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GOOD PRACTICES

Below, we present different national contexts and good practices mapped in the partner countries of the project: Italy, Morocco, North Macedonia, Palestine, Portugal and Tunisia.

In Portugal, Local Youth Councils are consultative organisms of the municipality on topics related to Youth policies. It provides feedback regarding the guidelines and framework for the local policies in the Youth field, as well as for the municipal budget for youth policies and other local policies connected to youth. It is consulted by the City Council while elaborating new Youth Policies and has to choose a representative for the Local Commission for Education. In 2009 the Legal Framework for local youth councils was created, according to which every municipality should have a Local Youth Council.

Since the local youth councils in Portugal are very similar to each other, we are not sharing examples from particular local youth councils but rather general motives and concepts applied in most of them. All these concepts have their positive and negative sides, which have to be taken into account when implementing.

Good practices

1. The creation of a permanent commission responsible for preparing agendas and the meetings of Local Youth Councils

keywords: organisation, planning, frequency

Local youth councils in Portugal have noticed the lack of responsibility for organising frequent meetings with predefined agendas. An unorganised rhythm of work can lower the council's capacity and demotivate its members in the long term. Youth councils in Portugal have created a permanent commission, a small group of individuals who the council members elect to prepare the agendas and the meetings of the local youth councils. This practice has positively impacted the increases the outreach and the potential impact of the Local Youth Council. It has also allowed improving their sustainability and plan in advance for longer processes.

2. Local Youth Councils in a representative model

keywords: organisation, representation

On the level of structure, local youth councils in Portugal noticed the need for more representation of young people from different fields, areas, and groups of interest. Today, Local Youth Councils in Portugal represent various interest groups existing in the community, which are organised and recognised as youth movements and youth associations.

Youth association in Portugal is a particular type of organisation described in Portuguese law. Each youth association in the municipality has a mandatory seat in the Local Youth Council, next to the representatives of a municipal youth council, municipal youth workers, Universities, et cetera. This way interests of more young people with different backgrounds are represented in the Local Youth Council, and different groups of interests can meet and discuss the municipality policies.

On the other hand, sometimes the representatives assigned to the local youth council are not young people themselves, which distorts the shape of the youth council.

3. Local Youth Councils influence policy-making by law and by their composition

keywords: influence, composition

The low influence of local youth councils on local youth policies has encouraged Youth Councils in Portugal to remain highly politicized. Local youth councils are composed of, among others, organizations and individuals which are representing the youth wings of the political parties present in the People’s Assembly. A counsellor responsible for youth has a mandatory seat in the Local Youth Council.

By law, a Local Youth Council has to exist in each municipality, and it has to issue its position regarding the overall budget of the municipality. This increases the possibility of young people influencing the main policies and decisions of the municipalities, including, for example, the budget shape for each year, to make sure that it correctly addresses the youth issues in the municipality.

The threat is, however, that political discourses are copied from the central political parties, leaving little space for young people's own reflection and influence.

4. Higher influence by a formal setting

keywords: structure, setting, influence

Local Youth Councils in Portugal noticed that the informal setting of Local Youth Council gatherings pulls them away from the decision-makers. That is why Portuguese Local Youth Councils are leaning toward gatherings with a formal setting, which gets them closer to the municipality officials. They are organized in a very formal setting.

Meetings of Local Youth Councils in Portugal are more similar to the official meetings of the City Council rather than a students' assembly. In this formal setting, members of the Local Youth Council meet with the counsellor, and propose and consult policies.

This practice is beneficial, as it brings a Local Youth Council closer to the formal decision-making processes in the municipality. It also creates a platform for serious, formal discussion between youth representatives and decision-makers.

On the other hand, this way, a Local Youth Council is a less friendly environment for young people themselves, as it speaks and presents itself in an official setting.

The situation regarding youth representation and Local Youth Councils (LYCs) is very diverse in Italy. As of 2022, no official law or regulations exist regarding LYCs, which means that only a few Regions and municipalities have taken a step towards creating this participatory space.

The statistics show that in 2022 only 5% of Italian Municipalities have established LYCs. All over Italy, these councils have different roles granted by the municipality or by a consortium of Municipalities, but usually, they have two main aims:

to be consulted by the municipality for matters regarding youths
to develop and implement, with municipal support, activities for youths

However, with the very few local youth councils in existence, some of them already create good practices. Some of them are shared below.

Good practices

1. The creation of funding opportunities through European Union programs

keywords: funding

Context: Collegno Local Youth Council has as its core a board of directors of seven people: president, vice president, secretariat and four councilors. The Board of Directors is responsible for convening the assembly, the meetings and for keeping the rows of all the activities that the LYC follows. The Council aims to involve the city’s youth/s and create experiential/educational/playful opportunities. Moreover, by interfacing with the municipal administration and the City Council, it acts as a spokesperson for the needs of young people on a larger scale.

Description of good practice: Due to challenges in funding for LYCs in Italy, Collegno Local Youth Council has applied for Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps projects in order to get funds and to finance their activities, developing abilities in the writing and implementation of projects while increasing their sense of European citizenship. This practice gives the youths involved in the LYC many new skills (teamwork, problem management, and budget management, among many others) and makes it possible for the LYC to have a budget to implement impactful activities. Collegno Local Youth Council encourages youth workers to adopt such initiatives and manage funding opportunities wisely.

