observed by youth publication (english)

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Organised by

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Supported by

Project Observed by Youth is funded with support from the European Commission, airBaltic and SEB banka. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the European Commission, airBaltic and SEB banka cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

LET’S START

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OBSERVED by YOUTH

Aim of the project OBSERVED by YOUTH is to promote participation of young people on local, national and European levels. The project fosters young peoples’ and decision makers cooperation, activities of the project aim to create a better understanding among youth about functions of municipalities and the decision making process.

There were conferences, trainings, experience exchange visits within Baltic countries and study visit to Brussels organised during the project. Information about activities and blogs of the observers of the project are available at the project’s web pages.

At the end of the project, a project experience publication was created. The experience publication was disseminated in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and other countries.

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Partners

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Participants

The project involved around 150 young people from local municipalities of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. 3-5 young people from each municipality took part in the project activities.

During the project young people got to know their municipalities and its structures. Observers wrote their own monthly reports, on-line blogs and explored decision making process of their municipalities.

There were various youth initiatives and other events carried out by participants during the project.

LET’S OBSERVE

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Let’s be acquainted - your municipalityGetting to know the decision making in local municipalities

The main task of the project participants was to get to know the work and decision-making processes of their municipalities. During the period of 4 months young people explored the tasks of their municipalities and its structures. Observers wrote monthly reports and on-line blogs on topics connected to functions and decision making of the municipality, youth policy and possibilities, further development perspectives etc. All documents and blog entries created by project participants where published on the project web pages.

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Welcome to your countryGetting to know the decision-making on national level

Project participants visited national decision-making institutions – Parliaments, Governments, Ministries and other institutions. The aim of the visits were to promote project participants’ understanding and involvement in the decision-making processes on the national level.

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Visit to Estonian Parliament – Riigikogu

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„I got a better overview of how things are regulated on the state level. It was delightful to meet politicians that are usually heard from only in the media and to be able to communicate more freely with them.”

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Visit to the Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government

of Latvia

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„We had a unique possibility to have a discussion with the Minister to exchange our opinions. I have got a wider picture about regional development and future scenarios for my country.”

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Visit to the President’s office of Lithuania

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„The project has given us a lot of opportunities to know more about municipality, and other governmental institutions.”

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Observing EuropeGetting to know the decision making on European level

In order to promote project participants’ understanding and interest about decision-making processes on the European level, there was a study visit to EU decision-making institutions in Brussels. The delegation was composed of 15 people. Only the most active project participants and representatives of the project partners from each country were sent.

Project participants visited the House of Cities, Municipalities and Regions, European Parliament, Committee of Regions and Directorate-General for Education and Culture (European Commission). In all those institutions young people met EU level decision makers – politicians and civil servants.

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„I had a chance to meet various politicians and civil servants of EU Institutions. The new experience gave me a lot of information and developed my knowledge about decision making on EU level.”

LET’S DO IT

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Youth initiatives in municipalities

During the project participants implemented various initiatives involving other young people and societal groups into the dialog with decision makers. The local initiatives carried out by project participants have had an impact on other young people, decision makers and local societies.

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Young politiciansKuressaare, Estonia

The young observers of Kuressaare decided to interview the youngsters candidating for the local elections. The observers prepared two questions which they would ask of the candidates:1) Why have you decided to apply for the local Town Council?2) What are the biggest problems in Kuressaare?

All the interviewed candidates belonged to different political party affiliations. ne of the youngsters, Kaarel Väer, received enough votes and today is serving as a member of the Town Council of Kuressaare.

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Kristen Kannik:“I wish to become a member of the Town Council’s Building and Environmental Commission. My view is of an ineffective marketplace which is in need of repair. If we were to change the public transportation system, the city would become more environmentally friendly. My goal is the achievement of an efficient and frugal administration leading to enhancement of the infrastructure.”Kristen received 16 votes in the local elections.

Taavi Meier:“The campaign came to me somehow. The thought that I am young and can do something lead me to action. I see what kind of living conditions and leisure time possibilities youth have. Current Youth issues include: not having enough available activities and the lack of available information. The Youth Hobby Center should be located in the center of town. At the moment it`s not attractive to young people.”Taavi gained 11 votes in the local elections.

