HOW TO MAKE YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN URBAN TERRITORIES MORE YOUTHFRIENDLY
RECOMMENDATIONS
STUDY VISIT "YOUTH POLICY IN KLAIPĖDA - EUROPEAN YOUTH CAPITAL 2021 2020-2-LT02-KA105-006931
WHY DO WE NEED YOUTH POLICY? Well-functioning youth policy can generate a number of positive results: Helps to identify the most important needs of young people; Meets youth needs in timely and efficient ways; Improves the situation of young people; Ensures that youth issues are addressed in the cross-sectoral way; Creates a basis for cooperation and setting common goals for those who work with and for youth; Encourages better coordination of initiatives and actions on the international, national and local levels;
Provides better distribution of resources to satisfy the needs of young people and those working with youth; Recognises the contribution of young people to their society and/or community; Stimulates young people to play and active role in dealing with issues affecting their lives; Provides a framework to plan the future of young people; Strengthens inter-generational dialogue and encourages cooperation.
YOUTH IS A KEY TO THE FUTURE Youth Participation can become a key element for urban development! Traditionally, city identity is built around cultural and/or historic heritage, thus focusing on the past. Involving young people into shaping the priorities, policies, and identity provides an opportunity to reinvent themselves, or have a fresh look at the past. On the other hand, urban identity can be based on the vision for the future rather than relics from the past.
Involving young people is beneficial in numerous ways: provides an opportunity to rebrand the city, to create centers of attraction for other young people and/or youth-related industries. In the globalised world, cities have to compete globally for attention, people, investment etc. Also, it develops a sense of belonging as young people should be asked what is important for them and what direction of development they want to see in the city. This increases the chances young people will stay in the city in the future as they are already made to think about the future of it.