2. The creation of meetings facilitation methods

keywords: organisation, facilitation

Context: Ortona Local Youth Council is a non-partisan institutional body independent of the municipal administration. The resolution of the municipal council established it in 2012 and since then has been active in the field of social, cultural and territorial youth policies through the free participation of young people aged between 15 and 35.

Good Practice: Due to the inefficiency of unorganized meetings, Ortona Local Youth Council has resorted to facilitators with skills in moderating dialogue during sessions and meetings, especially with municipalities and officials. The council has also been resorting to minutes and templates to organize meeting needed information and action steps. Facilitators can also be selected and trained by council members.

3. How to adapt activities based on extraordinary conditions

keywords: influence, composition

Context: In July 2019, Ragusa Local Youth Council took office with more than 15 representatives of cultural, political and sports youth associations. The members of the Council managed to create a new and wide statute that was approved in December 2020 by the City Council. The regulation redefines the powers of the body and provides:

The election of a president and a vice president, both chosen among the youths (previously the Council was chaired by the Mayor or their delegate).
Greater clarity of the criteria for membership.
A procedure for convening the body in case of urgency and necessity (for proven reasons, you can convene the consultation three days before instead of the usual ten).
Duration (2 years), age (between 16 and 35) the commitment of the Administrations, on Council's request, to allocate a fund to be allocated to initiatives and activities related to youth policies.
Extension, in the composition, also to a representative of students of public universities in the City of Ragusa (in addition to the already present students of middle schools and high schools and training schools).

The result is a more inclusive but also more incisive Consultation.

Good practice:

In the period of the pandemic, the Consulta has carried on its online activities, as several messages and appeals to responsibility and the Contest #ragusatavola, an initiative in support of restaurants in Ragusa that were living, like all local activities, a very difficult phase due to closures; The Graduation Day of graduates from Ragusa: designed in 2020, to celebrate the students who had earned a degree in video conferencing because of the lockdown, it was decided to propose it year after year, to celebrate all those who have achieved this goal. Every year, in the splendid setting of the Castle of Donnafugata, the new graduates, divided into groups, report on their university career and on the topic chosen for their thesis, receiving from the hands of Mayor a certificate of participation. There are always many degrees obtained at numerous Italian universities in the most varied courses of study, very often with themes related to the territory, and so much emotion for each of them and for all the family members present.

4. The creation of strong relations with local authorities

keywords: structure, setting, influence

Context:
Alpignano Local Youth Council has been considered among the leading councils in Italy since 2019. The board of directors is composed of a president, vice-president, treasurer and two councillors elected with every municipal mandate (every five years). The LYC is open to youths between 13 and 29 years old, divided into pre-council (13-16 years old) and council (over 16 years old). Those in pre-council cannot vote for changes in the regulation nor be elected to the board of directors.

Good practice:
The Local Youth Council of Alpignano, since its creation, and particularly since the last local elections (2020), has seen a stronger working relationship with the elected officials (Mayor and city councillors). The president of the LYC, and in some instances, other board members, have been participating in working meetings and bilateral meetings with specific policy portfolio holders when new initiatives and projects are brought forward. The municipality offers these practices and opportunities to bring their proposals forward, not only in matters that directly regard youth policies. As a result, this practice has contributed to local policy developments ensuring a broader youth perspective.

5. The provision of a supportive working environment

keywords: consultation, stakeholders

Context:

Almese Local Youth Council is a small group of young people who want to create change in an artistic and entertaining way. The council offers opportunities and spaces to other young people in our territory (not only) to have fun but also to express themselves and to reflect on deeper issues through meetings, events and other ways, even interactive.

Good practice:

The Local Youth Council of Almese recommends ensuring a dedicated and self-managed space with proper spaces. It can be used for multiple purposes, including conferences, social dinners, networking events, parties, game nights, podcast and music recordings and production. In this regard, they became a reference point for other LYCs in the area for their excellent working relations with the local elected officials. The space is sometimes used by other NGOs working in the cultural and social fields. A supportive working environment is every member's responsibility to bring positive energy, and ideas to improve the functional space.

One of the most important kinds of support young people need to be effectively engaged is a home base – a place where they find stability in the staff and the surroundings and where they can work separately or with others. The council has also been working on providing a creative way to bring new expertise to the table. Many youth councils struggle to find a director with both policy and youth development skills. To compensate, youth councils may bring in additional staff or utilize available resources to provide the missing elements.

6. The consultation and representation of youth in decision-making spaces

keywords: consultation, stakeholders

Context:

Pozzallo Local Youth Council is a small entity with higher dreams and ambitions. It was created to give space to young people, the future of society, and proudly continues to move forward, thanks to the perseverance and constancy of the whole team. Many initiatives were implemented by the Youth Council of Pozzallo, under the patronage of the Municipality and with the collaboration of active citizens.