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Kätlin Taimsaar:“I considered applying for local elections because I felt that the Town Council was in need of “fresh blood” and that it could do some good. There are a lot of small problems. For example the youth center is not popular enough among youngsters. I believe a possible solution could be to direct more financial support to the Youth Center through the Town Council.”Kätlin got 5 votes in the local elections.

Kaarel Väer:“I decided to become a candidate in the local elections in order to bring youngsters ideas and thoughts closer to local authorities. The Town Council would then be infused with a young person’s fresh ideas, vim and vigor. At issue in the heart of my campaign is the relocation of youth back to the island who left for the mainland. What could be done to attract them back to the island? When considering the infrastructure of the island, I think the town square and Tallinna street should be built up.”Kaarel was successful in the local elections and received 34 votes.

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Renovation of the Youth CenterPärnu, Estonia

Youth from Pärnu decided to take initiative and renovate basement rooms of the Raeküla Old School Center. The rooms are designated for use only by youth as part of The Youth Center.

Ms. Epp Klooster showed a great deal of interest regarding the youth activities of interest towards the youth activities being carried out at the Raeküla Old School Youth Center.

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„Many young people from the surrounding areas came to help us with the renovations.”

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Municipality as a familyŠirvintos, Lithuania

Young people from Širvintos decided to organize a ‘family afternoon’ in the municipality and invite children and families of municipality employees to explore and get to know the municipality better. Children had a possibility to take part in the excursion during which they were told about the work of the municipality and its civil servants. Afterwards, children had an opportunity to talk to the employees and ask questions related to topics they were particularly interested in.

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„Through this initiative we wanted to give the local society a possibility to get more aware of the municipality work and put some attention on relationship between working communities and their families.”

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Democracy lessonŠirvintos, Lithuania

Participants of the project from Širvintos, Juste and Indre, organised a lesson on democracy for local primary school students. The wealth of knowledge displayed by the 4th grade students concerning the most fresh political changes and local political news was a big surprise for organisers of the event.

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„In the most simple ways children where explained about idea and need of the democracy and ways how everybody can contribute to it.”

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The shadow of the MayorŠirvintos, Lithuania

Have you ever been a shadow of a person?

Project participants from Širvintos decided to become shadows of mayor Širvintos Kestutis Pakalnis. They spent the whole day with the mayor, being able to see his work, responsibilities and actual schedule.

Project participants admitted that the day with the mayor was exhausting: meetings, agreements, visits, meeting the local society, problems and solutions. It was also a great opportunity to get to know better the person who is elected to represent the citizens.

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„I can only imagine how tight our mayor should sleep after such a busy day.”

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Youth opens the doorTrakai, Lithuania

The coordinator of youth affairs in the Trakai region and the participants of the project “Observed by Youth” invited youth from all the regional schools and NGO’s to an event called: “Open youth day in the Municipality”.

Over 120 youngsters participated in the event and got a closer look at the work of local government. The organizers and the mayor of the region opened the day and afterwards everybody had possibilities to visit all the municipality employees and talk to them.

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„At the end of the day, when director of the administration asked me, if I would like to work in the municipality, I replayed: “YES!”.”

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Europe is ours and we care about it!Trakai, Lithuania

Youngsters of the Trakai region decided to organise a procession to encourage citizens to be active and vote in the European Parliament elections. The procession started next to the house of culture and ended in the very center of Trakai city. Big posters and flags cared by young people said: “Europe is ours and we care about it!”.

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„Even those who are too young to vote, care that their interests would be represented properly on European level.”

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Let’s film decision-making!Gulbene, Latvia

Participants from Gulbene actively filmed videos during the project. Within the project activities they created 4 video stories showing meetings of politicians, the decision-making processes in the municipality and also an interview with civil servant in charge of the youth issues. Some of the videos are available on the internet: youtube.com/nextyouth.

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„After the observation activities our opinion about the municipality has became positive. Now we understand its functions.”

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Marching townAizpute, Latvia

In order to promote active participation of local society, during a town festival in Aizpute, Latvia, project participants organised a march with the particpation of a large number of local inhabitants and organisation representatives. This event was the first of its kind in Aizpute and hopefully will become a nice tradition for years to come.

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„By showing initiative and organising events we have been noticed by the municipality as active young people. Together we can improve quality of life of inhabitants of Aizpute.”

