Give Me SoME dialog

<< Background >>The municipalities taking part in this project recognize the need for improved digital dialogue with young people, particularly in addressing mental health, youth participation, social work, leisure activities, cultural expression, meeting places, and educational support. Despite expertise in youth-focused initiatives, the region lacks competence in dynamic digital solutions, making current systems static and insufficient.This project aims to create a comprehensive digital platform, potentially through a municipal app, to tackle these challenges collaboratively with youth and professionals. Key goals include enhancing mental health support, fostering digital youth participation (e.g., using the Mosjøen model), improving social work outcomes, promoting leisure activities and cultural expression, and designing better digital and physical meeting spaces.By employing service design principles, the project seeks innovative, scalable, and sustainable practices to replace outdated approaches, ensuring dynamic solutions that evolve with the needs of young people and municipalities alike.<< Objectives >>This project aimed to innovate digital dialogue and enhance municipal services for children and youth by fostering collaboration across professional environments, age groups, and regions. It sought to empower young people, decision-makers, and professionals, providing tools to address everyday challenges, increase mental health awareness, and strengthen community pride and participation.In response to COVID-19 isolation, the project developed a dynamic digital platform addressing:Mental Health: Digital care, counseling, and treatment.Participation: Youth engagement through the Mosjø model.Social Work: Support for re-entry into work or education after dropout.Leisure Activities: Accessible online options and recruitment for in-person activities.Cultural Offerings: Platforms to share and experience youth-created art and culture.Meeting Places: Digital meeting spaces integrated with physical venues.Educational Support: Tools for academic and social support in schools.By creating scalable, sustainable solutions, the project strengthened regional, national, and international efforts to improve youth services and foster meaningful participation.<< Implementation >>We implemented a total of seven key activities throughout the project:Six Preparational Activities:These were a mix of physical and online participation, ensuring flexibility and inclusivity.Focused on detailed preparations for the subsequent learning and training activities.Covered logistics planning, workshop structuring, and implementation strategies.Included preparatory sessions for youth participants, equipping them with the skills and confidence needed for their youth-to-youth engagement activities.Final Evaluation Activity:Conducted as the seventh activity, this was an online event focused on summarizing and evaluating the entire project.Participants reflected on outcomes, shared experiences, and provided feedback to assess the success of the project and identify areas for future improvement.These activities ensured a structured and well-prepared approach to achieving the project’s objectives while fostering youth participation and collaboration across all stages.<< Results >>Our project delivered several concrete outputs and results that align with its objectives:Digital Platforms:* Norway (Vefsn, Rana and Brønnøy): A mobile application designed to provide local youth with access to mental health resources, information about activities/culture, available jobs, transportation and news that are relevant for youth.* Sweden (Storuman): A mobile-adapted website that includes local transportation information, mental health support, and tools for youth engagement.* Serbia (Gornji Milanovac): A web-based portal focused on education, student community, digital mental health support and direct communication between youth school councils and the youth.Youth Council Development:* Implemented the Mosjøen Model in Norwegian municipalities, improving youth council practices and enhancing their influence within the political system.* Facilitated the establishment of Storuman’s first youth council, complete with a dedicated budget and direct communication with local political administration.* Strengthened connections between youth councils and school boards in Gornji Milanovac, focusing on educational support and youth participation.Workshops and Training Activities:* Delivered numeral workshops designed to empower youth with tools and skills for civic engagement, youth-to-youth learning, and effective participation.* Provided youth workers with methods to support and guide young participants effectively.Youth Engagement and Participation:* Involved youth in the planning and implementation of activities, ensuring their needs and perspectives were central to the project.* Strengthened youth participation in decision-making processes at the local level across all municipalities.Improved Practices:* Established new, high-quality practices in youth political work, mental health awareness, and participation frameworks across all five municipalities.* Enhanced collaboration between youth councils, youth workers, and municipal administrations.These outputs and results not only addressed the specific needs of each municipality but also created a sustainable foundation for future youth engagement and participation.