Resilience approach to strengthening the participation of young people with limited possibilities

Description

The aim of the project is to strengthen the participation of young people with limited possibilities, advocasy and development of  innovative activities aimed at implementing youth initiatives and reducing discrimination situations.
Main activities - research on social risks of exclusion related to young people''s attitudes towards tolerance and discrimination, development of the lived experience expert movement and creation of a virtual platform, advocasy of interests of young people with limited possibilities, training of resilience mentors and developing of networking, training of staff on human rights of young people and activities for the target group: "oppressed theater", photovoice workshops and  training to strengthen the human rights awareness of young people at social risk.
The project is implemented at the national level, its implementation period is 26 months.
It  is planned to involve in the project at least 250 young people with limited possibilities and 60 professionals from various fields, who provide daily support to young people  and establish long terms cooperation with at least 10 state, municipal and non-governmental organizations.
Implementation of project activities has positive impact on decreasing of human rights violations against young people  at the level of individuals, community and state social policy. The direct involvement of the target group in the activities provides an opportunity for young people to express their opinions, update situations of human rights violations and develop their initiatives. Significant long-term impact will be provided by Latvian-wide innovative peer expert movement and a network of mentors.

Summary of project results

Despite the fact that the policy planning documents clearly identify the target group – young people who are exposed to intolerance or discrimination and who have limited opportunities to integrate into society, a clear systemic mechanism for resolving the situation is not available. The project has therefore raised the following challenges:

1) Low representation: Young people are rarely involved in decision-making because they are difficult to reach and their participation is not considered important.
2) Intolerance in society: Many young people face discriminatory stereotypes and are not perceived as equal members of society.
3) Weak support systems: Lack of cooperation between the education and welfare sectors leads to delayed assistance.
4) Lack of mentors: There are not enough professionals who can work with young people who often break norms and resist help.
5) Reinforcement of negative identities: Discrimination and internalization of stereotypes hinder belief in positive change.
6) Low awareness: Young people lack knowledge about human rights, discrimination and available support.

1. Study on the Attitudes of Youth with Limited Opportunities Towards Tolerance and Discrimination:
   The study utilized a participatory research methodology, emphasizing the involvement of the target group itself. This approach ensured that the research process and findings directly address the experiences of tolerance and discrimination faced by the target group. Ten young people participated in the study, and its results have been applied to project activities, advocacy efforts, and the overall work of the organization.

2. Lived Experience Experts (LEEs) Movement:
   The LEE concept, emerging from international initiatives, particularly in the mental health field, involves individuals who have successfully overcome challenges providing support to others facing similar issues and representing their interests at the policy level. In the project, 8 LEEs received both individual support consultations and participated in group meetings. To address regional inequalities, a virtual LEE platform was created, enabling youth to connect with experts regardless of their location.

3. Resilience Mentor Training and Network Development:
   A resilience mentor network with 79 participants was established. This network facilitated the creation of new projects and initiatives aimed at reducing human rights violations against youth with limited opportunities and promoting targeted use of resilience approaches.

4. Activities for Youth with Limited Opportunities:
   Various initiatives were organized, including Forum Theatre events, Photovoice workshops, and outreach training sessions to strengthen the human rights awareness of socially at-risk youth.

5. Advocacy for the Interests of Youth with Limited Opportunities:
   Efforts included participation in national and local working groups, conferences, and cooperation networks, meetings with relevant institutions, including educational establishments, and involvement in drafting legislation and regulatory frameworks.

1) Youth participation has been strengthened as a principle in all activities of the organization, which means that it also participates in negotiations with social service funders and cooperation partners;

2) The services developed and offered are not only innovative, but also in line with the needs of today''s youth (especially young people with limited situations) - other institutions and non-governmental organizations want to be there and build cooperation to implement similar initiatives;

3) Situations of discrimination are increasingly better identified. Young people indicate in discussions that they have started to speak more often and more confidently, and can more often directly ask friends about the situations they have experienced.