In the Municipality of Chaska, the procedure for establishing a Local Youth Council has begun. It is a legal obligation for youth participation adopted in 2020, which obliges all municipalities to involve young people in carrying out youth policies at the local level, through the establishment of local youth councils.
It would lead to the development of effective youth policies as well as the strengthening of democratic capacities in the community in order to be active and engaged in finding solutions for a better life. The idea for this kind of youth activity in the Municipality of Chaska is from the non-governmental organization “Activo”.
“The idea of our association is to initiate the formation of a local youth council in the Municipality of Chaska, which will contribute to the inclusion of young people in decision-making, greater awareness, the importance of the role of young people in the municipality, the recognition of youth needs and challenges, encouraging progress and development of young people as well as strengthening their role in society. For the young people themselves, this will be a motivating step to practice active citizenship, to participate in solving the problems of young people from the municipality and to work in building a better future in the local environment for all citizens” – said the initiator Dejan Ristov from “Activo”.
His idea was supported by the local government, which included its capacities, to start the implementation. The procedure continues with meetings with young people in Gorno Jabolcishte, Melnica Izvor and Bogomila.
“Everything we hear there will go into the work program.” We, as a local government, will give them a room to work. We expect them to be actively involved in the adoption of all decision-making processes, which will soon be the work program of the Municipality in 2023. We will monitor the needs of young people in the municipality. Unfortunately, the work of civil associations in the municipality is very stagnant, and therefore we expect this Youth Council to fill that gap. Above all, they should be corrective in the work of the local government” – said Goran Stojanovski, mayor of Chaska Municipality.
The process of organizing young people at the local level through the establishment of local youth councils and other forms of youth association started in 2013. In the period up to 2015, local youth councils were established for the first time with the aim of involving young people in decision-making at the local level.
“As a small and rural municipality, we expect to develop an organization, the Youth Council, which will succeed in mobilizing young people, involving them in various projects, enabling them to volunteer in various organizations. And above all, to network them with other young people from Macedonia. Let their needs and wishes be heard” – said Igor Stojkov, a young resident of Chaska Municipality and civil activist.
In the coming period, according to the initiative, it is necessary to carry out mapping of local organizations for youth and youth organizations in the Municipality of Chaska. But also motivating young people from this municipality to get involved in the decision-making process at the local level, through the local youth council.
“The municipality of Chaska, in cooperation with the scouting unit “Dimitar Vlahov” from Veles, which has its own scouting center in the village of Golozinci, the municipality of Chaska, has drawn up a youth strategy for the municipality. It is already finished. The local youth council will have the opportunity to create a strategy for youth in the period 2023-2027 in cooperation with the civil sector, non-governmental organizations and the local government” – said Lidija Pljakova, from the Municipality of Chaska, involved in the initiative to establish a Local Youth Club.
In the Municipality of Veles, there is a second call for candidates who will work on establishing a Local Youth Assembly. There is no such body in the Municipality of Lozovo and Gradsko.
“Through the Youth Council, the ideas and suggestions of young people will be conveyed to the Municipality of Chaska, so that the voice of young people can be heard. The Municipality of Chaska should be a desirable Municipality for the youth, and also the youth will be actively involved in the decision-making processes,” said Izabela Pavlovska, a youth activist from the neighborhood of Chaska.
The initiative to establish a Local Youth Council is part of the “Alliances for Active Citizenry ” project of the NGO Infocenter, supported by the European Union.
Author: Petar Peckov
Source: TiRekovMiRece
