YOUTH EXPERIENCES FROM KLAIPEDA REGION MUNICIPALITIES For CASYPOT partner‘s workhop 21-23 March, 2017, Elblag. Prepared by Associated partner Association „Klaipeda region“ YOUTH EXPERIENCES FROM KLAIPEDA REGION MUNICIPALITIES

Klaipeda city experience „Youth are the solution — not the problem! Nothing about us without us is for us.“

Part of a study curricula; In and for Community Part of a study curricula; Internship; Overall organizational culture; Extra curricula activities (e.g. clubs) Tuition fee reduction for active involvement; Joining nation-wide initiatives;

Local and regional policies Discussions and meetings Support for Student Council Involvement in different Committees Surveys twice a year Institutional level

International level Erasmus+ opportunities Involvement in project implementation Encouraging initiate projects

In/for Community Support for Klaipėda youth organization project implementation Provide training, consultations, workshops Klaipeda youth activities opportunities map (marked youth entertainment venues, youth subculture gathering places, negative reputation informal groups meeting space, in total – 200 places) Inter-institutional cooperation network development.

Surveys identifying the needs, attitudes of youth representatives; Decision making: Youth representatives delegation to the Acting permanent municipal councils: Youth Affairs Council (50 perc.); Academic Affairs Council; NGO Council; Forming policy: temporal working groups: integrated investment territory local action group; international project „Gen-Y-City“ local group; Strategic document development: Klaipeda Economic Strategy; Culture Strategy; Surveys identifying the needs, attitudes of youth representatives; Bottom-up approach applied Youth to the city councils Other international project Strategies surveys

Youth representatives involved in Urbact local group: preparation of integrated Klaipeda’s youth strategy which will include the widest possible range of interest groups and analysis of various spheres of young people’s life and related issues development of local action plan.

14 measures foreseen (before- 6) Trough joint discussions and meetings with youth representatives in 2017-2019 Strategic activity plan Youth Policy development programme was improved: 14 measures foreseen (before- 6) Financing increased (from 34,8 th. Eur. to 124,40 th. Eur.) Increase in the budget for youth policies

What‘s next? Application for European Youth Capital 2020 title The EYC initiative aims to strengthen the relationship between the European and local levels, fostering youth participation by applying common European objectives regarding youth policy. Statement of support Help/involvement in events run in the framework of the European Youth Capital (EYC) 2020 dissemination; hosting meetings/forums in Klaipeda in order to achieve significant results while promoting European Youth capital initiative locally, regionally and globally as well as contribute to more active youth involvement and participation in youth policy.

Klaipeda‘s association of youth organizations „Round table“ www. klas Klaipeda‘s association of youth organizations „Round table“ www.klas.lt

Kretinga municipality case The main youth representatives in Kretinga district municipality is youth non-governmental organization "Round Table" which is actively working since 2015. It organizes trainings for youth leaders and workers, consults and advises young people, represents their interests at local, regional and national level. “Round table” seeks to organize and implement projects that are really interested and relevant for youth. In less than two years organization gained the confidence of local young people and now they have great number of new members and volunteers that are willing put their input into organization’s growth and development. ‘round table’

Some examples of “Round table” activities: On September 2015 “Round table” together with Kretinga district youth council organized “The Youth Information Fair”; In 2016 winter season youth volunteers installed free ice skating rink for local inhabitants. In 2016 “Round table” implemented international project ”The new European Citizens” (together with youth from United Kingdom, Romania, Spain, Italy, Germany, Albania, Greece and France). Project goals were to promote active cooperation and communication between EU citizens and to analyse young people participation in the European Parliament elections.

On September 2016 Round table organized 3 km running contest “Colour Party” which is popular all over the world where it’s participants are showered with coloured powder. The event was aimed at active leisure promotion and encouragement of young people to join various sport and youth organizations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvNfhrLIOCI

On December 2016 event “Dream Organizer” (#DrymuOrganaizeris) was organized. The event invited young people to come and meet national “celebrities” (famous actors, inspirational people..) who were telling their stories and tried to motive young people go and catch their dreams, work hard to achieve their goals.

Klaipeda district municipality Informal group of Veivirzenai Jurgio Šaulio pupil‘s Presidium. Project "History laboratory“ (2015-2016) – pupils visited birth place and museum of legendary Lithuanian pilot Steponas Darius (Judrenai, Klaipeda district), Kaunas aviation museum. There was prepared application for project „Path of freedom fighters“ (2016-2017) – pupils' will be fostered to develop and express their citizenship and patriotism by cleaning and commemorating partisan gravesites around Veivirzenai parish.

National example: "Create Lithuania” is one of the best public policy measures to attract young professionals with international experience to work for the public sector; Participants of “Create Lithuania” advise (on a rotating basis) public sector bodies on national and regional issues in the areas such as the enhancement of business environment, the promotion of entrepreneurship and investment among others http://kurklt.lt/en/

Lithuanian interactive youth policy map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1dT4S3fKsbm8nEM1C 9j2j3963TVM&ll=55.1856214643914%2C23.927278270312513&z=8