Kinds of youth involvement in the development of the local territory

1. Kinds of youth involvement in the development of the local territory Description of the situation Promoting youth involvement in NGO sector Successful national and local self-governmental programms

2. Description of the situation • Speaking of the youth situation in the Latvian countryside today's realities, it is necessary to mention our country's historical background, which is also influenced by the current situation and determine options to improve methods of work. • So, in short - Latvia as a country is new, its statehood obtained only in year 1918th, so - it's not even centenary, during the two world wars and the first period of independence, the Soviet occupation and the restoration of independence and accession to the European Union in year 2004th. In practice this means that since the peaceful restoration of Latvian statehood no generation has grown up without radical political – economical changes. • This factor had a significant impact on the character of the nation as a whole, as well as the situation of youth - the attitudes, the world's perception and behavior.

3. Description of the situation • Not less important in this context is to note the features of the ancient history of our nation - all Latvian culture has emerged out of countryside.  • Our ancient traditional way of life is directly linked to rural farmsteads, which are home to one family and related people, not the villages, settlements or towns, as it is even in the closest neighboring nations. Latvians have about 3 millions folksongs and folk traditions, which have been carried on from generation to generation orally through thousands of years history. • They are teaching way of life in harmony with nature and to find spiritual power inside of man to carry on through difficult and hard times.  This circumstance determined some privacy and individualism, as well as the fact that the Latvian countryside is seen not only as a social or economical factor - but it also has a cultural-historical and even peculiar sacred significance.

4. Description of the situation • Demographic situation in Latvia and, especially in rural areas, cruelly show that the population is falling each month. And proportion of children and young people in our country are decreasing each month.   • The last economical crisis has increased negative impact of economical emigration significantly. There is a fact, more than 4,000 people of working age left Latvia for work in other EU countries in August 2011. Around 30% of them are under the age of 30 years, for Latvian population of 2 million this is tragic enough. • About rural areas – for example, Gulbene region have a total 24,714 residents, young people aged 13-25 years - 5094, which represents 20.6% of the total population. In some parishes are only102-130 people from this age group. The situation is similar in other rural areas.  • In addition it should be noted that the occupancy rate is very low. For example, Jekabpils county, which I represent have territory of 90,441 square kilometers with a population of 5707 people, so - one man to 15.84 square kilometers!  • The situation is better in those counties that are geographically closer to major cities, because there is formed an extra-urban villages with a population whose economical, social and cultural needs are realised in the nearest city, and active local community are forming rarely.

5. Reasons for optimism • As a case for optimism I would have to include an interview with a young Latvian farmers family from remote rural area.  • Husband Raitis is 25 years old, and he has two to agriculture and economy-related higher educations, this wife Santa - 23 years old, she graduated from art college. They are raising three-year daughter. To the question - why choose to live in the countryside? Santa says: "In the country you are free - you can plan your own time, work and life. To take responsibility for own mistakes and nobody to accuse. Peace and quiet, a lot of space for creative work and family. We cant stay long in the city - there's a noise, unnecessary stress, haste.“ • Recommendations to young people who are leaving the rural areas and even Latvia? "However, try to stick to the countryside - especially if the parents have already even a small farm. It is much safer and more promising than work for minimum wage in the city. Be the master for yourself! The landlord of your land, your time, your life! " • In turn, the farmer Raitis on to the question, what is the key to stay in the countryside, responding simply: "The key is the land."

6. Promotingyouthinvolvementin NGO sector • A specific feature of the Latvian situation – NGOs take an active part in implementing youth policy. Contrary to the West European countries, our NGOs are not financed by the government – they fully depend on fundraising, EU programme “Youth in Action” being one of the most popular one, both with the urban and rural youngsters. • Local iniciative groups are the main NGOs implementing the Development plans of LAGs in Latvia, involving the local inhabitants of all age groups, including youngsters. • The members of our LAG “Rural Partnership Selija” include five counties with 25 000 rural inhabitants, 29 NGOs and 15 entrepreneurs.

7. Promotingyouthinvolvementin NGO sector • Rural Partnership "Selia ‘involvement in youth activities are following: • Youth project tenders, which were announced in the 2006th and 2011. year. Project does not exceed EUR 200 per project, but - they enable young people to realize their ideas and try out skills in the design and implementation of projects. This limited competition is realized within the framework of an incredible number of ideas - decorated play and recreation areas, organized sports, games, activities, renovated rooms, arranged flower beds, etc. • The annual photo competitions, defining theme is reflected in the rural environment, such as: “Young people leisure facilities in the countryside," "People, events, Deeds," "Practice makes perfect!" These competitions are the main target young people who are so conscious of his life specific environmental quality.

