3500 students attend the city of Dobrich high schools for 2002/2003 school year. 1400 of them turn 18 years of age in 2003 and are about to participate in the local elections in October for the first time. The college students are over 2000, the majority of whom are citizens of the municipality. It is disturbing that the disinterest towards politics among young people increased significantly during the last years. This apathy towards the public affairs leads to constant decrease of the number of voting population, hence, to self-deprivation of the non-voters from the ability to influence on the national and municipal government. Presently, none of the 41 members of the Dobrich municipal council is younger than 30 years of age. There are not any representatives of the younger generation attracted to take part in the work of the permanent commissions of the Municipal Council. There is not a tradition for young people to be acquainted to the basic legal establishments regarding the local self-government. There are not any efforts taken for youths to be trained, educated and attracted to the government structures at municipal level.

The practice represents the first beginning stage, aiming liquidation of the upper listed weaknesses in a second stage of the whole process.

In order to achieve the projected goals, the project team organized events in two directions:

1. Organized training for representative group of 49 students, mainly high school juniors and seniors, as well as college students, who show interest towards the matters of local self-government. The City Youth Council assisted with the selection of participants.

The training was realized according to preliminary defined monthly schedule, covering matters of the local self-government such as:

- Structure, rights and obligations of the Statutes for activity of the Municipal Council;

- National Association of the Municipalities in Republic of Bulgaria and National Association of the Chairmen of Municipal Councils. Structure, goals, tasks;

- Regional Associations of Municipalities. Euro-regions and trans-border cooperation. Goals, tasks, opportunities;

- Municipal budget principles of preparation. Importance.

The Mayor of the Municipality, the Chairman of the Municipal Council, as well as representatives of the Municipal Administration participated as lectors.

2. Preparation of members of the trained group for future participation in the local self-government. The young people took part as consultants in the work of different permanent commission of the Municipal Council according to their own interest and choice.

The project team met no significant difficulties in realizing the practice activities. The idea was supported not only by the Youth City Council, but also by the members of the Municipal Council and was realized according to the defined schedule. The Municipal Council covered the expenses for rooms, techniques, coffee breaks and all other supplies needed from its own budget. The pointed participants regularly attended the lectures and sessions.

The project participants showed great interest, serious attitude and attended regularly all the activities of the practice. The level of their knowledge of the nature and importance of local self-government significantly increased, expressed in the discussions and the suggestions given.