Youth Voice: Empowering Positive Change

"<< Background >>Declining levels of youth political participation pose a challenge to many advanced and new democracies. Low political engagement of young people is an issue that needs to be solved to make democracy more inclusive for everyone. Empowering youth in politics is crucial for building a more vibrant and inclusive society. Young people bring fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and a deep understanding of contemporary issues. By involving them in political decision-making processes, we ensure that policies reflect the needs and aspirations of future generations. Although there are many ways to empower youth in politics, additional attention and specific actions should be taken when considering disadvantaged youth with fewer opportunities or from rural areas. For this reason, during the Youth4Change project, purposeful activities were implemented to work with rural youth in Lithuania, find the reasons for their disengagement in politics, and develop the course of action to increase their political participation.<< Objectives >>The primary objective of the Youth4Change project was to empower children and youth to actively participate at the political level, reflecting their needs, fostering open dialogue with decision-makers, and promoting inclusive democratic participation.The overall focus of Youth4Change centers on:1. Educational Empowerment: Providing comprehensive civic education that equips youth with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage in the political process effectively and responsibly.2. Facilitation of Dialogue: Creating platforms and opportunities for meaningful interactions between young people and policymakers, ensuring these conversations lead to substantial and actionable insights.3. Inclusion of Diverse Voices: Actively including underrepresented groups such as rural youth and disadvantaged communities to ensure a broad and representative range of voices in political dialogues.4. Sustainability of Engagement: Developing ongoing programs and initiatives that maintain and enhance youth interest and political participation over time.5. Policy Impact: Utilizing insights and data from youth engagements to inform and influence public policies and initiatives that cater more effectively to the younger population.<< Implementation >>During the implementation of the Youth4Change project, a series of strategic meetings and activities were conducted to ensure effective collaboration among partners and impactful engagement with the target groups.The activities implemented during these meetings directly contributed to the creation of three major project outputs:O1: Guide of Best PracticeThis guide compiled the practical strategies and methodologies developed and tested during the project, providing a resource for replicating successful youth engagement practices.O2: Study on Youth Empowerment in PoliticsAn in-depth study that analyzed the impact of the project’s activities on the political engagement of youth, offering insights into both the challenges and successes encountered.O3: The World We Want – Policy PaperA comprehensive policy paper draws from the project’s findings to propose actionable recommendations for policymakers to enhance youth participation in the political process.These outputs are designed to be valuable resources for stakeholders interested in promoting youth political engagement and are intended to have a lasting impact on the community and beyond.<< Results >>O1.Guide of Best Practice. It summarized the activities performed in a rural Lithuanian school – Aukštadvaris gymnasium, and in the rural children's daycare center, ""Navininkai”, based on the innovative methodology ""Project Citizen"". In the prepared Guide, recommendations for activity improvement to raise children's willingness to participate in political decision-making are provided.O2.Study on Youth Empowerment in Politics. This document presents a literature review on youth political and decision-making empowerment at the local and regional levels of European countries. The history of youth participation in civil and social movements, as well as models of youth participation in decision-making in different countries are presented.O3.The World We Want – Policy Paper. The Policy Paper underscores the importance of empowering young people to become active participants in political processes, challenging inequalities, and shaping a more just and equitable future. The Policy Paper provides general guidelines on youth inclusion in politics, along with specific recommendations for schools to provide actionable steps in this field."