8. Activitiesofthelocaliniciativegroups • Crafts&arts Centre “Rume” in Zasa parish. Officially it belongs to the local self-government. The new building was built within an EU Latvian – Lithuanian Cross – boarder programme with NGO “Selu purs” as the author of the idea and the actual organizer of the activities in the center. • Crafts&arts Centre provides the programmes for youngsters: Work practice; Voluntary work; Life – long learning

9. Activitiesofthelocaliniciativegroups • NGO “Ūdenszīmes”, founded in the former Kaldabruna Elementary School, arranged its first open air hay sculptures’ festival “Hay Days” in 2008. Now it is an annual event, attracting both local inhabitants and tourists. It is the youngsters who are the most active participants. Moreover, not only the 13–16-year–olds but also the 18–25-year-olds.

10. Activitiesofthelocaliniciativegroups • The Sports club “Sliterani” has a longhistoryofarrangingmotorracesin a voluntaryway. In 2010 it becamean NGO andstartedfundraising. • About 70% ofitsmembersareyoungsters. In 2011 its first LEADER programeproject got approvedand a newwell –equippedmototrackwillbemade.

11. Successful national and local self-governmental programms • Youth issues are paid due attention both on national, self-governmental and non-governmental levels. If the implementation phase deserves a much more serious attitude, as to the strategic planning, there is a solid grounding for reaching the desired improvements in the situation of young people in Latvia: - the Youth Law is already functioning; - there are Youth policy guidelines for 2009-2018; - there is National Program of Youth Policy for 2009-2013. 2009 and 2010 have been successful as to the number of new documents concerning important youth issues in rural areas. During the Territory administrative reform in 2009 many small self-governments were joined forming larger administrative unites called counties. They managed to work out their own Youth Development Plans. In 2009 this process was promoted by the following researches done by Ministry of Education: - Criteria for evaluating the work with youngsters in a local self-government; - Education needs and interests of youngsters living in distant or less developed areas.

12. Successful national and local self-governmental programms • On the basis of the above mentioned documents most of the 109 counties have worked out their Youth Development Plans. Nevertheless, planning and reality actually differ. As a positive example can be mentioned the programms financed by the EU Social Funds and implemented by the National Employment Agency. having an of impact on the improvement of the youth situation in rural areas. • e.g. In 2009-2010 within the program “Youth work practices” youngsters could work in enterprises and NGOs with a monthly allowance of EUR 170 and additional EUR 450 to acquire new knowledge and skills. • A new programm has been started – “Youth voluntary work programm” promoting youngsters` involvement in NGOs (EUR 60 a month) Both programms are beneficial for rural youngsters as their implementation is possible close to the place where the young people live.

13. Successful national and local self-governmental programms • On a self-governmental level: all 5 local self governments on the territory of the LAG “Rural Partnership Selija” offer small project calls to their NGOs ( about EUR 500 a project) with one of the evaluation criteria being the level of youngsters` involvement in their implementation. • Work with young people is integrated in all the activity fields of rural self-governments – culture, sport and social care, regular meetings with the local officials and entrepreneurs.

14. In conclusion – some theses on the advantages and disadvantages of the situation of youngsters in rural and urban Latvia • The rural youngsters lack many kinds of education, life-long learning and spending the free time due to the long distances and the costs of transport. In this aspect – the urban youngsters are in an advantageous situation. • The advantages: – lots of free space for implementing youngsters` initiatives, - cheaper facilities for free time activities. Moreover, in many cases sports grounds and halls, premises for cultural activities and social gatherings for rural youngsters cost nothing while the access to them in cities is quite expensive if any at all. – possibility to address the local officials directly, to be heard by them and to get involved in reaching the expected solution.

15. The Main Challenge • The main challenge– an economic perspective that would allow the youngsters to plan their future in their birthplace – in the countryside of Latvia. • The main solution - other than a rapid growth of economy – education and international cooperation providing the young people with such knowledge so that they can create innovative and attracting jobs for themselves nowhere else but in the countryside!