In the Opolskie Voivodeship, young people aged 18-29 have been the least likely to participate in parliamentary and local elections for many years. Additionally, there is a shortage of Youth City Councils (Młodzieżowe Rady Miast – MRM) in this region. Our previous experiences working with youth and conversations with young leaders have shown that they often lack knowledge of how to take action and what opportunities they have. According to the diagnosis from the Marshal’s Office, another problem was the lack of mentors for MRM who would support their activities. However, from our research, only 17% of young respondents believe that the authorities in their cities care about youth issues.
In response to this situation, we organized seminars for future mentors of MRM, representatives of organizations working with youth, and those responsible for creating youth policies at the local and regional levels. During these seminars, we discussed the importance and various dimensions of youth participation, youth policies in Poland and worldwide, developing youth councils, and motivating young individuals. We also conducted training for representatives of local governments and officials on collaborating with youth and involving them in decision-making processes.
A series of training sessions were held for fourteen MRM from the Opole Voivodeship, focusing on the actions they can take, conducting social consultations, collaborating with local governments, and communicating their activities within the local community. Although two MRM did not complete all the activities, consultations were conducted, and a strategy was developed. A Youth Congress for MRM was also organized, providing an opportunity for participants to exchange experiences and promote the project.
Additionally, we arranged a study visit to Iceland for 15 young individuals and their mentors. During the visit, we observed how youth councils operate there and gained insights into best practices for engaging young people. Our Icelandic partner, Samfes, shared their experiences and expertise during the training and workshops. The project was concluded with a final meeting, where local youth strategies were presented.
According to the evaluation surveys, the workshops increased the level of knowledge among young individuals regarding the role and responsibilities of MRM, and local decision-makers experienced the significant impact of these council’s activities.