Photo: Uldis Dobelis

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Meeting political candidatesSabile, Latvia

Young people from Sabile were active visitors to the meetings between municipality council members and European Parliament member candidates. Due to the upcoming municipal and EP elections, there were many opportunities to meet and listen to politicians from nearly every political party.

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„We have gained a huge experience and many new contacts with people from various society groups.”

LET’S MEET

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Exploring BalticsExperience exchange visits within the Baltic States

How much do we know about our neighbours and is there something we can learn from them? This project brought together young people and youth workers from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia and let them visit each other during the experience exchange visits. During three visits project participants visited every country and got insights into the work of municipalities, implementation of the youth policy and the lives of young people.

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Coffee with Politicians A method for creating informal dialog between young people and

decision makers

Project participants from many different municipalities used the methodology called ‘Coffee with politicians’ in order to create informal dialog between young people and local authorities. The main principle of the ‘Coffee with politicians’ is to create an equal opportunities for the discussion between youth and decision makers. This is possible through provision of informal atmosphere and ‘youth friendly’ environment during the meeting. Coffee, tea and snacks are also used as a nice supplements for creation relaxed and informal dialog. It is also important to prepare and moderate the meeting in a way that both, young people and decision makers have a possibility to speak out their opinions and listen to each other.

Project participants from Širvintos, Kuressaare, Saldus, Gulbene and Aizpute used described ‘Coffee with politicians’ methodology in order to create informal dialog between young people and local authorities. In the following pages youngsters are sharing their experience and results about ‘Coffee with politicians’ in their municipalities.

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The sincere tea drinkingŠirvintos, Lithuania

Youngsters from the project and local politicians had a few hours long conversation they have named “Tea with politicians”. The mayor, director of administration and three members of council came to meet young people. A cup of tea for everyone created a cosy and informal atmosphere in the meeting, so the conversation was honest and sincere.

Participants of the discussion talked about decision-making processes in Širvintos, media approach to local politicians and their influence towards the local society. Politicians were fostering youngsters to take their places in the municipality some day.

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„We were very happy when they invited us to continue our activities together with municipality and welcomed us to all the meetings in the future.”

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Saaremaa CoffeeKuressaare, Estonia

The “Coffee with politicians” in Kuressaare was carried out by the youngsters who prepared the questions, invitations to the government members and the coffee table. The main issues that were discussed concerned the youth center facility, skatepark reconstruction, the politicians’ opinion about the idea of the “Youth Cafe”, the maintenance of the sport fields and etc.

The participants also imparted youngsters’ proposals to the municipality. The meeting has become a tradition and it is a great opportunity to include youngsters into decision making process and create a dialogue with politicians.

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„We think that all youngsters should have the same possibilities to meet with the politicians as we had during this project.”

Photo: Egon Ligi

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Coffee with pre-election tasteSaldus, Latvia

Project participants from Saldus organised youth discussion with local municipality member candidates. Politicians from 8 political parties and 30 young people took part in the event.

To prepare for the “Coffee with politicians” organisers where analysing programmes and promises of each political party towards youth issues and young people. The discussion was focused on the challenges and possibilities of young people within Saldus.

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„We have gained invaluable experience as well as got to know closer our local politicians. Now we know what to expect from them.”

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Coffee creating visionsAizpute, Latvia

Project participants organised a discussion “Coffee with municipality council member candidates” with the participation of local youth and candidates of municipality council members. Together they have discussed issues concerning young people and Aizpute further development. A great work has been done in order to formulate the exiting problems and think about possible solutions.

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„This discussion was a great possibility for young people and future politicians create a common vision about further development of Aizpute.”

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Looking in to the futureGulbene, Latvia

The aim of the meeting was to discuss the future of Gulbene municipality and youth possibilities to influence it. The discussion was focused on employment, education, culture, health and free time. Responsible civil servants of each topic gave a short introduction to the situation, challenges and also actions implemented by the municipality. Every civil servant’s opinion was accompanied with the opinion of one youth representative who had also made a pre-research of the situation within particular topic. The discussion was concluded with working groups and presentations of the possible solutions and future development visions of Gulbene municipality.

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„Young people are not only a part of the future but they are also a part of today.”

TO BE CONTINUED?

“We found out that the work of politicians is not as easy as it seems. In fact they have a lot of responsibilities and they have to be trustful and loyal. Also they have to work with so many different problems from many fields. I don’t listen to the media so much any more – I think better of politicians. The project has the future☺”