Good practice:

The Local Youth Council has been more than ever involving youngsters in the community to speak up and take part in decisions. The council has started conducting consultation processes with young people in their community in order to identify their needs. It has representation, partnership or formal contact with other public bodies with responsibilities in youth matters besides the respective City Council. The council also spotlights youngsters’ opinions and creative ideas on media outlets and among stakeholders. As a result, it paved the way for youth to trust the council and remain engaged.

7. The creation of media outlets for information dissemination and opportunities

keywords: funding, dissemination, engagement

Context:

Sant'Olcese Local Youth Council is a structure regulated by a statute, a board of directors elected through free elections, proposals to the city council and organization of social and cultural promotion events.

Good practice:

The Local Youth Council has resorted to innovative media mechanisms to keep the council members, youth workers, and stakeholders more informed and engaged. For example, the council has started disseminating newsletters on a monthly/bi-weekly basis. Besides that, the council invites youth and members to participate in social campaigns, documentary productions, and a community group to create a network. The council constantly shares opportunities and ways for youth to engage. Disseminating news and updates strengthens the trust of stakeholders and attracts donors.

The Law on Youth Participation and Youth policies adopted in January 2020 regulates Local Assemblies of Youth. The Assembly of Youth is expected to consist of representatives of the youth organizations, organizations for youth and youth umbrella organizations.

To support the creation of local youth councils, the Agency of Youth and Sports, together with the OSCE - Mission to Skopje developed a Manual for Local Youth Councils. Based on it, the local youth council in the Municipality of Skopje has been created. However, the first youth council in North Macedonia was established even before the official law in 2013 at the Municipality of Shtip.

The local youth councils in North Macedonia have an advisory and advocacy role in the municipalities within the scope of youth issues and policies. The representatives of the local youth council have the right to: initiate, participate in and provide feedback on the local process of development of youth strategy and other policies, perform other advisory and advocacy activities in accordance with the law, can submit information to the municipalities about the issues related to youth.

Context

Shtip Local Youth Council is a voluntary, non-profit, non-governmental Association. The Mission is to prepare and inspire the new generation of global youth for constructive engagement and empowerment for sustainable future in the service of humanity through collaborative partnership, educational & cultural exchange, advocacy, and volunteerism in an atmosphere of tolerance, shared values, cooperation and mutual understanding.

Good practices

1. The creation of activities with the leadership of new council volunteers

keywords: funding

Description of good practice:

The council has inspired members and youth in the community to take leadership in initiatives. Shtip has provided large spaces for the community members to get a space where they lead and coordinate activities, which was required to boost confidence and increase civic engagement interest.

For example, the Local Youth Council and its associates organized an activity where young people could give ideas and proposals for recreational trails to be built in the Municipality of Shtip on International Student Day in 2016. The main idea was to create a bike path where young people would have the opportunity to spend their free time. The mapped paths were later submitted to the respective institutions. The initiative was accepted, and after a certain period, construction started. Today, young people in Shtip have a 7 km long bicycle path where they can recreate and spend their free time.

In the summer of 2016, the council had an activity where they organized roundtable discussions discussion with various groups of young people to hear their opinions on what their needs are and how the youth council can help them. They realized that youth were learning critical thinking skills and provided recommendations for social issues. Some asked to lead similar discussions, and the council was more than eager to give them the space to do so. Among the ideas concluded was the creation of the Athletic Opportunity Initiative. It consists of workshops where there was an open call to all young people who want to contribute to planning a route where a trail could be made. Once all members had a good group of volunteers, they split into groups depending on their interests. The groups then worked with youth council members and employees in the municipality to plot routes on aerial maps. Based on these activities, everyone could write a civil initiative and deliver it to the municipality council for examination in their next session. This activity resulted in the city gaining a 5km trail along the Bargala river that all age groups widely use. It has become a hub for people who want to jog, bike, walk their pets, or walk in the refreshing summer evenings. Since it follows along a winding river, it is surrounded by nature, making the air much cleaner and more pleasant than in the city. This also brought the youth of the city and the council closer, as it showed a willingness to hear their opinions, work with them to brainstorm possible solutions, and have the power to make significant changes.

2. Dissemination of results

keywords: dissemination

Description of good practice:

A great challenge for volunteer work in the Youth Council of Shtip was making a strategy for dissemination and putting it into practice. There was an adequate way of promoting the implemented activities to keep the constant and circular flow of information for the general public. A promotion strategy was also created for social media with which different topics were published twice weekly. There were different persons involved in this online promotion who were able to help to promote the activities further. As a body representing the youth, representatives of the local youth council appeared at least once monthly on regional and national television. We also organized free days during which the local youth could get informed about the work of the Local Youth Council, and there were also flyers given out often for its promotion. In this way, the Youth Council became a relevant body representing young people locally and nationally.

3. Involving more young people in the work of the Youth Council

keywords: membership, outreach

Description of good practice:

Due to the work limitations of the Youth Council, allowing only nine delegates chosen by the Council of the Municipality, one of the bigger projects implemented was involving more outside persons for voluntary work. With this, there was an open call for volunteers, with which the number of youth jumped to over 250 young people involved. Involving these young people pushed the Council to create new work teams working on different topics in different sectors. This helped to raise interest in the Council and involve many more young people in the decision-making process. With this, the Youth Council became a relevant body known for the number of young people involved.

