Dobrochyn Center

Youth in Community Development Process:

Responding to Changing Times

Youth in Community Development Process:Responding to Changing Times

Background

Community Development in Ukraine

Youth in Ukraine

New Challenges in Communities

Youth in Community Development

Conclusions

Background

During centuries Ukraine has strong communities up to the beginning of ХХ century.

The revival of community development activity begins at the end of XX century, after the declaration of Ukrainian independence.

Community development starts from scratch, charitable institutions and non-governmental organizations started acting as community foundations.

Today, after two revolutions – the Orange one in 2004 and Revolution of Dignity in 2014, most Ukrainians understand one thing – the whole system of governance needs a total rebuilding and they should play a key role in that process.

Community Development

Task:Innovative solutions to meet community challenges and build strong, equitable and sustainable communities through education, engagement and collaboration.

Who promote and support Community Development in Ukraine?

Foreign and national donors, such as European Union, UNDP, International charitable organization Ukrainian Women's Fund, etc.

Ukrainian civil society, variety of institutions such as non-governmental organizations and emerging community foundations.

Absence of direct support from local or state governments (only matching funds).

Community Development in Ukraine

Authorities and communities in Ukraine lack capacity to jointly plan, budget and implement local community development strategies.

Such limited capacities create a scenario where local development priorities attract insufficient focus and resources; poverty level remains high, local living conditions continue to deteriorate and negative social trends often remain unaddressed.

Recent findings This survey lays out the challenges facing communities

across the country, and provides tools for citizens and leaders to chart a new course.

A majority of respondents believed that citizen participation in community events, such as public hearings and parent meetings at schools, was important. 

However, the data also demonstrated that current participation in such events was low, with respondents saying that they have participated in single digits in all 22 cities. 

Reasonable steps to succeed Community Development and Civic Education should

be a key part of work of Ukrainian civil society. Ukrainians need to increase Citizen Participation in

Governance It’s important that leaders from all parts of Ukrainian

life, from government to civil society, encourage citizens to take charge of their own future. 

Citizens need to embrace their civic responsibilities if they want to see change. 

Waiting for government to address every problem isn’t the right answer.

Youth in Ukraine

The official age of a young person in Ukraine is 14-35. This is one of the widest age ranges in Europe.

Youth policy. Key strengths A policy exists and its importance is becoming

clearer. There is an infrastructure through which the policy

is implemented. Central and regional funding is available for policy

implementation. There is commitment to adopting European

standards in youth policy. There is recognition from many stakeholders that

systemic change is necessary in youth policy development and implementation.

Youth policy. Key weaknesses The policy environment is crowded with different

policy initiatives; it is often declarative and frequently not implemented.

Centralization and bureaucracy causes inefficiency and gaps in implementation.

Youth Policy does not appear to address the real needs of young people resulting in their non-engagement and low real participation at all levels.

Low capacity in terms of skills and human resources. Planning cycles and lack of funding hinder sustainable

programme development. Weak inter - sectoral collaboration.

Youth policy The youth assessment found strengths in young people’s

eagerness for change and for their greater involvement in youth movements that were appropriate to their needs. These responses indicated that they were an under used resource in Ukraine, instead of being a driving force for social change.

Building more participative approaches, in which young people have greater self-governance, and in the decisions they and others make about their lives, would strengthen their contributions to society and initiate a new level of policy making.

Participation at this level would position young people at the heart of shaping the social and democratic processes in the country.

New challenges in communities Integration of Displaced Persons

Currently, local communities face new challenges, among them - the integration of displaced persons (IDPs). As of 21 May, there are 1,299,800 IDPs, identified by the Ministry of Social Policy. While the process of registration is still ongoing, the real figure of IDPs remains unknown and is likely to be higher.

Too many IDPs still cannot exercise their rights. Many of them have abruptly lost everything, including homes, documents, their livelihoods and contact with their family members.

New challenges

Anti-Terrorism Operation (ATO)

In view of armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, an anti-terrorist operation (ATO) is being conducted by Ukraine since April 2014 on the territory of certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine.

New challenges Safety in Communities

In these times of anti-terrorism operation and economic distress, many people are concerned about the threat of rising crime in their communities.

There are ways to help protect homes and neighborhood from crime and have a shelter from unexpected attack. From simple steps like keeping doors locked to starting a Neighborhood Watch project.

New challenges Local Development in the context of municipal

consolidation (reform of territorial communities)

Local government reform begin their work for effective decentralization. The regional state administrations are responsible for carrying out the process of creation of wealthy communities through their voluntary amalgamation. Their assistant is development of a draft strategic plan for the formation of territorial communities prior to their approval by the sessions of regional councils.

Creation of wealthy territorial communities should be completed by September.

New challenges

Ecology Ukraine has the worst ecology in Europe. Communities face serious problems related to

environmental degradation. Present ecological situation in Ukraine could be

characterized as a crisis that was formed during a long period because of the neglect of the laws of development and reproduction of natural resource system of state.

Desired change in the mindset of policy makers and, indeed, the population at large, is required.

Youth inCommunity Development

Youth involvement in community development in various forms has intrinsically increased in Ukraine.

The splash of youth activity was evoked by conflict situation on East of Ukraine and the revolution of Dignity.

Youth input in decision making, problem solving, action, and evaluation in communities has received limited attention before.

