Give Way to Youth

About this project

<p>Being a young person who just starts to know all the norms and regulations, who is not yet familiar with the decision- making process in his/her country, it is easy to get confused on the roadmap “how can I be an active inhabitant of my district”. Research that has been made shows that there are opportunities to get involved, but youngsters do not use them. Why? That’s what we want to find out and change.<br> “Give a Way to Youth!” is a complex project that includes 11 interconnected activities that will be made with the aim to improve youth opportunities to influence decision-making processes in rural areas of Latvia, so they could feel more confident about their ability to initiate changes and feel that they belong to Latvia. Several project activities directly involve youngsters but the main task of the project is to follow the process of youth participation, to analyze it, in order to improve youth policy in the regions of Latvia.&nbsp;<br> We want that all the paths to active participation in the decision-making process in rural areas become more visible and smoother for young people, so their experience from this participation could make them satisfied and they would like to make more project initiatives in the future.</p> <p>The partner plays an important role in the project:&nbsp;<br> - Ensure capacity building (in the form of training);<br> - Will also act as mentors for the youth groups involved;&nbsp;<br> – The information campaign will also reflect the experience of the partner.</p>

Bilateral cooperation results

The cooperation with the Norwegian partner was highly beneficial and focused on sharing expertise and best practices in youth initiative project implementation. The partner impressed with their extensive practical knowledge and relaxed, open communication style, which resonated well with the young participants. The youth quickly bonded with the partner and valued their opinions, incorporating them into their initiatives. The knowledge shared by the Norwegian partner during training sessions was valuable not only for the youth but also for the mentors. The Latvian team sought to learn as much as possible from the partner, recognizing their extensive experience in mentoring. The collaboration further strengthened the Latvian team's professional development. The partner played an active role in the development of the online guide for youth project implementation, contributing to the creation of training materials for both youth and youth support staff using online conference tools. The comparison of youth initiative support systems between Latvia and Norway was also part of the project, with the Norwegian system being analyzed alongside Latvia's. The Norwegian partner was also directly involved with their own youth team, which carried out an initiative during the project. Members of this team acted as mentors for Latvian youth groups. The project also provided an opportunity to compare the support systems for youth initiatives in both countries. Finally, the Norwegian partner’s experience was highlighted in the project's informational campaign, further strengthening the collaboration and showcasing the practical knowledge shared throughout the project. The partner expressed a strong desire to continue working with Latvia's Rural Youth organization, and plans for a new joint project are already underway.

Project partners

• Creatorium Donor project partner· Norway