Youth participation in FlandersIntroduction and workshop

Young Russian Leaders 2 Brussels15 September 2010

Program

• Welcome!

• Introduction▫ Flemish local youth policy▫ Local youth participation▫What is Karuur?

• Workshop

Belgium

•About 10 million inhabitants•Constitutional monarchy•3 official languages

• Dutch• French• German

•Federal state structure• 3 regions• 3 communities• Complicated!

•Flanders• Youth policy

Very briefly: history…

• 1960-1970: first appearance of local youth councils▫ Democratisation and emancipation movement▫ Grassroots▫ Young civilians

• 1993: Local youth legislation▫ Financial means -> local governments▫ Local youth policy plans: every 3 years▫ Local youth council as advisory body

… and present

• 7 changes in the local youth legislation• In 2008:▫ About 20 million euro▫ Out of 308, about 300 Flemish municipalities are funded ▫ Youth policy plan for 3 years▫ Youth council

• Throughout the local youth policy development, youth participation is imperative

Youth policy plan • 3 chapters

• Youth work policy• Youth policy• Financial overview

• Participation• Young people• Youth organisations• Experts • Youth council

• Advice• Local youth council

Members of a local youth council

• In:▫ Delegates from local youth work initiatives▫ Other interested young people

• Out:▫Members of the city council or any other elected mandate

• Attending:▫ Civil servant (support)▫ Alderman for youth

Structure

• General assembly▫ Advices and decisions take their final form▫ Exchange of information, experience▫ Networking

• Bureau▫ Preparation of advices and agenda of GA

• Working groups

Main tasks

• Advice to city council▫ Obligated: youth policy plan▫ Own initiative: anything concerning children and young people

• Local youth policy (plan): ▫ Cooperate, write, advice▫ Follow-up, evaluation

• Activities• Representation

Impact

• Youth policy plan -> youth council!▫ Advice on anything concerning youth▫ Negative advice: no real implications▫ Advice ignored? City council must motivate when advice is not

followed▫ Objection: minister for youth▫ Action! Media, lobby, protest…

Consequences

• Stronger youth policy▫ Youth workers, young people, civil servants and politicians work

together (support for policy)• Involved young people▫ Learning process▫ Democratic principles, citizenship

• Knowledge▫ Structure of local policy and the decision-making process

Reality bites

• Not every youth council is very active or involved▫ Every 2 or 3 years different youth council▫ Agenda: often not very sexy, boring▫ Lack of knowledge

• Politicians are ‘afraid’ of youth councils▫ Pain in the… -> ignorance▫ But, strong youth councils can be a strong support for the local

policy (honesty)

Other forms of youth participation

• City councils for children• Participation sessions ▫ Playgrounds▫ School environment▫ Infrastructure

• Method?▫ Survey▫ Conversations▫ Active

Support by Karuur

• Helpdesk: questions▫ Youth council members▫ Civil servants▫ City council members▫ Other youth organisations

Training

•For youth council members•Civil servants

•About:• The basics of youth councils• Giving advice• Succesful cooperation with

local government

Counseling

•Inactive youth council • Decreasing number of

members• Decreasing interest

•Crisis situation• Conflict with local

government

Workshop (1)

• 2 groups

• Each group works with one (fictional) issue▫ Imagine you are an interest group concerned with the issue▫ Your interest group wishes to influence a governmental

organisation or body

Workshop (2)• 2 issues▫ In the town where you live, young people have no place to go.

They can just stay at home or hang around on the street or in the park. You want to convince the local government of the need of a youth club. Or at least, a place where young people can come together to talk, play games, relax…

▫ Unemployment rates among young people are rather high. One of their problems is that they don’t find enough information on employment or special education or training for specific jobs. You try to convince the government of the necessity of a local information point where young people can get some orientation towards employment.

Workshop (3)

• Make up an action plan!▫ How are you going to try to influence the governmental

organisation or body?▫ Only one action moment

Tips & tricks (1)

• Think!▫ The action plan must fit the purpose▫What is the goal?▫Which result would be satisfactory?

• Message▫ Keep it simple▫ Positive action, don’t get agressive▫ Limit the message to 3 main items▫Make sure the entire action group knows the exact message

Tips & tricks (2)• Style▫ Be creative, a bit funny, surprising…▫ Positive▫ Personal▫ Don’t do anything illegal

• Press▫ Governmental bodies and their image

• Evaluate▫ Did we reach our goal?

Contact us!

Karuur vzwSainctelettesquare 191000 Brussels+32 2 210 91 60info@karuur.be

+32 2 210 91 61katrien.vanhove@karuur.be