Innovative practices in Bulgaria
Sharing innovations for improving local self-government
Adoption of the European Charter on Young People s Participation in Municipal and Regional Life
Open Society Club - Veliko Turnovo
Background
The Open Society Club in Veliko Turnovo is seeking partnership with local authorities in all of its strategic areas. Over the last year, these partnership relations have led to successful local actions in support of the young people in the municipality. As part of its strategic objective Civic Society and European Integration , the Club initiated the promotion and the adoption of the European Charter on Young People s Participation in Municipal and Regional Life by the Veliko Turnovo Municipal Council. The project was funded by the Open Society Foundation, Sofia, under the Open Society Club s strategy for 2000.
The Open Society Club in Veliko Turnovo is seeking partnership with local authorities in all of its strategic areas. Over the last year, these partnership relations have led to successful local actions in support of the young people in the municipality. As part of its strategic objective Civic Society and European Integration , the Club initiated the promotion and the adoption of the European Charter on Young People s Participation in Municipal and Regional Life by the Veliko Turnovo Municipal Council. The project was funded by the Open Society Foundation, Sofia, under the Open Society Club s strategy for 2000.
Practice
The project on the adoption of the European Charter on Young People s Participation in Municipal and Regional Life was initiated in February 2000, when, on the initiative of the Open Society Club, Veliko Turnovo, the text of the Charter was copied and disseminated among the municipal councilors.
In April the Club organized a youth NGOs discussion of the Charter. The discussion was attended also by Ms. Emilia Marinova, a municipal councilor from Gabrovo at the time when the Gabrovo Municipal Council was the first in Bulgaria to adopt the Charter. Ms. Marinova presented successful practices from the city of Gabrovo and her experience was vital to the success of the project. Veliko Turnovo Municipal Council s chairman, Mr. Dimitar Yordanov, and Municipality of Veliko Turnovo s expert on youth activities also participated in the discussion. The participants came up with the idea, upon the adoption of the Charter, to form an advisory council of representatives of youth NGOs that would function within the Municipal Council. The goal and the wish of these youth NGOs was to develop a specific program for the implementation of the principles of the European Charter, adapted to the region s specifics.
During the first months of the project, the Club, with the assistance of the Youth Center and the Youth Activities and Initiatives Association, organized a promotional campaign in the schools. In cooperation with the Educational and Cultural Initiatives Center, the Club organized a discussion of the Charter at the Veliko Turnovo University.
Upon decision of Open Society Club s board of directors, the Charter s text was submitted to all chairs of municipal councils within the Veliko Turnovo Region, with a proposal for review and adoption.
On July 13, 2000, the Veliko Turnovo Municipal Council adopted a Declaration by which it adopted the principles of the Charter as the basis for its relations with the youth.
On October 5-6, 2000, on initiative of the Open Society Club, the First Balkan Forum of Youth NGOs was held in Veliko Turnovo. Participants included youth organizations from different cities in Romania, Macedonia and Bulgaria, as well as representatives of the municipalities of Giurgiu, Romania, Ohrid, Macedonia, and Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria. Hosts were: Veliko Turnovo Municipal Council chairman, Mr. Dimitar Yordanov; Mr. Ivan Panayotov, deputy-mayor, Municipality of Veliko Turnovo; Ms. Valentina Murdzhova, senior expert, youth activities; Ms. Velika Panayotova, department head, Culture and Historic and Cultural Heritage Department. Bulgarian youth NGOs included: Bulgarian Youth Chamber; New Design Initiatives Association, Sofia; Youth Cultural and Information Center, Gabrovo; Municipal Youth Center, Rousse; Association of Law Students, Veliko Turnovo; Regional Youth Council, Veliko Turnovo; AIESEC, Svishtov section; Svishtov Economic Chamber.
The Forum adopted a final declaration on cooperation and establishment of a network for exchange of information, positive experience and successful practices with local government in the following areas: inter-ethnic cooperation; culture; science; education; sports; environment. The Open Society Club will develop an information database containing specific information on participating organizations, and will expand the network by involving other partner organizations and by the implementation of joint projects.
The project on the adoption of the European Charter on Young People s Participation in Municipal and Regional Life was initiated in February 2000, when, on the initiative of the Open Society Club, Veliko Turnovo, the text of the Charter was copied and disseminated among the municipal councilors.
In April the Club organized a youth NGOs discussion of the Charter. The discussion was attended also by Ms. Emilia Marinova, a municipal councilor from Gabrovo at the time when the Gabrovo Municipal Council was the first in Bulgaria to adopt the Charter. Ms. Marinova presented successful practices from the city of Gabrovo and her experience was vital to the success of the project. Veliko Turnovo Municipal Council s chairman, Mr. Dimitar Yordanov, and Municipality of Veliko Turnovo s expert on youth activities also participated in the discussion. The participants came up with the idea, upon the adoption of the Charter, to form an advisory council of representatives of youth NGOs that would function within the Municipal Council. The goal and the wish of these youth NGOs was to develop a specific program for the implementation of the principles of the European Charter, adapted to the region s specifics.
During the first months of the project, the Club, with the assistance of the Youth Center and the Youth Activities and Initiatives Association, organized a promotional campaign in the schools. In cooperation with the Educational and Cultural Initiatives Center, the Club organized a discussion of the Charter at the Veliko Turnovo University.
Upon decision of Open Society Club s board of directors, the Charter s text was submitted to all chairs of municipal councils within the Veliko Turnovo Region, with a proposal for review and adoption.
On July 13, 2000, the Veliko Turnovo Municipal Council adopted a Declaration by which it adopted the principles of the Charter as the basis for its relations with the youth.
On October 5-6, 2000, on initiative of the Open Society Club, the First Balkan Forum of Youth NGOs was held in Veliko Turnovo. Participants included youth organizations from different cities in Romania, Macedonia and Bulgaria, as well as representatives of the municipalities of Giurgiu, Romania, Ohrid, Macedonia, and Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria. Hosts were: Veliko Turnovo Municipal Council chairman, Mr. Dimitar Yordanov; Mr. Ivan Panayotov, deputy-mayor, Municipality of Veliko Turnovo; Ms. Valentina Murdzhova, senior expert, youth activities; Ms. Velika Panayotova, department head, Culture and Historic and Cultural Heritage Department. Bulgarian youth NGOs included: Bulgarian Youth Chamber; New Design Initiatives Association, Sofia; Youth Cultural and Information Center, Gabrovo; Municipal Youth Center, Rousse; Association of Law Students, Veliko Turnovo; Regional Youth Council, Veliko Turnovo; AIESEC, Svishtov section; Svishtov Economic Chamber.
The Forum adopted a final declaration on cooperation and establishment of a network for exchange of information, positive experience and successful practices with local government in the following areas: inter-ethnic cooperation; culture; science; education; sports; environment. The Open Society Club will develop an information database containing specific information on participating organizations, and will expand the network by involving other partner organizations and by the implementation of joint projects.
Results
The process of the adoption of the European Charter by the Veliko Turnovo Municipal Council and the subsequent First Balkan Forum of Youth NGOs created favorable conditions and opportunities for the full-scale involvement of young people in public life. The young people were given the opportunity to establish contacts and undertake actions together with youth organizations from neighboring countries.
The process of the adoption of the European Charter by the Veliko Turnovo Municipal Council and the subsequent First Balkan Forum of Youth NGOs created favorable conditions and opportunities for the full-scale involvement of young people in public life. The young people were given the opportunity to establish contacts and undertake actions together with youth organizations from neighboring countries.
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