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Description
The “Youth one stop agency” project is a strategic project aimed at building a generation of young people active in civil
society in the South-Kurzeme region. To do this, it is planned to focus on the three main target groups, which will
ensure the widest possible involvement of youth: active young people, young people at social risk on the streets and in
rural areas, youth workers and mentors.
During the project, activities in these three blocks are scheduled to be carried out in order to achieve the objective of
the project: the development of a socially and civilly active generation of young people in the South-Kurzeme region.
1) Promoting the dialogue between already active young people and local decision-makers, involving these young
people in local and national elections and helping them to implement their socially responsible ideas, thereby enabling
them to be actively involved in day-to-day civil and public engagement.
2) Providing individual support to young people at social risk in the streets and rural areas in order to help these young
people in the long term to be more civilly and socially active and to participate in the common community.
3) Develop a new generation of youth specialists based on civil education, who, together with the already existing
specialists, would be able to promote civil and public participation of young people in Liepaja and South-Kurzeme.
Summary of project results
The ACF strategic project focused on addressing several critical challenges in youth civic engagement:
Shortage of competent youth workers: There was a significant challenge in finding motivated and skilled youth workers, particularly male and Russian-speaking specialists, in the Liepāja and South Kurzeme regions. This shortage hindered the ability to provide effective support and mentorship for youth. Additionally, there were ongoing financial constraints that limited the capacity to offer necessary training and supervision for these specialists.
Engagement of socially at-risk youth: A major challenge was the lack of engagement among socially vulnerable youth in democratic processes. This group often had limited exposure to or interest in civic participation, which was compounded by a lack of individualized support to address their specific needs and concerns.
Sustaining active youth participation: While there were active youth engaged in civic activities, there was a challenge in maintaining their long-term interest and expanding their participation. There was also a need to bridge the gap in communication and understanding between youth and decision-makers, which often led to a lack of dialogue and engagement with local authorities.
Access to simplified information: Many young people lacked access to clear, accessible information about democratic processes, including voting and civic rights. This made it difficult for them to fully participate in democratic life or understand the importance of their engagement.
A significant challenge is the lack of research in Latvia on how to integrate youth with limited opportunities from the streets and regions into democracy. In Liepāja and the South Kurzeme region, such research has never been conducted. Preliminary data from various studies suggest that approximately 35% of the 14,000 young people in Liepāja and South Kurzeme could be defined as street youth or regional youth.
These challenges highlighted the need for focused actions to build capacity in youth work, provide individualized support for vulnerable groups, and create effective channels for communication and information about civic participation.
Politician is Just a Human” – informal youth meetings with politicians: The activity "Politician is Just a Human" activity series aimed to create informal and engaging interactions between young people and local decision-makers. The methodology focused on organizing casual meetings with local deputies to highlight the human side of politicians while discussing professional topics. These meetings were structured as outdoor activities, sports events, or creative workshops, providing a comfortable and open environment for dialogue. By offering non-formal settings, the initiative allowed young people to engage in discussions with decision-makers, making them more accessible and relatable. This methodology helped develop a culture of open communication and empowererd youth to participate more actively in democratic processes.
The update of the informational material "The Young Voter''s Handbook": In preparation for the 2021 local elections and in response to low voter engagement, project promoter developed an informative guide for young people, "The Young Voter''s Handbook." The material explained the need for elections, the process, and key terms in a youth-friendly and accessible language. As part of this activity, the guide was updated, making it suitable for the 2022 Saeima elections and encouraging youth participation in this crucial democratic process
Youth training "Youth Academy": During the training, young people developed several ideas of societal significance, which they were able to receive financial support for through the youth initiative competition organized by the association. As a result of the activity, the youth gained new competencies and understood various ways to be civically and socially active. Among the training participants were 20 young people from 8 different educational institutions in Liepāja, who worked for 3 days on ideas to improve the school environment, promote youth involvement in student councils, and in events organized by them.
Thematic training for youth sector representatives "The New Generation of Mentors 2022": The activity aimed to organize three-day training sessions, where young mentors were trained to expand the network of youth mentors in Liepāja and help to engage more young people in civic activities across Liepāja and the South Kurzeme region. 20 mentors were trained in total.
