Description
Youth of 15-25 years often lack confidence in democratic institutions and information on promotion of democratic principles in life. The aim of the project is to support active participation of youth in civic life and promotion of democratic values. The goal of the project is to initiate interest of youth at participation in civic life, support development of existing youth groups and support development of good governance on local level. The participants from 5 micro-regions will be trained at 6 training, aimed at active participation in civic life, support of civic activism and peer mediation in resolution of civic conflicts with accent at inter-ethnic relations. The youth group will afterwards lead informational and educational peer activities and create documentary movies reflecting their experience with local activism and participation in civic life. The project will support use of democratic principles on local level and will create an example of good practice on national level.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to support civic participation of Roma and non-Roma youth and interest in good governance on local level. The project was designed to support the work of independed youth groups, active already for several months or years before the project, in their efforts to strenghten the position of youth in local communities through public actions and peer education. The project participants have received 4 trainings on civic activism and civic participation, two trainings on work with media and participated at designing and creating two documentary movies on youth issues. On the local level the particular local groups have negotiated with municipal parliaments, mayors and stakeholders local youth issues, as e.g.: establishment of a youth club in local community center, receiving space for tutoring classes for local Roma children in the elementary school or promoting the idea of painting pedestrian crossings in the village center. After the project closing, out of the five local youth groups, three are still active and continue in their work either in cooperation with People in Need’s community workers or independently. Recently, the youth groups members are for example active in delivering tutoring classes for Roma pupils on voluntary level, or help with activities of a local community center. One of the youth group’s members became a local deputy in the municipal elections in November 2014. The main benefit of the project is perceived in supporting the work of voluntary youth groups through broadening their general knowledge with more information on processes of democratic governance on local and national level, sthrenghtening their communication and planning skills and supporting their ability to promote local activities on public.
Summary of bilateral results