Project Objective
To lay a strong foundation for young people’s social and personal development, by promoting their active participation in community life and encouraging civic engagement. We will develop the ‘Laiks Jauniešiem’ organisation’s strategy for the period 2024–2026, which will be drawn up as a comprehensive plan, to promote the long-term development of young people and their strategic involvement in community activities. This strategy will be characterised by the direct involvement of young people not only in its creation but also in its subsequent implementation, which will provide young people with opportunities to develop their civic knowledge and skills, as well as laying a secure and stable foundation for their future growth and effective integration into society.
Project Target Group
The target group for our project is young people aged between 13 and 25 who are directly involved with the organisation (members/volunteers), as well as young people from Riga, Jelgava District, Salaspils District and Bauska District who may in future become members and volunteers of the association ‘Laiks Jauniešiem’.
Key Activities
- Planning and development of the “Laiks Jauniešiem” association’s strategy and action plan for “2024–2026”. The strategy and action plan for 2024–2026 will be drawn up with the involvement of at least 30 participants from the Bauska, Jelgava and Salaspils municipalities and the city of Riga. The event is scheduled to take place over two days at a guest house, with planning and development taking place through various working groups, discussions, and non-formal educational activities to develop a strategy and action plan for the association “Laiks Jauniešiem”.
- Participation in the “KOPUMS” International Youth Day Festival on 12 August 2024, to be organised in the Latvian Youth Capital 2024 – Līvāni Municipality. At the annual NGO Quarter, the “Laiks Jauniešiem” association will offer creative activities – a badge-making workshop, large-scale board games for children and young people, a presentation of the mentoring game “Conversations that Reveal” to a wider audience, examples of good practice within the framework of ERASMUS+ projects, as well as discussions on REAL participation and inclusion. The duration of the activities depends on the organisers’ instructions and the planned programme.
- Establishment of the organisation “Laiks Jauniešiem”’s accounting and document management systems/operations, to facilitate higher-quality and more efficient administrative operations, which will support the organisation’s future and more sustainable operations by reducing various risks and the time spent on administrative tasks.
- 12 informal groups for young people, with at least 17 young people participating in each. These groups will be formed to promote young people’s participation and involvement in the NGO sector and the work of youth organisations. Each group will focus on generating proposals and ideas, drafting projects and familiarising themselves with them. These groups will include a diverse range of young people, including those at social risk, young leaders and other interested individuals who wish to become actively involved and gain new skills and experience. These groups will provide young people with the opportunity to develop their digital, creative, participatory and collaborative skills, to promote the exchange of ideas and to work together on implementing projects and initiatives. This will help to build a solid foundation for young people in society and foster their personal and professional development. The theme of each non-formal group will be repeated twice: Time for ‘Digital Tools’, Time for ‘Erasmus+’, Time for ‘Conversations’, Time for ‘Photography’, Time for ‘Art’, Time for ‘Leadership’.
Expected Project Outcomes
The project will result in the creation of a sustainable strategy and action plan for ‘2024–2026’, based on young people’s views and needs. This strategy will significantly influence and improve the association’s operations. It will provide a foundation for young people’s social and personal development, promoting their participation in society and civic engagement.
Taking part in the “KOPUMS” Youth Day Festival will provide an opportunity to share examples of good practice from the “Laiks Jauniešiem” association, to help young people spend their free time in a meaningful way, to discuss and talk about issues relevant to young people – MEANINGFUL and GENUINE participation – as well as to attract new members to the activities and voluntary work of the ‘Laiks Jauniešiem’ organisation.
The establishment of an accounting system and documentation management will help to reduce administrative risks, as well as facilitate the organisation’s management and ensure its sustainability, namely, by developing a specific system and operational procedures, it will promote well-organised and well-considered operational processes.