Very Important Participation

<< Background >>We applied for this project to enhance youth participation in European Parliament elections, addressing the still-low voter turnout among young people. Despite an increase in youth voting, only 42% of those under 24 participated in 2019, highlighting the need for further engagement. Our organizations aim to empower young people by providing EU education, fostering direct engagement with decision-makers, and amplifying youth voices. The project also supports our growth, allowing us to build expertise in Erasmus+ projects, establish international partnerships, and strengthen our role in youth democratic engagement. Each partner organization had specific goals: gaining expertise in project management, conducting research on youth voting habits, and fostering connections with EP candidates. Through project activities networking the project directly responded to young people's need for accessible information, political engagement opportunities, and EU awareness.<< Objectives >>1.Analyzing EP elections in partner countries: to develop 1 analysis of European Parliament elections 2024 in Lithuania, Poland and Estonia.2.Fostering interest in EU processes among youth: to implement kick-off meeting in Brussels, youth-led initiatives, orienteering games, and school visits to encourage youth interest in EU institutions and European Parliament elections by organizing these activities in fun and engaging way.3. Organizing local awareness activities for EP elections: to organize local debates with candidates of European Parliament, orienteering games and school visits. We aimed to introduce youngsters with candidates of European Parliament and later, to introduce them with already elected MEP, so youngsters would better known who is representing Lithuania at European Union level.<< Implementation >>During VIP project, we have implemented these activities:ACTIVITY NO 1:1.1.Kick-off meeting in Brussels with a visit to European Parliament and European Youth Forum with participants from Lithuania, Poland and Estonia.1.2. Analysis of European Parliament Elections 2024. ACTIVITY NO 2:2.1. 3 youth initiatives to raise awareness about European Parliament elections 2024 implemented in 3 countries.2.2. 3 orienteering games to increase the interest and knowledge on European Parliament , and European Union implemented in 3 countries.2.3. 6 presentations in schools on Erasmus+ and EU opportunities for young people in 3 countries.ACTIVITY NO 3:3.1. 3 local debates with European Parliament candidates implemented in 3 partner countries.3.2. 3 dissemination events in partner countries.<< Results >>Concrete results:1. 1 Kick-off meeting in Brussels with 18 participants from 3 countries.2. 1 Analysis of European Parliament 2024 elections and recommendations to make EP elections more attractive for young people.3. 3 youth initiatives implemented in 3 countries with 98 participants and 15 young people involved in organizing and implementing the activity.4. 3 Orienteering games implemented in 3 countries with 141 participants and 15 young people involved in organizing and implementing the activity.5. 6 presentations at schools in 3 countries with 166 participants and 6 young people involved in organizing and implementing the activity.6. 3 local debates with EP candidates implemented in 3 countries with 149 participants and 11 young people involved in organizing and implementing the activity.7. 3 dissemination events in 3 countries with 75 participants .