“Coffee with politicians” brings together MEPs and young people in Rezekne
On the afternoon of 23 January, the municipality of Rezekne and the council of the Rēzekne council gathered together to discuss the wishes and opportunities of young people in the political process in an informal atmosphere, to tea and coffee cups, as well as to search for unheard ideas to be done so that politicians could better hear young people.
The discussion included high school students from Maltas, Nautrēniem, Dricāniem and Tiskades, as well as Members Anita Zogota, Vinera Deme, Stanislav Skesters, Rita Žurzdina, Kaspars Melnis, Vilis Deksnis and Guntis Rasims. In joint negotiations, pupils and Members came to a number of suggestions on how to create a better understanding between decision-making and young people. One of the most popular ideas was to let Members feel the “skin” of young people, either by organising joint events (night orientation, sports competitions, distances in water, rock groups), or by organising a “shadow day”, in which rather than pupils “shading” politicians, but the Members could return to the school bench and feel the role of young people. Similarly, there was also a suggestion to establish parliamentary scholarships, which each of the 100 Saeima members would be given to a talented pupil, while this pupil would be an informal assistant of a Member, who would inform the People's predecessor of the problems that concern children and young people.
At the end of the debate, both politicians and young people unanimously acknowledged that such informal meetings in a free atmosphere, where both sides can talk like a similar one, allow a big step in each other's direction and create a better understanding. “Coffee with politicians” was organised by the Latvian Youth Council in cooperation with the discussion coordinator in Latgale region – the association “South Latgale NGO Support Centre”. The discussion was directed by the informal education coach Ieva Garianne.
Madara Laksa,
Public relations specialist of the municipality of Rezekne