4. Core work with institutions connected to youth

keywords: advocacy, representation, network

Description of good practice:

Based on the initiative of the Youth Council, memorandums were concluded with all of the middle and high schools and the University on a local level, nearly with all organizations which work with young people on a local scale and the “Home for Youth” institution. This raised the promotion of positive practices for cooperation. All youth institutions opened their doors, and with that, the young people started to feel as if they were finally a part of these institutions. These places also helped to promote the activities of the Youth Council. In this way, the Youth Council strengthened its role as a representative of young people on a local scale.

Local youth councils in Morocco are organizations that aim to empower young people to participate in the decision-making processes and the development of their communities. These councils serve as a platform for youth to express their opinions, ideas and concerns and to work with local government and other organizations to address issues affecting them.

The local youth councils are usually comprised of elected representatives from the youth population who work to promote youth engagement in community development projects and activities. They also serve as a link between young people and the local authorities and work to ensure that the needs and views of young people are taken into account in the planning and implementing of local policies and initiatives.

The role of local youth councils in Morocco is crucial in promoting youth participation and leadership and in addressing the social, economic and political challenges facing young people in the country. Through their activities, they also contribute to developing a culture of civic engagement and social responsibility among young Moroccans.

Good practices in the local youth council in Taroudant, Morocco

1. The creation of “Frame of Reference for the Creation of a Local Youth Council"

keywords: establishment

Context:

The formation of a local youth council in Taroudant in 2021 was the focus of a recent meeting at the headquarters of the city's collective council with the aim of strengthening the capacities of young people, enhancing their participation in building, monitoring and evaluating local public policies, and integrating them into local advisory bodies. The collective council of Taroudant submitted a petition by the association "Amodou Workshops Without Borders" regarding forming a local youth council in Taroudant.

Good practice:

According to the local council, the establishment of this youth body envisaged expanding and generalizing the participation of young people in quantity and quality in local development, and making the Local Youth Council an effective mechanism to ensure the participation of young people along with civil society organizations in the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the group's programs, as well as increasing the percentage of communication.

In order to expedite the implementation of this initiative, a delegation of young people from the association "Amodo Workshops Without Borders" in coordination with youth in the local council presented a guide on the "Frame of Reference for the Creation of a Local Youth Council". This guide served as a positive step to encouraging the growth and the formation of the local youth council in Taroudant, instill reliability among the community to trust the council, and bridge pathways for youth in the community to engage and contribute in public affairs.

The guide has been uploaded in Arabic (via this link) with more than 1000 downloads since 2021.

2. The launch of “Youth Council: Citizenship Space and Capacity Support” project

keywords: capacity-building, participation

In 2016, The local youth council in Taroudant, in partnership with the municipality, launched this project as a way to strengthen young people's capacities for advocacy and participation and implement and evaluate domestic public policies in line with civil society's constitutional roles. The project is considered as a good practice as it:

developed mechanisms for youth participation in the implementation and development of collective action programs;
kept up with the constitutional curriculum for the advancement of youth;
advanced the continuous training on citizenship, rights, governance, and participation mechanisms; strengthened community and elected democracy frameworks;
prepared youth for legislative elections in 2016.

This project included series of trainings to council members as well the citizens in Taroudant. Consequently, it impacted more than 80 participants and paved the way for positive results. This project has expanded and mainstreamed young people's participation in local development and integration in public life. It also ensured the participation of youth and civil society and increased the knowledge balance of project beneficiaries on citizenship topics and rights, governance, and political participation. Finally, the project has supported the increase the level of communication between the Taroudant City Collective Council, community, and youth.

3. The adoption of participatory approach to include all audiences in impacting the community

Good practices in the local youth council in Agadir, Morocco

Context: Agadir Youth Council formed as part of the Capacity Building Project young people of the city of Agadir, carried out by the association ILIGH for development and cooperation in partnership with the Programme Concerté Maroc PCM in 2010. The CJA is a space of right to expression on issues concerning youth issues and local development, a space for strengthening the organizational capacities of young people and their skills in local development with a view to effective participation through projects dedicated to youth.

keywords: participatory approach, inclusion

Among the good practices that the local youth council in Agadir has worked brilliantly in, is the adoption of a holistic, participatory approach and including of different targets in civic engagement. Target audiences include youth from rural areas in Agadir, youth with disabilities, students, activists, and council members. The council has created holistic programs in which these targets engage with experts, decision-makers, and municipality mayors.

To engage youth in disadvantaged areas with experts, organizations, and international communities, the council has created Youth Radio to provide the space for the target audience to exchange perspectives and ideas, share youth-related challenges, and speak up about policy issues. The youth council radio has been a great source for a deeper understanding of the community needs, including interested youth in projects related to those needs, and take action accordingly.

To engage youth from rural areas in the Souss Massa region, the youth council launched Tifawt Program, which is a 6-month program that aims to train and support youth passionate about entrepreneurship. This program impacted more than 20 young entrepreneurs to solve local issues and, therefore, become members of the council. Youth in the region got introduced to entrepreneurship and opportunities for exchange and networking.