Principles of CD Practice Participation – supporting people to take part in

decision making Empowerment – increasing the ability of individuals

and groups to influence issues that affect them and their communities

Inclusion, equality of opportunity and anti-discrimination – recognizing that some people may need additional support to overcome barriers they face

Self-determination – supporting the right of people to make their own choices

Partnership – recognizing that many agencies can contribute to community development

Youth activities Crisis-related workYouth volunteers through grassroots organizations are

very much involved in, and committed to, work on conflict-related issues in Ukraine. Illustratively, 21 out 29 interviewed volunteers in Kharkiv oblast indicated to be involved in IDPs assistance. These grassroots organizations help IDPs in various ways: through finding accommodation, by providing clothes and food or household items, assisting IDPs to get access to social or medical services and legal aid, or by providing psychological assistance to traumatized individuals.

Project "Dialogue" – integration of displaced persons in Lutsk (West Ukraine)

«Acoustic Evening» for IDPs in studio «Art Room» Organizers: youth initiative group "Youth Platform" +

NGOs "Self-Help" + "Settlers from Crimea and Donbas"

Crisis-related workYouth in CD

Another main beneficiary group of volunteer assistance is Ukrainian military units and volunteer battalions fighting in the conflict zone, as well as the families of servicemen.

They raise funds to support military activities, and collect and transport food and warm clothes regularly to military personnel serving on the frontline.

Families whose breadwinners have been mobilized receive humanitarian assistance from some community organizations.

Wounded soldiers are also being supported by community groups that help them to get access to medical and psychological treatments, some in close co-operation with public and military hospitals.

State of Volunteers There are gaps in State response to various conflict-

inflicted needs, including in providing support to soldiers (e.g. delivering food, equipment, medicine, etc.) and life-saving assistance to conflict-affected people.

In this respect, the State’s response to the conflict is considered deemed unsatisfactory.

State authorities are seen not to carry out their protection responsibilities in a sufficient manner, resulting in civil society taking over tasks from the State authorities.

Conflict Resolution and DialogueYouth in CD

Many youth movements work on issues related to conflict resolution or dialogue.

Young civil society actors believe that local dialogue and reconciliation efforts are needed at community level to reduce tensions and build unity.

EcologyYouth in CD

Chernihiv Update City

EcologyYouth in CD

A young activist became a Head of Community Council at State Ecological Inspection in Chernihiv region.

Public Health Youth in CD

Youth initiative “Getting to know people with the basics of first aid”

Civic and Community Activism

Existing community organizations have redirected their previous work to focus on new challenges;

New grassroots organizations have been established across the country, including self-citizens initiatives that assumed an active role in solving actual community issues;

Community organizations create partnerships and coalitions to ensure the safety and sustainability in communities.

Youth represent up to 70% in civil and community activities.

Findings

FindingsHow young people can be involved in community development?

NGO Civic Initiatives

Volunteering

Create structures and frameworks

Coordinating Councils

Public debates, Public

expertise

Advisory and Consultative

bodies on youth policy

Informal education Social work Secondary

employment

Sport & entertainment

events

Findings

Steps to Take Provide youth opportunities to contribute. Consider

new ways to involve youth and allow them to offer input during decision-making, problem-solving, and action-taking activities. Active collaboration with youth will engage them in ways that will open doors for them to contribute.

Increase involvement of youth. Present opportunities for personal self-growth, skill enhancement, and leadership development. Allow youth to work with adults in active collaboration toward local community development. Integrating youth into committees with adults as mentors and guides will enable them to build the leadership skills and personal characteristics necessary for their future adult involvement.

Steps to Take Partner with youth. Adults must partner with youth to

develop the capacity to serve in organizations and become community leaders. Outreach youth through schools, youth organizations, and youth groups. Adults can and should inform youth of their value and the need for their service.

Engage youth actively. Youth provide new ideas and voices that will stimulate enthusiasm and investment in community structures. In order to engage youth, adults must understand the invaluable impact of youth involvement. Instead of youth involvement that is strictly limited to task-oriented volunteerism, youth should be empowered to become full partners in the community development process.

Steps to Take Link youth to planning and policy efforts. This can

be accomplished by involving youth in the examination of existing policies as well as determining and evaluating potential policy alternatives. This powerful connection to real community issues will involve youth not only in present decisions, but in future outcomes, leading them to investments that will provide potential ties toward future commitments as adults.

Allow youth to identify their own interests. They can participate in active and equal decision making at multiple levels. Discussion on community issues and concerns will engage youth to consider where their interests lie, and encourage them to seek activities where they can create positive change for greater good.

Steps to Take Involve youth in confronting more serious social

problems. This will allow them to see themselves as community development agents capable of transforming their environments. By taking passive citizens waiting for adulthood before they become involved in systemic change and allowing them to be active citizens engaged in the process, youth will have a voice in decisions that transform policies, make institutions more accountable, and affect their lives.

Steps to Take Assess, evaluate, and update. On a regular basis,

evaluate the outputs and outcomes of youth involvement in community development process/projects. This will help in identifying strengths and capitalizing on them, as well as identifying weaknesses and addressing them in order to improve the overall effectiveness of youth engagement in community development. Evaluation data will also help in gaining more meaningful youth involvement in community development.

Conclusion Community development is facilitated by the ability of

local people to mobilize resources to address local needs.

Youth are in a position to be among the stable and long-term contributors that help guide this process.

Youth represent a vast and often untapped resource for immediate and long-term community development efforts.

As youth engage in more sustained positive relationships with adults, other youth, and community organizations, they will learn that they are valued citizens of their communities.

Such collaborations will lead to skill enhancement and confidence-building traits.

Youth in Community Development

Why?

How?

What for?

Dobrochyn Center

Thank you very much for your attention!

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