Social DOers is implementing in 2015, under the leadership of National Youth Council of Catalonia (CNJC) and in partnership with organizations from Spain, Italy, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunis, Israel, Palestine, Morocco, Tunisia, Western Sahara, Greece, Syria, Turkey, Macedonia and Belgium, the “Structured Participation in Democratic Processes”
The project is the result of cooperation between different organizations active in the past two editions of the Mediterranean University on Youth and Global Citizenship (MedUni) celebrated so far (2013, 2014 editions).
The MedUni is the common space launched by Euro-Mediterranean youth associations and platforms, together with the Council of Europe, European Union and Arab League support, where the key priorities for youth cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean area are discussed and agreed.
In this context, and in the light of the structural, political and social changes occurred in the region over the past three years, the network of partners do believe that it is mandatory to build capacities of youth organizations in the field of structured participation and political advocacy mechanisms, as well as to improve their capacities to shape public policy at the local, regional and regional levels.
Therefore, the ‘Structured Participation in Democratic Processes’ project seeks to meet this challenge by addressing the exchange of good practices and structured participation mechanisms in Europe and the Southern basin of the Mediterranean. In order to do so, the following phases and activities have been foreseen:
a. TRAINING COURSE – ACTIVITY 1 (13-21 February 2015, Barcelona, Catalonia)
The residential training course will gather together 32 young leaders and youth workers from 21 youth
organizations working in the Euro-Mediterranean area. Given the general topic of Structured Participation, participants will reflect upon key questions such as existing models of participation and how to strengthen youth councils and youth organizations in the region.
All these questions will be addressed through a framework of intercultural dialogue, mutual understanding and exchange of experiences among youth workers. Therefore, Non Formal Education tools will be used to address these topics, complemented by formal inputs such as conferences by guest speakers, institutional visits or associations’ fairs. However, NFE will be the methodology used throughout the whole project.
To summarize, the course aims that participants share good practices from their community or association in the field of political advocacy and participation.
b. Intermediate phase centered in the implementation of local actions.
The tangible results that stem from the course will be cooperation projects designed and planned by partner organizations that share similar needs in the field of structured participation. As a consequence, every single partner organization has committed to implement meetings, visits or activities that are needed to carry out the aforementioned projects. Moreover, partner organizations must evaluate and collect the results of the implemented activities.
c. JOINT ASSESSMENT AND CLOSING MEETING
Partner organisations are expected to meet at the 3rd Mediterranean University on Youth and Global Citizenship (expected June/July 2015) for the closing of the project, to assess the key achieved results and plan future follow up activities. The activity will gather together 32 young leaders and youth workers from the partners’ network.
Moreover, this activity will be a unique opportunity to share the results of the ‘Structured Participation in Democratic Processes’ project with key stakeholders involved in youth Euro-Mediterranean cooperation processes in the framework of the MedUni, and therefore feed into the 2015-16 Euro-Med cooperation cycle.
Expected results of the project
The immediate results of the ‘Structured Participation in Democratic Processes’ project will be the cooperation projects launched by partner organizations, and their subsequent local actions and results achieved throughout the intermediate phase. The expected outcomes are:
– Improved the youth workers’ and partner organizations’ capacities and competences in the field of political advocacy and participation (and in particular, Non Formal Education competencies as a working tool).
– Transferred good practices on structured participation to the local context of partner organizations.
– Increased the quantity and quality of the cooperation activities organized by youth organizations/platforms in the Euro-Med region.
Also, the following benefits are expected in the long term, since the project is part of the broader Euro-Med youth cooperation process:
– Increased the mutual awareness and knowledge on the realities and common challenges of youth at both sides of the Mediterranean.
– Increased the youth exchanges, mobility and cooperation projects in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