Good practices in the local youth council in Assilah, Morocco

Context: Assilah Youth Council was formed in 2020 by the Mediterranean Youth Forum, the Collective Council of Assilah City, and youth in the region with the aim of establishing civic youth participation and promoting local governance in a participatory and democratic approach. The council is composed of 200 active members and 6 in the executive board. The council is a youth-led entity where it coordinates with the municipality and the community in the region for the common good.

4. Focus on the youth Assilah District Forum and Partnerships

keywords: multistakeholderism, partnerships

The council’s strategic use of partnerships has helped increase its capacity and financial sustainability and allowed it to develop a high level of community investment and integration. From the beginning, the council established a working committee of business leaders, municipal officials, and religious and community leaders to provide guidance and start-up resources, such as office space, computers, and stationery. While the council is independent, it has established partnerships with multiple stakeholders, including local youth organizations, local officials, international development organizations, and local NGOs. Through these inclusive outreach efforts, in addition to awareness-building activities, the council has cultivated a sense of ownership and agency with local youth, fueled by high spirits of volunteerism. Through their strategic partnerships, the council has increased its financial sustainability, as many partners have also become donors. One of the council’s key donors, the Council of Europe, provides funding for training, leadership development, and technical assistance, in addition to being active and engaged youth supporters.

Good practices in the local youth council in Tetouan, Morocco

Context: Tetouan Youth Council was formed in 2017 by young students in the region and the municipality of Tetouan. Youth in the district have noticed little participation of the people in the elaboration of recommendations for policy issues and decided to form the council to gather their voices, ideas, and connect them with decision makers and stakeholders. The council has contributed to instilling the trust to local youth council across Morocco and encouraged existing ones to operate effectively.

5. Focus on Council’s Composition Carefully

keywords: influence, composition

Tetouan Youth Council has been a source of inspiration for existing and emerging youth councils in the region for their constant focus on council’s composition. They believe that it’s very important for young people with different perspectives from different neighborhoods to meet and give ideas. They have adopted and recommended the following:

Select a manageable size for the youth council.
Balance the desire to represent all schools, neighborhoods and districts with the need to manage size and cost.
Determine a term length that creates a steady stream of youth leaders.
Carefully consider the age range of youth members. (Recommended starting from the age of 16)

The purpose of local youth councils in Palestine is to empower youth capabilities and increase their participation in decision-making centres to create positive changes in local society.

There are two models of local youth councils in Palestine. The first model is called youth councils and is formed through elections in three stages: affiliation with the General Authority, candidacy and electoral campaigning finished with the elections.

The second model is called pioneering youth and is formed through volunteering and selections in five stages. It starts with signing an agreement with the Municipality, which is followed by opening a public call to create youth councils. Contracts with an employee responsible for the coordination of the group are signed. In the next step, an internal committee is created, and 15 boys and girls are selected. Finally, the coordinator, committee and freshly selected members agree on their internal plans and methods of cooperation and start to work together.

Good practices

1. Launch the “Preserve heritage and promoting their permanent presence initiative

keywords: activities, team building

Context: The Al-Ubeidiya council consists of a group of 26 males and females. The group carries out several different activities that serve the local community. The council believes that young people want and deserve a voice in their communities. City officials make decisions that affect youth on a daily basis. Yet young people often have no direct role in shaping or influencing local policies and programs.

Description of good practice:

Israeli occupation's attempts to diminish the Palestinian identity, lands and heritage have driven the youth council to take steps in conflicted areas. The necessity to educate the new generation about its rights and history has also driven the council to work on raising the awareness of the new generation about the importance of preserving cultural heritage, encouraging voluntary work, promoting the culture of walking and learning about historical places, encouraging participants to document historical places, and highlighting archaeological and natural sites within social media platforms.

Among the activities, the council has engaged in with the community was a visit to the Shrine of the Prophet Musa. During the visit, the local youth council members cleaned the place and repaired the existing damage. An educational tour about the place, its history and importance for the Palestinian history and culture was conducted. As a result, members of the Local Youth Council managed to connect a beneficial visit for the local society with leisure time for its participants and educational sightseeing. The activity encouraged other existing local youth councils to operate in the conflicted period

2. Launch the “Woodshaper” Initiative

keywords: organisation, facilitation

Context: The Halhoul Local Youth Council was formed for youth and invest their energies in the right direction. It consists of males and females aged (18-30 years old). They are a creative entrepreneurial volunteer network offering a range of youth activities and community initiatives. They are looking forward to a peaceful world by helping each other to join forces to create a better future for all groups and a distinct city.

3. Launch the “Athletic unloading day” Initiative

keywords: local action

Context: The Samu' Local Youth Council was formed in 2013. It consists of 15 young men and women aged (16- 29 years old). Its main objectives are the institutionalization of youth work at the local level, the participation of youth in decision-making, and seeking to recognize this work locally and internationally. This group is selected every 2 years with a participatory methodology.

Good practice:

The council has worked on targeting literacy and came out with innovative initiative to increase civic engagement among young people and their willingness to get back to their studies. Many students drop out of school due to school pressures as a result of traditional teaching methods, as well as because of the the lack of students' knowledge of the importance of sports for their mental and physical health.

