Project dates: 01.03.2022 – 31.08.2024

Coordinator: Center for intercultural dialogue

Partners:

Scout Association of Macedonia

Center for research and analysis NOVUS

Short summary:

Youth initiatives, activism and volunteering are one of the key prerequisites for improving the local governance and strengthening all-inclusive and direct involvement of the citizens on local level.

Target group: youth from 15 to 29.

Final beneficiaries: high schools students, university students, youth activists, young women, youth with disabilities, youth initiatives, Local Youth Councils and local community members of the municipalities of Centar, Kumanovo and Strumica.

 

Specific needs:

  • Lack of structured cooperation of youth activists and volunteers with municipalities.
  • Lack of specific curricula and competences and skills of high school teachers to empower and foster youth activism for community-level outreach through non-formal learning.
  • Lack of capacity of youth to impact the work of local governments directly and through LYC.
  • Citizens are not aware of impact of youth initiatives, activism and volunteering in municipalities.

Overall objective: To contribute to increased inclusiveness and society impact of youth for improving the local governance through civic youth initiatives, activism and volunteering in municipalities.

Specific objectives:

  • To strengthen informal networks of youth activists and volunteers, for their outreach capacity towards local governments and citizens, as well as in their monitoring and advocacy capacities.
  • To build sustainable education system in high schools to empower and foster youth and youth activism for their outreach capacity towards local governments and citizens, as well as in their monitoring and advocacy capacities.

Estimated results:

  1. Established mechanisms for cooperating of youth activists and volunteers with “Municipalities – volunteers’ friends” for delivering change for citizens.
  2. Developed competences and skills for high school teachers to empower and foster youth activism for community-level outreach through non-formal learning.
  3. Youth are equipped to impact the work of local governments directly and through Local Youth Council.
  4. Raised awareness for importance of youth initiatives, activism and volunteering in municipalities.