Take Action!

Context and needs

Youth participation in decision-making is a stated goal everywhere, but between declaration and practice there is a distance you only cover with concrete skills. The participants came from five countries with rather different political and social contexts, which made the debates all the more useful.

Objectives

The project aimed to develop young people’s public participation and improve their civic skills: understanding public decisions at local level, knowing the participation tools, communicating with authorities and local media, community organising and campaigns.

Activities

Simulated local council meetings, case studies, meetings with representatives of the local authorities, and a practical exercise in which participants identified a real problem in the host community and prepared a proposal for decision-makers.

Results and impact

The proposals were presented to the local authorities, and the advocacy skills gained found their place in the participants’ home communities. The project confirmed to us that young people want to get involved when they are given the tools and a framework to do so.

Materials and resources

The full photo album of the project is published on our Facebook page.