The activities ranged from going to two different schools and entertaining students who dropped and those who haven’t attended yet. All the activities were implemented with non-formal educational approach. It included creative activities, group team building and workshops with youth on the importance of extracurricular education. The programme lasted 3 months and many young people benefited from the initiative.

As a result, local youth have learned neew skills and some got back to their studies., Part of the participants decided to continue the collaboration with the council and launch a similar initiative in other districts. Despite the ongoing conflict and the difficulty in attending schools, the beneficiaries showed passion and interested in making the most of the opportunity.

4. Launch the “Civil and Social Peace” Initiative

keywords: local action, peace building

Context:

The Dheisheh Local Youth Council consists of a group of youth (males and females 18-30 years old). They work on implementing several different activities and initiatives that aim to improve the situation of youth in the Palestinian Society and increasing their knowledge and skills.

Good practice:

The local council has been up to date with the civil society landscape and issues targeting youth and children. With the increasing violence in Dheisheh district and the use of devices that generate violence among youth, the council launched the “Civil and Social Peace” initiative with aim to spread peaceful approach among citizens and keep society from disintegrating. The council, with the support of the municipality and other local organizations, held several different workshops with children in summer camps and schools on this topics. Over 150 students (males and females) were trained on peaceful language and approach. As a result, the council was able to spread the values of peace and build the awareness of the local generation on the importance of community, tolerance and cooperation.

5. Launch the “Awareness about cybercrime” program

keywords: local action, e-advocacy

Context:

The Dura Local Youth Council works under the umbrella of Dora's Municipality in a partnership with Dora Local Club. It includes 27 young members and more than 50 active volunteers.

Good practice 1:

The council has worked on targeting the problem of increasing number of cybercrimes and the large number of hacking and digital blackmail especially among children, women, and university students, which were the as the most marginalized group.

The local council worked on the implementation of awareness-raising workshops for approximately 2000 students, created graphics which presented real examples of electronic attacks, and conducted field meetings in cooperation with specialists in the field of cybercrime. As a result, many students started replicating the program and sharing the information with their peers and parents. The council took the opportunity to spotlight students’ ideas and initiative on the social issue. The program has set the path for an agreement with the crime Unit and partner institutions to continue holding and implementing periodic awareness-raising meetings in this field.

Young participation in decision-making processes is still relatively low in Tunisia. However, thanks to the Arab Spring and the 2011 revolution, there is an outrage among young people because of social, economic and political instability, and it has created a lot of youth coalitions and organisations actively involved in supporting youth to be active decision-makers in their communities.

Until today there are no laws or bills which allow the establishment of local youth councils in Tunisia. Still, some Municipalities started initiatives to create local youth councils in their cities. Back in 2015, 2 municipalities on the south of Tunisia, in close cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme, discussed the possibility and alternative solutions for the creation of local youth councils based on inclusive and participative democracy. These processes aim to gather young people in these cities, together with majors and municipality representatives together, in one space, to ideate, discuss and exchange ideas on how to establish and foster local youth councils in Tunisia. As a result, 2 local youth councils have been created in these municipalities. Unfortunately, due to the lack of structural support, these spaces were not sustainable.

Since 2015 there is a visible increase in youth engagement with the local authorities. There is a push from international organizations towards youngsters to put their ideas and influence public policies and be more engaged with their Municipalities.

Good practices

1. Solidify cooperation through partnerships with other local youth councils or municipalities

keywords: exchange of practice

Context: The M’saken Council Local Youth Council was created in 2018 and has been the most operating council in Tunisia. The Council has been a leading example of the formation of new councils.

Description of good practice: A group of 40 young participants gathered at the Youth Council exchange, aimed at fostering knowledge transfer and at capitalizing experiences of both groups. During the encounter, Youth Council members mutually presented their creation processes and debated on several issues: their council’s strengths and weaknesses, their action plans with a focus on how to render their action sustainable on time, or the challenges they face regarding youth implication, their relationship with the municipal council, their communication impact etc. The aim of these sessions was not only to identify challenges but also to find common and creative solutions.

The representatives of the two councils presented some flagship field experiences in their respective cities, especially on the role that both Councils assumed during the crisis of Covid-19 in sensitising the population about physical distancing and the vaccination process. Furthermore, a discussion was held on youth mobilisation around their activities, and both Councils presented the communication tools they use to give visibility to their actions. The exchanges were considered very fruitful and enriching for the participants. The results of this activity will be included in the final capitalisation report that MedCities will produce for the UNDP project.

2. Negotiate Opportunities for Access

keywords: consultation

Context: The Mourouj Local Youth Council has been formed through an agreement between youth in the region, with the support of Farhat Hached Institute for Research and Democracy, and the municipality mayor in Mourouj.

Good Practice:

The Local Youth Council of Mourouj, in coordination with associations, has been developing civil society mechanisms and opportunities for members and youth workers to speak and make their voice heard. As a result of the implemented consultation, the youth in the district suggested to:

Arrange authentic access to policy-makers: cultivate ownership and accountability in the council by creating shared leadership opportunities between youth council members and policy makers.
Help youth identify core issues: reconcile the concerns and interests of youth council members with political realities.
Find creative ways to help youth collect and document the opinions of the broader youth community.
Be sure youth know what formal roles the council is designed to play.
Create a visible public presence: develop a communications plan.

