also act as mentors for the youth groups involved;
– The information campaign will also reflect the experience of the partner.
Summary of project results
Before the ACF project, several challenges were identified by the organization:
Declining youth participation: the level of youth engagement in civic and decision-making processes was notably low, with only 12% of young people believing they could influence decisions in their municipality. Most youth were involved in cultural or entertainment activities, where they acted as consumers rather than active participants, and less frequently in civic or public activities requiring initiative and active involvement.
Youth migration: youth emigration posed a critical challenge, with around 35% of emigrants being young people. These were often highly qualified and economically active individuals, leaving a significant gap in the local workforce and community dynamics.
Weak youth policy: youth policy in Latvia lacked strategic vision and was often treated as optional rather than essential, particularly at the municipal level. This resulted in fragmented support for youth and limited opportunities for meaningful engagement.
Disconnection from decision-makers: youth felt distanced from governance, lacking exposure to municipal decision-making processes and experiencing limited opportunities to engage with local government.
Administrative reform concerns: the upcoming territorial reform raised uncertainty about how youth work would be supported. With administrative centers becoming more distant from rural areas, access to resources and opportunities for youth could be further restricted.
Development of a guide for youth projects
An interactive online guide for youth project implementation was created. It included project proposal and report templates, as well as ten explanatory videos covering topics such as goal-setting, activity planning, team formation, resource acquisition, project visibility, and publicity. This guide aimed to empower youth to independently create and implement projects without relying solely on youth workers for consultation.Training and idea hackathon “Road signs for participation” and youth-led civic initiatives
A training cycle was conducted to provide youth with skills and motivation for civic engagement and to execute their own initiatives. Training topics included civic participation, resource mobilization, values-based leadership, and presentation skills. After the hackathon involving 18 teams, youth organized local initiatives, such as online sports events during COVID-19 to engage their communities. Teams that began implementing initiatives received additional training on resource mobilization and presentation skills. A winning team participated in a study visit to Norway for experience sharing with a partner organization.Training for developing civic participation skills of vulnerable youth
A training course was developed in collaboration with Norwegian partners to strengthen vulnerable youth''s skills in advocacy, collaboration for common goals, project management, and leadership development.Information campaign “Give way to youth!”
A dedicated Facebook page was launched to share youth reflections on creating change in their communities. The campaign included a professionally produced documentary short film highlighting youth experiences in Latvia and Norway. The project was recognized in the Rural Youth competition as the best European rural youth project of the year.Research “Roadmap for youth involvement”
A study was conducted to analyze youth civic participation across regions, identifying barriers and enablers. Methods included interviews, surveys, and an analysis of publicly available information on youth policy in municipalities. The research explored youth knowledge of participation opportunities and the level of support from local governments. The findings, including Norwegian youth experiences, were presented at the project’s closing conference and shared with stakeholders at municipal and national levels.Conference “Give way to youth!”
The conference brought together youth, youth workers, and decision-makers from local and national levels. Youth initiative groups presented their project results and shared insights on implementing initiatives for youth and vulnerable groups. Recommendations from the conference and research were disseminated to stakeholders, including municipalities, the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments, and the Ministry of Education and Science, to improve youth policy quality in Latvia.
The project successfully empowered youth to believe in their ability to create change in their communities. Participants adopted best practices from the Norwegian partner and applied them both during and after the project, continuing to be active youth advocates. Youth leaders and youth workers in Latvia also benefited by learning from the Norwegian experience, which they shared with local youth leaders and youth specialists. The collaboration with the partner organization continued after the project’s completion.
In municipalities, young people were convinced that their opinions mattered and that they had the skills and opportunities to pursue their goals in their local areas. Through communication with local government representatives and youth workers, it was observed that while youth work has developed, there are still opportunities for growth, particularly in ensuring youth work receives adequate attention and funding. Although salaries for youth workers are still relatively low, there is a positive trend of annual funding increases in municipalities.
The short-term impact was felt by all project participants, particularly those who implemented their youth-led initiatives. These participants gained confidence in their ability to engage in civic activities and influence change in their communities. Furthermore, they learned to believe in their capacity to impact decision-making processes.
Mentors also experienced short-term impact, particularly those who were introduced to the concept of allowing youth to make their own mistakes and learn from them. For some mentors, this was a new experience, but others were impressed by the independence of the youth and their ability to handle challenges when given the opportunity.
The long-term impact of the project includes the adoption of the principle of sustaining initial youth projects and thinking about them long-term, as well as the realization that those who take action are always one step ahead of those who do nothing. The project also laid the groundwork for future collaborations, including a new project with Norwegian partners that will involve additional youth partners.
The visits to municipalities provided valuable information on the state of youth work, which can be used to improve future youth advocacy activities. The research findings also helped to identify barriers and motivations in youth initiatives, offering useful insights for mentors, local government representatives, and youth workers. By understanding youth needs and providing a more conducive environment for project implementation, it is possible to improve civic participation and encourage more active youth involvement in political processes.The research materials are valuable for organizations planning to organize youth hackathons or similar initiatives. They also serve as a resource for improving future initiatives in Latvia, particularly for Latvia''s Rural Youth organization, which can apply the lessons learned to better serve rural youth.
Additionally, the online guide for youth project implementation, enriched with 10 explanatory videos, provides clear and accessible support for young people who wish to submit and carry out their own projects, helping those who cannot easily access youth workers for consultation. The guide became a useful tool for self-sufficient youth project management.
Summary of bilateral results
The cooperation with the Norwegian partner was highly beneficial and focused on sharing expertise and best practices in youth initiative project implementation. The partner impressed with their extensive practical knowledge and relaxed, open communication style, which resonated well with the young participants. The youth quickly bonded with the partner and valued their opinions, incorporating them into their initiatives.The knowledge shared by the Norwegian partner during training sessions was valuable not only for the youth but also for the mentors. The Latvian team sought to learn as much as possible from the partner, recognizing their extensive experience in mentoring. The collaboration further strengthened the Latvian team''s professional development.The partner played an active role in the development of the online guide for youth project implementation, contributing to the creation of training materials for both youth and youth support staff using online conference tools. The comparison of youth initiative support systems between Latvia and Norway was also part of the project, with the Norwegian system being analyzed alongside Latvia''s.The Norwegian partner was also directly involved with their own youth team, which carried out an initiative during the project. Members of this team acted as mentors for Latvian youth groups. The project also provided an opportunity to compare the support systems for youth initiatives in both countries.Finally, the Norwegian partner’s experience was highlighted in the project''s informational campaign, further strengthening the collaboration and showcasing the practical knowledge shared throughout the project. The partner expressed a strong desire to continue working with Latvia''s Rural Youth organization, and plans for a new joint project are already underway.