- Rural Youth Parliament

Multiplier event in Lithuania 14 December 2023

On December 14, 2023, a multiplier event of the Rural Youth parliament project took place in Marijampole (Lithuania) Mokolė pro-gymnasium, in which 14 active leaders of the youth community participated. They were presented with the results of the project: Guide on best practices for transnational cooperation for rural youth engagement and Methodology for organizing rural youth parliaments. Young people were actively interested in the results created and the possibilities of applying them in the daily activities of the school’s student council.

Multiplier event in Finland 25 October 2023

The event aimed to promote and disseminate two project outcomes: the Guide for Best Practices in Transnational Cooperation and the Methodology for Organizing Rural Youth Parliaments. The multiplier event has had the main objective to promote these two results, but also to involve the staff in the organization for the preparation of the event, selection of participants, moderation of the sessions, invitation of local stakeholders and youth workers. In order to be attractive and a real exercise from which the partners can gain experience, the multiplier event has followed the agenda: a short session with the presentation of the project and its results, the benefits of the young people involvement in the community life, the presentation of the simulation rules and participants role, simulation of a rural youth parliament decision of specific themes related to policies for reducing disparities between different regions, increasing opportunities for young people, use of digitalization in education.

At the event we had young people, youth workers, educators and local stakeholders, as well as one participant from the Learning for Integration team. Young people that participated in the simulation has benefited from an increase in their awareness towards involvement in local community, their role in society and improvement in their abilities in public speaking, cooperation, negotiation and debate. Youth workers have become aware of new tools they can use in their work, they will able to see live in the benefits of such a rural parliament of such a rural parliament and learn how to organize one. Participant organization staff have observed how the event has been a success and learned from this experience! Many thanks to all the participants for being with us!

Multiplier event in Romania 28 June 2023

The meeting in Sângeorz Băi, held on 28 June, served as a Multiplier Event to promote and share the results of two result of the project Rural Youth Parliament: the Guide on Best Practices for Transnational Cooperation for Rural Youth Engagement and the Methodology for Organizing Rural Youth Parliaments. The event aimed to engage participants in discussions related to the Rural Youth Parliament and its impact on reducing regional disparities, enhancing opportunities for young people, and utilizing digitalization in education. This report provides a summary of the discussions, outcomes, and participants of the event. The meeting commenced with a brief session to present the objectives, scope, and outcomes of the project. Result 1, the Guide on Best Practices for Transnational Cooperation for Rural Youth Engagement, provided valuable insights and resources on how rural youth can effectively engage in transnational cooperation initiatives. Result 2, the Methodology for Organizing Rural Youth Parliaments, offered a structured approach to organizing and implementing youth parliaments in rural areas. The participants gained a comprehensive understanding of the significance and practical application of these two results.

A presentation followed, highlighting the benefits of young people’s active involvement in community life. The speaker emphasized how their participation can contribute to decision-making processes, community development, and addressing local challenges effectively. The participants were encouraged to explore the opportunities available to them and actively engage in shaping their communities’ future.

Next, the simulation rules for the Rural Youth Parliament were explained to the attendees. Participants were provided with clear guidelines on their respective roles, whether as members of parliament, ministers, or stakeholders. This ensured that everyone understood their responsibilities and contributed effectively to the simulation.

The heart of the event was the simulation of the Rural Youth Parliament’s decision-making process. Participants engaged in dynamic discussions and debates on various thematic areas, such as policies for reducing regional disparities and increasing opportunities for young people. The role of digitalization in education was also explored extensively, considering its potential to bridge gaps and provide equal access to quality education.

After intensive deliberations, the Rural Youth Parliament concluded with the adoption of resolutions and decisions. The participants showcased their engagement and critical thinking skills while proposing innovative solutions to the challenges addressed during the simulation.

Following the conclusion of the Rural Youth Parliament, an evaluation session was conducted to gather feedback from the participants. Their opinions and suggestions will help improve future events and initiatives. In recognition of their active involvement and commitment, diplomas were distributed to each participant.

Multiplier event in Lithuania 18-19 October 2022

On October 18-19, in Marijampolė, dissemination events of the Rural Youth parliament project were held, in which about 30 youth workers, teachers and other specialists working with disadvantaged youth from rural areas participated. During them, an interactive guide was presented, which was created within the framework of the Rural Youth Parliament project.

The Rural Youth Parliament project aims to help young people, especially those from disadvantaged areas and communities, to improve their skills by participating more actively in the democratic life of the community, engaging in various community projects, participating in exchange programs or rural youth parliament simulations. But first, they must be given basic skills that will help them integrate into the democratic life of the community. Therefore, the aim of this interactive guide is to provide young people with important information about democracy, involvement in the community, examples of best practices, examples of various activities to be carried out and the real situation of youth participation in some areas of Romania, Finland and Lithuania, to develop various skills. This interactive guide is a tool primarily intended for youth workers who will be imparting knowledge to young people, but it can also be used by a focus group as it is free and accessible to all. All participants had the opportunity to download this guide, share it with colleagues, young people and use it in future practice when working with young people.