Project:  YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN DECISION-MAKING

Description: The key problem addressed by this project is low level of inclusion of young people in decision making process caused by lack of will to include or to motivate young people for active participation in society. Generally, there is a lack of will on the side of authorities to include young people and give them the opportunity to experience political participation and be decision makers in their own environment, which is from an early age crucial for young people to become active citizens. Therefore, the most relevant topic addressed by this project is youth participation in decision making process at local level, because local political context plays a pivotal role in the extent and nature of youth participation in democratic life.



This KA3 project aims to improve the work of the Councils of Youth in the following municipalities: Kavadarci, Shtip, Sv Nikole, Tearce, Radovish, Strumica, Negotino, Gazi Baba, City of Skopje and Prilep



The main aim of the project is:



- To improve the role of the existing Local Councils of Youth, therefore influencing the participation of young people in the democratic life



The specific aims of the project are:



- Strengthened the capacities of the existing Local Councils of Youth

- Enhanced cooperation between the decision makers and young people at local level

- Increased the youth participation at local level, particularly in solving the local needs.



In the preparation period SEGA will organize local events in order to gather opinions and needs related to the topic of this project. At the very beginning SEGA will organize national two day workshop with decision makers from Agency of youth and sport, Local Self-governments, Youth Counselors, Government of the R.M and different governmental institutions responsible for youth.



After this event, SEGA team will organize 10 local consultation meetings involving young people, youth NGOs and local decision makers in the field of youth work. SEGA, along with the local SEGA's members, will directly invite the decision makers at local level through direct meetings aiming to promote the idea and to share the main outcome. These events will be organized by the local members of SEGA in the following 10 municipalities (PKavadarci, Shtip, Sv Nikole, Tearce, Radovish, Strumica, Negotino, Gazi Baba, City of Skopje and Prilep) with attendance of 20 participants per event.



The main activity will occur in the period of 11-13 May 2017 in Struga. The event will include 40 participants. The event will have 3 working days excluding travel.

The main event is designed as a wide consultation meeting – workshop that has to result. This final event will work on strengthening the capacities of local youth structures, establishing formal principles of communication between youth structures and municipalities and enhancing youth participation and activism are the main objectives of this project.



As a final result of the project activities, participants will prepare a "White paper with recommendations for strengthening the position of the Local Councils of Youth".