Type of activity: All the organized activities followed the scheme envisaged by the project through the shared road map. This report contains the activities deemed of greatest interest for the results obtained and for the achievement of the expected objectives.
Country: Romania
Partner: Imago Mundi
Description: The first local activity realized within the project intended to bring together youths from different backgrounds and youth workers and facilitators in order to let them discuss the means for an effective youth participation in the policy making processes. Dozens of youngsters, with the assistance of youth workers experienced in the fields of lobbying, policy making and relationship with public institutions, brainstormed on the barriers that incur when a youngster tries to get involved in the political world and the democratic processes, and tried to analyze the reasons behind the constant decrease of the levels of active participation in youths.
Another activity, structured as round table, was focused on the tools that youths can use in order to get involved in the process of policy making: Structured dialogue. This activity has been facilitated by an expert of the topic with previous participation to Key Action 3 project activities.
In the third local meeting, the group discussed one of the priorities felt by EU and themselves alike: the issues linked to migration and social inclusion of migrants. Regarding that matter, they felt like a major step was needed when it comes to the integration of youths, and for this reason they heavily supported the idea that a youth policy tackling the problem was needed. During this activity participants got in contact with the EU Presidency based, for the semester, in Romania, exploring actions and priorities.
Aim: Aim and objectives of the activities are different as follow:
- To get in contact with the topic of the EU Youth Dialogue;
- To promote an increased interest in youths on themes such as democracy, active participation, advocacy and youth policies;
- To clarify the concept of democracy;
- To get in contact with the EU Presidency in Romania: its actions and priorities;
- To analyze best practices, tools and strategies for the integration of migrants in Romania;
- To put the basis for the creation of project recommendations.
Main results: Creation of a draft youth policy/recommendation to be used as an example for future activities and lobbying; sharing of insights, inputs and feedbacks among professionals in the youth field with great experience in working with youngsters on themes such as active participation, the values of democracy and European democracy process.
Target group: Youth workers, policy makers, youth workers. Youth with fewer opportunities coming from rural areas of Romania, in particular, Pitesti and surrounding areas. Involvement of internal migrants.