Belgium has three Regions and three Communities, each with their own Parliament and Government. Regional institutions handle citizen participation and local authorities, while Community institutions regulate education, children, and youth. The country's institutional complexity makes implementing citizen participation challenging, with different rules and conditions for establishing local youth councils. In French-speaking Belgium, municipalities voluntarily set up youth councils, with independent young people representing all youth. Youth councils have existed since the 1970s but disappeared due to politicization. New structures emerged in the 1980s, with participative and educational goals. The number of youth councils has gradually increased since the early 2000s, with a significant rise in Wallonia in the past ten years, especially due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Municipalities want to give young people a voice, and many support establishing new youth councils. Generally, the councils are for 12 to 18-year-olds, with some structures for 18-25-year-old representatives from youth sectors.

Youth councils may have different names, and their operation varies depending on local authorities. Only the word "advisory" is binding, and the strict rules hinder the participation of motivated young people. Each council must have a political decision and a legal document defining its operation, age group, and missions. The most common missions include providing input on youth-related themes and projects, organizing events for young people, and representing the municipality in exchanges with other councils. Supervisors have great freedom in preparing and implementing these councils, adapting to the municipality's specificities and young people's needs. This flexibility is an important guarantee of success and motivation for young people.

*Source: the information above and below is provided based on the publication "Local Youth Councils. Mapping Practices" developed by Creccide asbl (Belgium), DYPALL Network (Portugal), Comune Di Collegno (Italy), KRAPINSKO-ZAGORSKA ZUPANIJA (Croatia), Mladinski svet Ajdovscina (Slovenia) under a project "Fostering a Culture of Participation: Mainstreaming Local Youth Councils in Europe.

Good practices

1. Youth Council of Herstal

Context: The Youth Council of Herstal is composed of around 15 young people aged between 12 to 18 years old living in the municipality. Each person in the municipality can apply through elections. The members are elected every two years. The members of the council meet once a month. The council had to represent youth opinions. He has a consultation role in building local politics and local youth policy. Another important role is to make young people listen.

Main goals and objectives:

To seek an integrated vision and action in the Municipality's youth policy through the implementation of a systematic plan by enhancing synergies, skills, and resources
To foster the creation of youth organizations.
To promote youth initiatives at the local level, maintaining regular channels of communication between local authorities and youth.

Governance:

There is a clear definition of roles for each LYC member
LYC members are responsible for setting or reviewing the agenda for LYC meetings. The conclusions and recommendations of the YLC meetings are public and easily accessible to the population in general and young people in particular
There are specific mechanisms and instruments to organize meetings.
There are facilitators with skills in moderating dialogue during sessions and meetings. There are internal procedures to be followed by the LYC members during meetings/Assemblies/gatherings. LYC members have an active role in creating the strategies and procedures governing the LYC.
The format of meetings encourages and fosters the participation of young people
There are working groups or committees within the working of the LYC
The members of the LYC have access to training or moments to understand the function of the LYC

Actions:

LYC develops studies/research on relevant topics that support youth work in your municipality
LYC conducts consultation processes with young people in your community to identify their needs
LYC is linked to a Regional or National Youth Council LYC has representation, partnership or formal contact with other public bodies with responsibilities in youth matters besides the respective City Council

2. Youth Council of Mons

Context: A group of teenagers meet together once per week and once per month. They decide on projects and organize meetings with politicians, other chiefs, or intervenients. The mission goes on for 3 years: the first year for discovering (places, themselves, and theories), the second year for the development of the projects, and the last year for the closing of the creations. A public communication campaign invites teenagers (12-18 years) to join the council, with the defense of ambitions and projects in front of a jury. The influence on youth policies is in evolution.

Main goals and objectives:

To ensure the representation of public and private entities in the youth area.
To promote young people's development by implementing an integrated and systematic plan which enhances synergies, skills, and resources.
To promote youth initiatives at the local level.
To create and maintain regular communication and information channels between local authorities and youth

Governance:

There is a clear definition of roles for each LYC member LYC members are responsible for setting or reviewing the agenda for LYC meetings
The conclusions and recommendations of the LYC meetings are public and easily accessible to the population in general and young people in particular
There are specific mechanisms and instruments to organize meetings.
There are facilitators with skills in moderating dialogue during sessions and meetings
There are internal procedures to be followed by the LYC members during meetings/Assemblies/gatherings. LYC members have an active role in creating the strategies and procedures governing the LYC.
The format of meetings encourages and fosters the participation of young people
There are working groups or committees within the working of the LYC
The members of the LYC have access to training or moments to understand the function of the LYC

Actions:

LYC develops studies/research on relevant topics that support youth work in your municipality
LYC conducts consultation processes with young people in your community to identify their needs
LYC is linked to a Regional or National Youth Council
LYC has representation, partnership, or formal contact with other public bodies with responsibilities in youth matters besides the respective City Council

In the Republic of Croatia, there are 555 units of local self-government, namely 428 municipalities and 127 cities, and 20 units of regional self-government, i.e., counties. The city of Zagreb, as the capital of the Republic of Croatia, has the special status of a city and county, so there are a total of 576 units of local and regional (regional) self-government in the Republic of Croatia.

