Description
The project addresses the need for sustainable mechanisms for civil participation and control. The project aims at developing a methodology to identify and promote youth leadership and participatory democracy. First, a methodology will be discussed and developed focused on young leaders, participatory democracy mechanisms and advocacy skills. Second, 16 people aged 18-35 will be selected as participants. Third, they will be trained to know more about decision-making at central and local level. Fourth, the participants will have traineeship at local institutions and municipalities. Next, the results will be discussed jointly and the young people will proceed with promoting their causes. Finally, the project outcomes will be presented to the broad public at a final youth discussion forum. The project will benefit the young people involved, the state institutions and the local community as such.
Summary of project results
The project aimed at developing a methodology to identify and promote youth leadership with regard to civic participation as an important specific dimension of participatory democracy together with the forms of representative democracy. The methodology was developed and tested under the project. The key project result was the definition, analysis and proposal of policies related to three specific important public issues. The contacts and interaction established with the institutions were a small step forward towards the streamlining of the mechanisms for dialogue between the institutions and young people. As a result of the project a network of active young people with leadership potential was set up. The network will continue to work somewhat as a “pressure group” and try to exert influence on decision-making related to the issues defined under the project.