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Youth in Policymaking: Case Studies in the EU - Lithuania

Explore the development, implementation, and limitations of youth policy in Lithuania within the framework of the EU Youth Strategy. Learn about youth participation, structured dialogue, and the role of youth organizations.

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Youth in Policymaking: Case Studies in the EU - Lithuania

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  1. Youth in Policymaking: Case Studies in the EU -Lithuania Assoc. Prof. dr. Ingrida Unikaitė-Jakuntavičienė, Department of Political Science, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas

  2. YOUTH POLICY • Youth policy can be defined as the entirety of systems and measures, aspiring after the most favorable terms for personal maturity of a young person and successful integration into society. Modern youth policy is developed in the following two main directions: • Security of interests of youth in individual areas of public policy – education and science, culture, sports, work and employment, dwelling, health, etc.; • Youth work and participation– i.e. non-formal youth education, aiming at enabling young people to learn from experience and experiment (voluntariness, independence, autonomy). Non-governmental (youth) organizations, local and religious communities, non-formal youth groups are the best to ensure independence and involvement (in decision-making).

  3. The EU and YOUTH POLICY • The Directorate General for Education and Culture, or DG EAC, is the branch of the European Commission charged with Education, Training , Youth, Sport , Languages , and Culture . • Its activities, as concerns youth, are framed by the EU Youth Strategy for 2010-18, designed to promote the participation of youth in society, and ensure equal opportunities for young people in work and education.

  4. The EU Youth Strategy seeks to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process and in society. Ways in which this is being achieved include: • developing mechanisms for engaging in dialogue with young people and facilitating their participation in the shaping of national policies; • supporting youth organizations, including local and national youth councils; • promoting participation by under-represented groups of young people in politics, youth organizations, and other civil society organizations; • supporting ways of 'learning to participate' from an early age.

  5. the Commission pursues these objectives through: • Structured dialogue – to involve young people in the process of making EU youth policy. Structured Dialogue is a means of mutual communication between young people and decision-makers in order to implement the priorities of European youth policy cooperation and to make young people’s voice heard in the European policy-shaping process. • The Erasmus+ programme – to support projects providing opportunities for young people to participate in cross-border projects and events.

  6. Youth policy in Lithuania • Developing the structure of youth policy in Lithuania based on the best practice of foreign countries and adopting the State Youth Policy Conception, the State Council of Youth Affairs was established by parity principle with a view to ensure interdepartmental and intersectoral cooperation in the field of youth policy.

  7. institutional framework responsible for the formation and implementation of youth policy at the national and the local levels Institutions at the national level: Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas) commission of youth and sport affairs; Ministry of social affairs and labour; the Department of Youth Affairs; the State Council of Youth Affairs The Council of Lithuanian Youth Organizations taryba Youth Organizations

  8. Institutions at the regional level: • Municipal council, administration and institutions • Coordinator of Municipal youth affairs –he/she is mediator between the municipality politicians, administration and youth. • Municipal council may form permanent (for a term of the council) or temporal Council of Municipality youth affairs. –This institution has a right to offer advices and express the opinion of the youth when important issues for the youth are decided. • Regional youth organizations unions (Round tables in majority of Municipalities);youth organizations;

  9. The main directions in youth policy in Lithuania: • Youth unemployment –initiative for the guarantees for the youth implementation; • enlargement of open youth centers/spaces • Youth participation and representation through NGO and school councils

  10. Implementation of youth policy and limitations • Seeking to make youth (youth NGO) participation in decision making and implementation related to youth policy real, required the certain conditions: the legal framework and sufficient information • The legal framework is developed and underestimates may real possibilities for youth participation in the policy making in various levels; • The dissemination of information has some problems in smaller regions; organizations and youth would like to have more trainings and consultations

  11. Finance for youth organizations • In Lithuania at national and regional-municipal level prevails project financing of youth organizations activities. • Municipalities pay great attention to providing information to the representatives of youth organizations about the various competitions for projects financing; encouraging the organizations to participate in these competitions.

  12. LIMITATIONS OF PARTICIPATION ins some regions • Lack of motivation • Lack of leaders • Lack of the people working with youth • Lack of finances

  13. KAUNAS – REAL TASTE OF LITHUANIA

  14. KAUNAS Strategically good location • the central position in Lithuania • at the intersection of the main roads and rivers • the country’s second largest city, 309 212 inhabitants • the most Lithuanian city - about 93 per cent of thepopulation is ethnicLithuanian • academic city – 5 universities, more than 22 higher education institutions

  15. Youth for KaunasKaunas for Youth • There are 5 universities and more than 22 higher education institutions in Kaunas • Kaunas Youth in 2015 - 62 947 (age 14-29): • School students (7-18 years) 31 550 • Students (universities/colleges) 38 785 • Vocational school students 10 115 • Students from abroad~ 2 000

  16. Success formula – in cooperation • There are 23 open forums at Kaunas City Municipality to share ideas and solutions with different communities, associations, to enhance social cohesion: • Academic Affairs Council • Youth Council • Family Affairs Council • Business Affairs Council • Council of Non-Governmental Organizations • Child wellfare Commision • Community Health Council and etc.

