Young people with productive work at the conference concluded the project “Learn, discover and create!”

At the end of the summer, on August 31, instead of enjoying the last summer days, young people of Rezekne and Viļānu, representatives of non-governmental organisations, companies and municipalities gathered in a conference organised by the association “Rēzekne District Communities Partnership” (partnership) “how to be a social and economically active young man”. A conference with more than 50 participants concluded the implementation of the Partnership Project “Youth Citizens' Participation” “Learn, discover and set up!”.
At the beginning of the summer, 20 young people took part in a 3-day workshop and learned the forms and opportunities of civic participation, listened to local activists' experience stories about volunteering, local government support and youth opportunities in THE NGOs sector, and also generated project ideas which were then implemented in their own territory. Workshop Progress Information The initiatives taken were presented by young people at a conference, sharing their experience and providing answers to questions of interest.
The final conference of the project assessed and strengthened the results of the project, demonstrates the developed video file, completed project evaluation questionnaires, as well as organized panel discussions and working groups. In compiling the assessment questionnaires, it is concluded that the participation of young people in project activities has been very valuable, not only by educating the subject of civic participation, but also by opening doors to new contacts and opportunities, which were enshrined during the conference – REPRESENTATIVES of NGOs, companies and local government discussed further possibilities of mutual cooperation with young people. During the conference, young people had the opportunity to hear stories of experience, as well as to receive useful advice on social entrepreneurship (Ingona Semule, the social enterprise “Puordare”), the municipal resources available to young people (Guntis Rasims, the municipality of Rezekne municipality) and how to motivate themselves to achieve their goals (Dina Chris, the expert in achieving the objectives).
During the conference working groups, young people, with representatives of various sectors, discussed the themes of civic participation: cooperation between municipalities, institutions, businesses and young people; volunteering; useful leisure activities. The panels were looking for contributing and hampering factors, the necessary improvements, solutions. A brief summary of the working groups: in the analysis of the results, there is a prevalence in all three working groups that young people need an organiser to involve them, speak, motivate, listen. Young people have many ideas and initiatives, they are active and willing to engage in public life, but they have to work personally to create interest and overcome incitement, shy, etc. Any negative experience gained by young people in contact with organisations when their initiatives have not been supported or they were not heard, democrate young people to be civil assets, so it is initially important to create a positive dialogue.
Over the course of five hours, the conference discussed countless issues of young people, the prospects of youth activities, the generation of new ideas. The work group collections will be transferred TO NGOs, municipalities, youth experts and other stakeholders in order to contribute to improving the relevant areas in line with the views expressed by young people.
The project ended with significant results: new knowledge and experience gained 20 Rēzekne and Viļānu nodes young people, listening to 5 NGOs (Latvian civil alliance, Latvian rural forum, youth association club “house”, association “LOBS”, association “ColorActive”) experience stories; implementation of 4 youth voluntary initiatives (idea projects) in local territory, involving more than 40 volunteers; educational information video on civic participation activities; summary of conference working groups (situational analysis), involving NGOs, enterprise and local government representatives.
The partnership is proud of civil-active youth in the Community who showed interest and engaged in the project! To give you a lot of creative ideas for new initiatives and societal actions!
For reference: “The project“ Citizens' Citizens' Participation ”“ Learn, reveal and create ”“ No. 2018.LV/NVOF/DAP/MIC/018 ”is implemented through the support of the Society Integration Fund within the framework of the“ NGO Foundation ”programme financed by the State budget of Latvia.
Project Manager Ineta Elksne