Y.C.L.A. - Young Community Leaders in Action

Young Community Leaders in Action – Y.C.L.A. project has as GENERAL OBJECTIVE to contribute to increase the youths participation and civic engagement in the Euro-Mediterranean region, promoting networking and political dialogue in youth policies field. Youths from all over Europe show a lack of interest in community life, and consider democratic participation as the least important issue among the EU priorities. By promoting the figure of the Young Community Leader, the project fosters the positive change potential of youths, enhancing engagement, participation and political dialogue. The Action connects 6 countries of the Euro-Mediterranean region: Italy, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Tunisia and Morocco. The project is articulated in 5 interconnected WP. The 1st WP aims to establish a SYNERGIC TRANSNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP committed in empowering youths as active members of their communities. The 2nd WP aims, through a CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM, to train and ENGAGE young people and youth organizations to proactively promote active citizenship and participation in community life. The 3rd WP aims is to develop a YOUTH-LED RESEARCH to make emerge the communities’ needs at local level in each partner country, contributing to EMPOWERING young people, promoting their participation in society. The 4th WP aims to CONNECT youths through networking and political dialogue in youths policies field. The 5th WP aims to disseminate the project results and raising the awareness on youth participation conducting a youth-led Euro-Mediterranean communication campaign. As results of the Action, a protocol to guarantee a young people’s consultation mechanism is signed by the local public authorities; 180 youths (70% with fewer opportunities, 50% women) enhance their capacities of participation and political dialogue; 900 citizens, 72 local institutions’ representatives and policy makers are reached; the campaign outreaches over 10,000 citizens across the Euro-Mediterranean region.