Rural Youth Parliament - tool for youth involvement in local communities

We aimed to address several crucial challenges, including the lack of social involvement and limited social skills among youths. Our project sought to equip youth workers with effective tools and methodologies to engage with young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. We recognized the need for better access to best practices and digital tools in youth work and aimed to provide these resources through an interactive Guide and online tutorials. Additionally, we focused on capacity building for rural youth work and facilitating international cooperation to broaden young people's horizons. The project involved four partner organizations from different EU regions focused on developing inclusive projects for young people and preparing youth workers to design and implement activities that addressed youth needs, challenges, and opportunities. We wanted to identify the needs of young people and we noticed that at a social level, there is little involvement. They don't have much to get involved in and lack social skills. The project aimed to address some of the most pressing needs identified at the level of the partner organizations, their staff, and their target groups and identified needs of youth workers.

The project had clear objectives aligned with Erasmus+ priorities, focusing on enhancing the quality and relevance of activities targeting youth, especially those with fewer opportunities. The partners aimed to develop two key project outcomes to better engage young people in democratic life, with a specific emphasis on rural youth. 1.Development of a Comprehensive Guide: The primary objective was to create an interactive Guide aimed at providing valuable information to young people, particularly those in rural areas. The goal was to empower youth workers and organizations with effective tools and approaches to engage young people in democratic processes. 2.Innovative Methodology for Rural Youth Parliaments: Another crucial objective was to develop an innovative methodology for organizing rural youth parliaments. These simulated parliaments were designed to be interactive and engaging, aimed at instilling valuable skills such as communication, debate, critical thinking, and motivation among young participants. The partners believed that by creating these tangible outcomes, they could empower youth workers and organizations to deliver more effective activities for rural youth.

The main activities that were implemented included: 1.Three transnational meetings where partners closely collaborated to exchange best practices and create two project results ensuring sustainability. 2.Creation of a Guide on best practices for transnational cooperation for rural youth engagement. 3.Development of an interactive Methodology for organizing rural youth parliaments as tools for active engagement of young people in disadvantaged communities. 4.Development of an Online tutorial for youth workers to learn about how to work with rural youth, methods and best practices 5.Creation of Online guide with instruments for involving young people in the social life of the community 6.Conducting a learning and teaching training activity focused on better preparation for implementing youth projects and policies. 7.Hosting four multiplier events, two in Lithuania one in Romania and one in Finland, to promote project results and test the designed methods, involving young people in rural youth simulations. 8.Implementation of project management-specific activities and project evaluation activities. 9.Sharing and promoting project results via website, social media, local conferences, local workshops, printed materials, online videos, and through networks of partners from previous projects involving three of the partners.

The main project results and outcomes of the project consisted of: 1.A Guide on best practices for transnational cooperation for rural youth engagement. Learning for integration ry was the leader of the result. The partners conducted field research and desk research on best practices, regarding youth initiatives. After gathering the results, the partners provided a report of the survey and a responsible from Learning for integration created the Needs analysis, based on the data she received from the partners. The chapters of the curriculum were divided between the partners and the content was finalized on September 30 2022. 2.Methodology for organizing rural youth parliaments as tools for active engagement of young people in disadvantaged communities. LAG Napoca Porolissum led this result. The tasks were divided among the partners, with each partner responsible for their own part. The result was completed by the end of February 2023. Tavo Europa supplied a template for advertising the rural youth parliament models, and all partners conducted desk research on the topic. 3.Online guide with instruments for involving young people in the social life of the community LAG Napoca Porolissum led this result. The tasks were divided among the partners, with each partner responsible for their own part. The result was completed by November of 2023. 4.Online tutorial for youth workers to learn about how to work with rural youth, methods and best practices LAG Napoca Porolissum led this result. The tasks were divided among the partners, with each partner responsible for their own part. The result was completed by December of 2023. 5.Implemented two rural youth parliaments in Romania and Lithuania. Additionally, organized one rural youth parliament in each development region of Romania, in ten rural youth simulations in Romania and one in the Republic of Moldova. 6.20 youth workers better prepared to work with young people from rural areas. 7.20 young people from rural areas with improved attitudes towards democracy. 8.Development of a project website: https://ruralyouthparliament.napocaporolissum.ro/ 9.Establishment of social media channels for the project. https://www.facebook.com/ruralyouthparliamentproject/?locale=ro_RO https://www.instagram.com/ruralyouthparliament/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/rural-youth-parliament/?viewAsMember=true https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1mzCompiKFxyh_MZhJwf8Q 10.Formation of a working network and collaboration between the 4 partners that would continue to work together on future projects.