The lack of favourable conditions, stimulating and encouraging environment and involvement on behalf of the young people in the Municipality of Sopot created the feeling that they are constantly out of the process of decision-making and do not have access and possibilities to get involved in finding the best solution of their own problems.
Among the main instruments to encourage the citizen participation in the local decision-making process was the involvement of the young people, stimulating their interests and broadening their general civic culture.
The project has been implemented during the period November 2005 July 2006.
After the project team was formed, it started the public announcement of the objectives and activities to be realised. A press-conference was also held and the local media supported the popularisation of the initiative.
The Municipality of Sopot provided a room within a municipal building to the youth group and the young people took active part in its complete renovation and reconstruction.
The initiative group also worked together to prepare, conduct and analyse the results of a survey among the young people from the municipality, trying to identify their interests, vision for development and their problems.
After the establishment of the youth initiative group, its 12 new members were presented the principles and postulates within the European Charter on Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life.
Several training seminars were organised with the active involvement of many young people from the municipality, covering themes like Communication skills, teamwork and conflict resolution , Planning and management of local initiatives , Youth participation in local self-government and decision-making process .
On St. Valentine s Day the young people members of the initiative group, organised a disco, under the motto All is love . During the event the students initiated various contests and entertainment games and the winners were awarded with symbolic prizes, provided by the municipality. More than 100 young people took part in the open event, all of them excited about the idea and interested to take part.
Building on their success from previous activities, the young people started the organisation of a new initiative: ball mask dancing event, which took place on 8th March (Women s Day). Many interesting contests and funny jokes were part of the programme, and again there were awards for those who showed greatest wit, initiative and knowledge provided by the project fund.
The preparation and dissemination of the information about these events, as well as their overall logistical organization, was in the hands of the youth initiative group.
Another interesting project action was the visit of the young people to the Youth Volunteer Organization in Gabrovo, where the youngsters got to know each other, shared ideas and practices and discussed common problems. The youth initiative group also encouraged a series of discussion meeting in Sopot, with the participation of the Municipal Council, the Youth Pedagogy Directorate, the Labour Bureau and the Mayor of the Municipality. These meetings created favourable discussion environment, where the young people could share their problems and ideas and debate on the issues related to their rights and responsibilities.
In addition to that the youth initiative group took active part in the Community Forum sessions, organised in the municipality of Sopot, aiming at the sustainable rural development and the improvement of the quality of life in the rural areas through the European Union LEADER approach.
Most of the project activities were supported by the Municipality of Sopot, teachers from the Ivan Vazov elementary school and the Gen. Vl. Zaimov high-school.
The innovative approach within the project was the openness and transparency of the process and direct invitation to the young people to get involved into activities and initiatives, which helped them be equal part of the local decision-making and encouraged them to speak up about their existing problems.
- A pro-active youth initiative group has been formed in the municipality of Sopot.
- The training seminars within the project provided practical possibilities for the young people to increase their knowledge and skills in areas like communication and conflict resolution; local initiatives planning and management; participation of young people in the local decision-making process. These trainings provoked the interest of the participants and encouraged active inclusion of the youngsters in local initiatives.
- The Youth Municipal Council has been established within the project. It takes part in the discussion and formulation of the municipal development policy, together with the Municipal Council, the administration and the community.
Contacts:
Tanya Karakoleva
Municipality of Sopot
34 Ivan Vazov str.
Gen. Vl. Zaimov School Board,
Municipality of Sopot
[Nominate]
back