Thematic training for youth sector representatives "Youth Work Superheroes": During the training youth workers and specialists from Liepāja and the South Kurzeme region gained the competencies needed to implement a three-month pilot phase of street and mobile youth work in the area. The goal was to introduce these methods in Liepāja and South Kurzeme, ensuring that local municipalities would eventually incorporate these functions into their budgets.
The informational campaign "Mobile and Street Work with Youth in Liepāja and South Kurzeme": The aim of this activity was to raise awareness about the civic and social engagement of these youth in society. The campaign not only helped the public understand the importance and current situation of street and regional youth but also supported the youth in better recognizing their role and motivation in civil society.
Research "Mobile and Street Work with Youth in Liepāja and South Kurzeme": The research aimed to identify street and regional youth, explore their opinions, motivations, interests, and profiles, and determine the most effective ways to engage them in civic and public activities.
Pilot activities of street and mobile youth work: Street and mobile work with youth involved organizing activities twice a week was piloted, including sports sessions, team-building games, board games, and educational activities on mental health, addictions, and civic participation. Among other results, over time, a street youth community was formed, helping to identify at-risk youth and reduce dangerous situations on the streets.
Conference "Street and mobile youth work in Liepāja and the South Kurzeme region": A national-level conference was held, attended by representatives from other organizations who are currently conducting or planning to conduct street/mobile work with youth in their municipalities. During the event, the results of the research "Mobile and Street Work with Youth in Liepāja and South Kurzeme" were presented, along with a summary of the practical pilot project activities. After reviewing these data, conference participants worked in groups to develop recommendations, which the organization would later use to create and develop a future strategy for youth civic participation
Supervision of youth workers, specialists, and mentors: To reduce staff, specialists, and mentors'' overload and burnout, supervision sessions were regularly organized, during which various issues were discussed, including: awareness of professional boundaries, finding alternative actions, building relationships with colleagues and clients, and reducing stress factors.
The project''s activities had a profound impact on youth work in Liepāja and the South Kurzeme region. Key outcomes included:
Youth participation and civic engagement: Initiatives such as "Politician is Just a Human" and "The Young Voter''s Handbook" helped challenge stereotypes about political processes and educated young people on the importance of civic engagement in strengthening democracy.
Enhanced social and civic involvement: Training, street, and mobile youth work provided diverse opportunities for young people to engage in various activities, promoting their social and civic participation. Mobile youth work was particularly beneficial in South Kurzeme, where it offered support to young people living in areas without access to organized youth services.
Strengthening youth work and organizational capacity: The project contributed significantly to strengthening the youth work system and enhancing the organization''s capacity. It introduced new methods in youth work, tested new activities, and laid the groundwork for future projects focused on youth participation.
Positive impact on youth participation: Although hard to quantify, statistical data from surveys conducted before and after the project revealed a positive shift in youth satisfaction and participation:
- An increase in the number of young people who felt they could influence decisions at their educational institutions.
- A rise in the number of young people satisfied with Liepāja as a place to live, study, and spend free time.
Successful Integration of Street Youth: The project successfully reached out to street youth, gaining their trust and providing them with new opportunities for engagement. This breakthrough led to the development of new initiatives, including two new projects focused on a youth one-stop agency. One of these projects aims to carry out inter-institutional youth work with street and low-activity youth.
Collaboration with the State Police: Through street work, the project fostered collaboration with the State Police. Former street youth now communicate with the police, helping identify at-risk youth and reduce potential threats. This collaboration is discreet to protect the involved youth from judgment by their peers.
Mentor Network Expansion: Following the training, some of the trained mentors are now actively working with young people in the Liepāja youth mentor network, continuing to support and guide the local youth community.
These outcomes collectively reflect the project''s significant contribution to youth work, community safety, and youth civic engagement in the region.
Summary of bilateral results
The project partner from Norway participated in the following activities (both by attending or by supporting remotely in the preparation phase): youth training "Youth Academy", thematic training for youth sector representatives "The New Mentor Generation 2022", thematic training for youth sector representatives "Youth Work Superheroes", pilot project activities "Street and Mobile Youth Work in Liepāja and South Kurzeme" and forum "Street and Mobile Youth Work in Liepāja and South Kurzeme".