Youth Democracy Projects

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Objectives

This sub-Action supports young people's participation in democratic life. It aims to encourage the active participation of young people in the life of their local, regional or national community or at international level. Youth Democracy Projects enable young people to learn about democratic processes and become active citizens in their local communities or at European level. They learn to critically analyse political or social issues, and to make their voices heard. The projects allow them to try out ways of influencing the reality they live in and to make the world a better place.

What is a Youth Democracy Project?

A Youth Democracy Project is developed by a European partnership, allowing the pooling, at European level, of ideas, experiences and methodologies from projects or activities at local, regional, national or European level, in order to improve young people’s participation.

A Youth Democracy Project has three phases:

  • planning and preparation
  • implementation of the Activity
  • evaluation (including reflection on a possible follow-up).

Non-formal learning principles and practice are reflected throughout the project.

Some examples of Activities implemented within a Youth Democracy Project are:

  • the creation of networks for the exchange, development and dissemination of good practice in the field of youth and participation
  • consultations by and of young people, with a view to find out their needs and wishes on matters relating to participation in democratic life
  • information events or seminars or debates for young people centred around the mechanisms of representative democracy at all levels, including the functioning of the EU institutions and the EU policies
  • meetings between young people and decision-makers or experts in the field of participation in democratic life and democratic institutions
  • events simulating the functioning of the democratic institutions and the roles of decision-makers
  • a series or combination of the above activities, which may be carried out at different levels (local, regional, national, international) within the time-frame of the project.

For detailed information about the criteria of a Youth Democratic Projects, take a look at the Youth in Action Programme Guideother languages.


What else should you know about a Youth Democracy project?

Multi-Measure projects - Action 1

Youth Democracy Projects can be part of a Multi-Measure project under Action 1. For further information, please consult section 'Multi-Measure projects' of this Action.

Participation of decision-makers/experts in a Youth Democracy Project

If the project foresees the participation of decision-makers/experts in the Activity, none of the costs directly related to their participation (travel, food, accommodation, visa, special needs, etc.) can be covered by the Youth in Action grant. Such costs should be covered through other sources of financial contribution to the project (promoters’ own resources, and/or national, regional, local or private assistance).

Independent promoters

In the context of a Youth Democracy Project, although promoters can be affiliated to each other or to a common network, each promoter must not depend upon another promoter for deciding, implementing or financing its operation.

Example of a Youth Democracy Project

The municipalities of Mynämäki and Lieto in Finland and two youth groups from the municipality of Kjøllefjord in Norway carry out a youth democracy project in both countries. The project will be organised by the core group of 16 young people and supported by youth professionals with expertise in the decision-making structures. The young people are mostly aged 15-17, few of them active in local youth councils. They all come from small and remote communities. The aim of the project is to find out about decision-making systems and to bring young people and decision-makers closer together. As a concrete measure, the young people build a Dream Village with its own ideal decision-making structures. They link the created theoretical structures with European Citizenship and look for the European identity of young people. The groups simulate decision-making in municipal councils, and will examine representative democracy at work. Through national and joint seminars the young people will produce a motion that aims to enhance young people’s participation in decision-making. Throughout its duration the project is followed by mentor politicians who will present young people’s opinions in their own decision-making structures. A mentor journalist will also follow the progress of the initiative and write articles about it.

More information about Youth Democracy Projects can be obtained from the official Youth in Action Programme Guideother languages.

 

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