In 2014, the Law on Youth Councils was passed, which stipulates that all local self-government units must establish youth councils within 6 months of the Law coming into force. Currently, 20% of local self-government units in Croatia have established youth councils. The Law on Youth Councils regulates the establishment of youth councils, its scope, election procedure, and other issues of importance for the work of youth councils. The Act's goal is the participation of young people in decision-making on the management of public affairs of interest and importance to young people, the active involvement of young people in public life, and information and consultation in local and regional self-government units. Youth councils can also do other things not explicitly stated in the Law. Of course, this depends on the will of the youth council itself and the political will of the people in power in the local self-government units.

Implementing the Law on Youth Councils is the responsibility of local and regional self-government units. At the same time, the Central State Office for Demography and Youth supervises the implementation of the Law. It recommends local and regional self-government units for their more efficient performance.

Youth councils enable young people to participate in the procedure and process of official decision-making by government representatives. Their work is based on the interests and needs of young people to propose changes from their perspective that will satisfy them and other young people in the community where they live. The activities of the youth council include any form of political, economic, or social participation that will find fertile ground in the community and respond to the needs and aspirations for the affirmation of young people. The work of the youth council represents a long-term, i.e., strategic and planning approach to encouraging the overall participation and quality of life of young people. Youth council members do not receive compensation for their work; everything is on a volunteer basis. However, members have the right to be reimbursed for travel expenses and expenses related to education, training, and participation in national and international meetings.

1. Youth Council of Krapina - Zagorje County

Context: Krapina-Zagorje County covers an area of 120.000 inhabitants, a total of 32 units of local self-government, and 13 Local Youth Councils. The County Youth Council is established independently of local councils and has no jurisdiction over local youth councils. It is an advisory body to the County Assembly with 11 members and 11 deputies, a president, and a vice-president elected by the members. Discusses issues important for the Youth Council and within the scope of the County Assembly that are of interest to young people. In cooperation with the president of the County Assembly, initiates the adoption of decisions of importance for young people, the discussion of specific issues, and the adoption of programs and other acts of significance for improving the position of young people in the County. The administrative department provides support in implementing youth policies and legal support and performs professional and administrative tasks for the needs of the Youth Council.

Main goals and objectives:

To collaborate in the definition and implementation of local youth policies according to national and European policies., To seek an integrated vision and action in the Municipality's youth policy., To inform the City Council regarding the problems of young people in the municipality who require support or initiatives in municipal competencies.

Governance:

There is a clear definition of roles for each LYC member LYC members are responsible for setting or reviewing the agenda for LYC meetings.
The conclusions and recommendations of the YLC meetings are public and easily accessible to the population in general and young people in particular.
There are specific mechanisms and instruments to organize meetings.
There are facilitators with skills in moderating dialogue during sessions and meetings.
There are internal procedures to be followed by the LYC members during meetings/Assemblies/gatherings.
LYC members have an active role in creating the strategies and procedures governing the LYC.
The format of meetings encourages and fosters the participation of young people.
There are working groups or committees within the working of the LYC.
The members of the LYC have access to training or moments to understand the function of the LYC.

Actions:

LYC develops studies/research on relevant topics that support youth work in your municipality.
LYC conducts consultation processes with young people in your community to identify their needs.
LYC is linked to a Regional or National Youth Council.
LYC has representation, partnership or formal contact with other public bodies with responsibilities in youth matters besides the respective City Council.

2. Youth Council of Pregrada

Context: In the Youth Council of the City of Pregrada, a president and a vice-president are responsible for scheduling meetings and leading the LYC. The decision-making is democratic, and, combined with the support of the local decision-makers, it's easy to guide in shaping the policies towards the younger demographics.

Main goals and objectives:

To inform the City Council regarding the problems of young people in the municipality who require support or initiatives in municipal competencies.
To promote young people's development by implementing an integrated and systematic plan which enhances synergies, skills, and resources.
To collaborate in defining and implementing local youth policies according to national and European policies.

Governance:

There is a clear definition of roles for each LYC member LYC members are responsible for setting or reviewing the agenda for LYC meetings.
The conclusions and recommendations of the LYC meetings are public and easily accessible to the population in general and young people in particular.
There are specific mechanisms and instruments to organize meetings.
There are facilitators with skills in moderating dialogue during sessions and meetings.
There are internal procedures to be followed by the LYC members during meetings/Assemblies/gatherings. LYC members have an active role in creating the strategies and procedures governing the LYC.
The format of meetings encourages and fosters the participation of young people.
There are working groups or committees within the working of the LYC.
The members of the LYC have access to training or moments to understand the function of the LYC.

Actions:

LYC develops studies/research on relevant topics that support youth work in your municipality.
LYC conducts consultation processes with young people in your community to identify their needs.
LYC is linked to a Regional or National Youth Council.
LYC has representation, partnership, or formal contact with other public bodies with responsibilities in youth matters besides the respective City Council.