Youth for Active Citizenship

About this project

<p><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;, sans-serif">The purpose of the project proposal is to strengthen the democratic culture and awareness of the youth about the civic engagement importance and to strengthen the capacities of the OCDs in order to develop their own capacity, but also in order to improve the overall situation in the community. The project will include 25 young unemployed persons from the VSŽ region and empower them through the Program for enhancement of soft and transversal skills and also through the Targeted program for the development of civic competence which includes three key areas (modules). There is a number of initiatives with the aim of improving the engagement of citizens, but OCDs face obstacles that affect their ability to proactive work in the community. One of the challenges is also the lack of financial means the opportunities for capacity development. The project will directly affect these issues by strengthening the capacities and the multiplication of the gained competencies onto the target groups (project participants, unemployed youth, OCDs) of the project. The applicant will participate in the organization and implementation of the TTT in soft and transversal skills enhancement, organization of the informative public campaign which includes a database of good practice examples. Together with the partner AEI Studium, the applicant will develop a Program of Soft and Transversal skills enhancement for vulnerable groups, and the Targeted program for the development of civic competence with three key modules - financial literacy, ecology, and sustainability, EU project development, and implementation. All partners and additional stakeholders will be included in virtual workshops with the aim of knowledge and experience sharing organized by the partner Citizens Foundation Iceland.</span></span></p>

Bilateral cooperation results

The partnership with a donor country organization, Citizens Foundation Iceland, significantly enriched the project by expanding knowledge and facilitating resource exchange. The partner's extensive experience played a crucial role in creating a database of best practices on the project’s website. Additionally, they provided the involved Croatian civil society organizations with essential skills and tools through a virtual workshop, which was vital in achieving the project’s goals. The partner's involvement also brought invaluable advice and guidance, ensuring the successful implementation of project activities. At a bilateral level, the partnership led to several key outcomes. It broadened the knowledge base of all participants and strengthened their capacity for active decision-making. The support in project implementation further enhanced long-term collaboration and development. The project also saw an improvement in bilateral relations, characterized by ongoing cooperation and resource sharing. The donor partner was highly engaged, offering continuous support through advice, resources, and active participation. Looking ahead, the plans for continuing bilateral cooperation are focused on further exchanging resources and supporting activities that promote active citizenship. This will be pursued through future bilateral projects and applications to programs such as Erasmus+. The project workshop was instrumental in enhancing the capacity of various civil society organizations and equipping them with new tools for community engagement. The partner's experience in active citizenship added substantial value, guiding the campaign's success and fostering connections between organizations for future collaborations and initiatives.

Project partners

• Citizens Foundation Iceland Donor project partner· Iceland
• Adult Education Institution Studium Project partner· Croatia