Youth employees of the Rezekne municipality participate in the study visit in Portugal

In the period from 16-19 January, the municipal youth affairs specialist Janis Šaudiņš, Silmalas parish-day centre youth affairs specialist Snejana Suhareva and Dricānu parish youth association “LOBS” representative Janis Jurchenko participated in the international youth participation promotion network DYPALL Network (Delevoping Youth participation at Local Level) study visit to “Youth participation in Rural areas” (youth participation in rural areas) in Portugal, municipality of Fundao.
During the study visit, representatives from Rezekne municipality, as well as youth workers, youth workers, representatives of local governments and non-governmental organisations from Portugal, Macedonia, Denmark and Italy shared their experiences and developed a number of ways to implement more active participation of young people in public and political processes in rural areas of different countries.
During the study visit of the second and final project, it was concluded that it is necessary to strengthen the entrepreneurial capacity of local young people, which would be the basis for the implementation of new and creative initiatives for young people, including the extension of leisure, transport and infrastructure security, employment and business start-ups throughout the territory of Rezekne.
The work of the two-day groups also led to the conclusion that the promotion of young people's entrepreneurial capacity in the Rezekne municipality needs to invest in the education of youth workers - mentors who would be able not only to motivate young people but also to work effectively within the youth field with decision-makers, entrepreneurs and society as a whole.
In the framework of the programme, a visit to local vocational secondary school, youth centre and business incubator was organised, after which it was concluded that the youth work in the municipality of Fundao, similar to the municipality of Rezekne, is still developing, as the Portuguese counterparts, using different types of tools, seek to create opportunities for local young people so that they choose not to leave home in the future, but to stay and develop not only their parish but also the entire municipality as a whole.
The study visit was organised BY THE DYPALL Network in collaboration with Ung Egedal Municipality (Denmark) and the Fundao Municipality (Portugal) with support FROM THE ERASMUS + programme.
Jānis Šaudins,
Rezekne municipality youth affairs specialist