Representatives of the Rēzekne municipality in Portugal learn about the European elections

Representatives of the Rēzekne municipality - volunteer youth Karina Mašarska, July Tumanovska and youth affairs specialist Janis Šaudiņš participated in the first phase of the youth democracy academy project (Youth Democracy Academy), which was organised with the support of the Erasmus + European Youth together Programme.
The trip to the small Portuguese city of Portimau (Portimão) lasted almost a day, because two flights had to be carried out on the road and several hours had to be spent at airports. The weather at the destination was much more pleasant than in Rēzekne, while at home it was warm, and Portimau had a warm wind and smelled of sea. Other project participants were found at the airport, also waiting for a transfer to the training venue. On the first evening, even before the opening of the official event, the project participants were beginning to chat about the weekly vision, hopes for high success and successful cooperation among the various representatives of the United Nations.
Five intensive days were taken, during which the reasons why young people did not vote in local and European Union elections were discussed, materials for the “Get out the Vote” campaign (Latvia's www.soreizesbalsosu.eu) and measures were planned to encourage local young people to participate IN THE EU elections on 25 May 2019. Young people from various countries in the world who volunteer in Portimau Municipality talked about how they manage their activities at the local youth holiday centre.
In the evenings after working and discussions, it was possible to use Portimau for viewing. There were Christmas trees in the street evenings, and they were full of lives, though the same day at noon, the streets were empty and the shops closed. Among the many artificial trees in the streets were the full trees of bright mandarins. In the early morning, a sunrise was expected at the ocean, and a great look at the city opened from the viewport.
Project participants - 40 young people and DYPALL Network coordinators from 12 EU Member States. During the event, it was possible to find out the experience of representatives of other countries in the implementation of the electoral promotion measures, the reasons that deter citizens from voting, and ways to try to involve young people at local level in the elections and in the national decision-making process. As part of the project in 2019, the Rēzekne municipality will also carry out exchanges of youth experience and events for the promotion of EU elections.
It was interesting to learn from the Rezekne municipality that there are countries where almost every 9 young people participate in their national elections, but such aggregations are not available in Latvia, as well as it was a pleasure to meet the members of the council, regarding such small-scale cases of Latvian society as the reduction of plastic use.
July Tumanovska