  17. Successformula– Culture and leisure! • Kaunas has variety of festivals: • Pažaislis Music festival (June – August) • Kaunas Jazz (April) • International Modern Dance Festival (September – October) • Annual cultural events: • Kaziukas Fair (March) • Kaunas Hanseatic Day (May) • International auto-moto fan fiesta Bike Show Millenium(June) • Kaunas is proud of being the only city in Lithuania that belongs to the international towns' union The New Hansa. Every year, Kaunas presents itself at the International Hansa Days by introducing the heritage of cuisine, folk art, medieval music and theatre.

  18. Success formula – healthy/sportycity Kaunas – healthy/sportycity The Environmental Protection division and public enterprise „Dviratai“ organise the Parade of Kaunas Cyclists two times a year (spring and autumn, since 2010)

  19. Kaunas city NGOs Kaunas City hasabout 600 different range of NGO: • ~ 400 sports NGOs • ~ 70 youth NGOs • ~ 50 community centers • ~ 30 social NGOs • ~ 25 disabled people NGOs • Others • Numberless of cultural NGO

  20. Participation in NGOs • Only about 20 – 25% people are involved in NGO*: • Mostly young people are interested in NGO. • People with higher education. • People with higher income. • About 60% of Lithuanians knows something about NGO  • * Research made in 2013

  21. Yes, I was participating in activities before 12,0 Yes, I participate in formal group activities 8,7 I participate in formal and in non-formal groups activities 2,7 Yes, I participate in non-formal group activities 2,3 I don’t participate but I would like to join youth NGO’s according to my interests 31,6 No, I don’t participate and don’t want to participate 42,7 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 Participation in Youth NGO’s: I’m active?!

  22. Not enough informationabout their activities 48,9 45,5 Too much time takes studies/ work 29,9 Don’t see any reason/ no need No one encourages me 28,1 Young people don’t know or haven’t heard about NGO’s in their living area 23,3 22,3 There is no NGO corresponding their needs NGO’s are not attractive 17,4 15,8 Don’t know about such opportunity at all 9,2 There is no organization in their living area Organizations are closed for new members 5,1 0,2 Other 1,6 N/N 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Why I don’t participate in Youth NGO? (percent)

  23. For effective and consistent cooperation between local government and youth in Kaunas city municipality we have: • Youth council which includes umbrella youth NGO “Round table” representatives, members of City council and municipality administration; • Council for NGO support; • 2 Youth affairs coordinators; • Social, health and family affairs comitee in City council; • Youth and local communities affairs are coordinated by vice mayor. • More than 70 youth NGO’s, 38 are united in umbrella NGO Kaunas youth union “Round table”

  24. Municipality for Youth Budget for youth projects (Lt): • 2007 m. - 224 100 (39 projects) • 2008 m. - 300 000 (43 projects) • 2009 m. - 231 580 (33 projects) • 2010 m. – 149 000 (36 projects) • 2011 m. – 200 000 (42 projects) • 2012 m. – 195 100 (38 projects) • 2013 m. – 200 000 (36 projects) • 2014 m. – 200 000 (32 projects) • 2015 m. - 67 716 EUR (46 projects)

  25. Būk gyva, Laisvės alėja!Freedom av., be alive! Pilietiškumo mokykla 2009 Public-spirit school 2009 Naktinis krepšinis 3x3Night basketball 3x3 Miesto sienoms pasakyk „Myliu“ Say “I love you” to citywalls Nuo aš iki mes 2009 From I to Us 2009 STARtuok!STARt! Jaunimo verslumo skatinimas gerąja praktika Encourage young entrepreneurs by good practice Savas – ne tik Lietuvos studentų laikraštisSavas – not only Lithuanian students newspaper Būk savanoriu! Be volunteer! Žaisdamas mokausi gyventi Learn to live by playing

  26. STARTUP OF KAUNAS – exclusive youth business ideas • The program was confirmed by the Kaunas City Council in the end of 2014. • The objective of the Programme was tocreate conditions foryoung people to develop innovative business ideas, to promote business development and contribute to the achievement of Kaunas city. • In 2015 year from 33 applications, 9 of them shared 43 000 EUR to develop they own business ideas. Mostly of ideas was related with production of medical equipment prototypes. One of the most interesting idea – new, intellectual entertainment “Break room”.

  27. Project Focus on Youth (FOY), 2016 Uniting, Informing and Inspiring Professionals and Citizens to Cooperate Towards Stronger Community • Programme: EUROPE FOR CITIZENS • Sub-programme: Strand2: Democraticengagement and civicparticipation • Callforproposals: Europe for Citizens - Programme Guide 2014-2020 • Action: 2.1: TownTwinning • Budget: 7 500 Eur

  28. Thank you for your attention

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