Engage and Empower: Recommendations for Increasing Youth Participation in Local Communities
Engage and Empower: Recommendations for Increasing Youth Participation in Local Communities
We live in a time when many young people feel lost or disconnected from their communities and from the important decisions that affect their lives. We believe it is important not only to listen to what they have to say, but also to give them the tools to step up and lead change. This is what the document "Engage and Empower" is all about. Our document is the result of a collaboration between three youth organizations from different parts of Europe. Each of them participated in the "Up to You(th)!" project and brought unique perspectives. In this document, we have formulated practical recommendations aimed at increasing the involvement of young people in local communities.
What will you find in the report?
The report delves into strategies that highlight the crucial role of youth workers, mentors, and educational institutions. We focus on how to reach young people who are currently just observers in their communities and help them become leaders of their future.
Preparatory work:
Our recommendations are the result of thorough research and interactive methodologies. We conducted extensive surveys, organized focus groups in our local communities, and facilitated workshops attended by over 1300 young people in Slovakia, North Macedonia, and Armenia. These activities not only revealed barriers to youth participation but also captured the voices of young people, directly influencing our approach and proposed solutions.
Intended recipients and application:
We entrust this recommendation document to all stakeholders in youth engagement and urge them to use it as a tool to inform policies, initiate constructive dialogue, and inspire concrete actions. Our recommendations are tailored to a wide range of recipients, including local youth organizations, councils, NGOs, and institutions that play a key role in youth work and policymaking.
This recommendation document represents our effort to strengthen youth participation. It is a call to adopt youth-focused strategies that foster a society where youth are not just present, but are an active driving force for the future of their communities. The document calls on all sectors of society to commit to adopting these recommendations as a cornerstone of youth strategy and policy across Europe.
Structure of the recommendation:
The structure of the recommendation is methodically arranged to address multifaceted challenges and propose actionable solutions tailored to different levels of society. The document is divided by specific countries and adapted to respond to the unique challenges identified in the context of each country.
By focusing specifically on each stakeholder, the document ensures a holistic approach, recognizing the interdependence of the roles of local and national governments, civil society, and EU bodies in creating an environment where young people can actively participate in the life of their communities. Each series of recommendations is designed with the specific socio-political context of the three different countries in mind, emphasizing the need for strategies tailored to specific conditions rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.
You can read the document at this link
The project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union. The European Commission's support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of its contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. 2020-2-SK02-KA205-002569
