IRAD - Get Involved Responsibly, Act and Decide

PRESS RELEASE

Project launch conference - 31 March 2022

On Tuesday, 31 March 2022, at 2.30 pm, at the headquarters on Împăratul Traian street no. 29, Craiova, the launch conference of the IRAD project, “Get involved responsibly, act and decide!”, will take place - a project run by the Active Yourope Association in partnership with the Icelandic Human Rights Centre, with financial support from Active Citizens Fund Romania, a programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The project’s aim is to increase civic involvement and voter participation among young people, by providing access to correct and truthful information online and by simulating and carrying out civic activities for the development of the local community.

The IRAD project started on 1 March 2022, benefits from a grant of €74,975.00 and runs over a period of 12 months.

Invited to attend this event, alongside the promoter’s representatives, are the principals of the 3 schools involved in the project, local actors, school principals, interested teachers and media representatives.

The conference will present the project’s main objectives, actions and activities, which aim to improve the quality of life of 500 beneficiaries - young people aged 15-22 - 60 teachers and 10 association members.

Insufficient civic education in schools, limited learning opportunities outside school, and a lack of positive role models are obstacles to civic involvement and participation. Civic indifference deepens the socio-economic crisis, leading to corruption, social injustice and a low quality of life for citizens. The lack of civic involvement among young people widens the gaps between cities and small towns.

The IRAD project supports young citizens by implementing civic-education and engagement activities in Băilești and Segarcea, in Dolj County - areas with a high marginalization rate and underserved zones, where a lack of civic spirit among young people, a lack of practical teaching of civic education and online disinformation were identified.

The project’s objectives are:

• Developing the knowledge and skills of 500 children from 3 high schools in Băilești and Segarcea over the 12 months of the project, on active citizenship, human rights, volunteering, community involvement, equal opportunities and community mobilization, by organizing a promotion and awareness campaign on civic activism and by organizing simulated local elections / NGOs that will initiate measures to solve community problems
• Improving the knowledge, abilities and skills of 60 teachers from 3 high schools in small towns in Dolj on training young people in human rights and civic involvement, through a transfer of good practice from the Icelandic partner over the 12 months of the project
• Raising awareness about identifying and filtering information and about conscious media consumption among 300 young people from 3 high schools in underserved communities in Dolj over 2 months of the project, through a media-literacy and fake-news campaign
• Developing the organizational capacity of the NGO through a 3-day training activity on volunteer management, fundraising and strategic planning for 10 members.

The main planned activities are:

• Organizational-development activity: 10 people trained in volunteer management, fundraising and strategic planning.
• Human rights and civic participation in schools training course: 12 teachers and 4 of the applicant’s members trained in human rights, civic education and non-formal methods of approaching them
• Information and awareness campaign on civic activism: seminars with teachers to multiply the information, methods and tools acquired in the course on human rights and civic education, and workshops with students to inform children about civic involvement and human rights
• Study visit to Iceland: one representative of the local community, one representative of the school community and 3 association members take part in a visit to the Icelandic partner to observe human-rights good practices first-hand.
• Media-literacy and fake-news campaign: the media campaign against false information aims to inform about propaganda and disinformation and to prepare students to identify false information spread by the press and on social media.
• Participatory-democracy activities: organizing children’s elections, a process that simulates local elections; participation of at least 10 students per high school in local council meetings; simulated NGOs and civic initiatives submitted to the town hall requesting a participatory budget for implementation

About the Active Citizens Fund Romania programme

The Active Citizens Fund Romania programme is funded through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The overall objective of the Grants is to reduce economic and social disparities and to strengthen bilateral relations between the 15 beneficiary states and the donor states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway). The programme is administered by the consortium of the Civil Society Development Foundation, the Romanian Environmental Partnership Foundation, the Resource Center for Roma Communities, the PACT Foundation and Frivillighet Norge, acting as the Fund Operator designated by the FMO - the Financial Mechanism Office of the EEA and Norway Grants. Active Citizens Fund Romania aims to strengthen civil society and active citizenship and to build the capacity of vulnerable groups. With a total allocation of €46,000,000, the programme seeks the long-term development of the sustainability and capacity of the civil-society sector, strengthening its role in promoting democratic participation, active citizenship and human rights, while strengthening bilateral relations with the donor states Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. For more information about Active Citizens Fund in Romania, please visit www.activecitizensfund.ro. For more information about the EEA and Norway Grants, visit www.eeagrants.ro.

For further information: irad@activeyourope.ro

Project launch conference

On Thursday, 31 March 2022, the launch conference of the IRAD project, “Get involved responsibly, act and decide!”, took place - a project run by the Active Yourope Association in partnership with the Icelandic Human Rights Centre, with financial support from Active Citizens Fund Romania, a programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The project’s aim is to increase civic involvement and voter participation among young people, by providing access to correct and truthful information online and by simulating and carrying out civic activities for the development of the local community.

The event was attended by 30 people: the promoter’s representatives, the principals of the 3 schools involved in the project, local actors, interested teachers, representatives of the local public authorities in Băilești and Segarcea, of NGOs and of civil society.

During the conference, information was provided about the project’s initiative, the premises it started from and its proposed objectives. There were discussions about the lack of civic involvement of young people in community life and in civic actions. The IRAD project was presented by the project manager, highlighting the goal, objectives, activities, expected results and their sustainability. The two partner associations were also introduced, and the president of the Oltenia Bloggers Association spoke about the importance of running campaigns to counter fake news.

The main results proposed in this project concern the creation of a group of young civic leaders - drivers of community development and change - the improvement of teachers’ knowledge by multiplying the information through course participants, the development of young people’s critical thinking as responsible consumers/producers of media content, and the production of an organizational-development strategy.

The IRAD project started on 1 March 2022, benefits from a grant of €74,975.00 and runs over a period of 12 months.

Working together for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe!

More information about this project can be found at www.activeyourope.ro/irad or on the Facebook page https://fb.me/ProiectIRAD

About the Active Citizens Fund Romania programme

The Active Citizens Fund Romania programme is funded through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The overall objective of the Grants is to reduce economic and social disparities and to strengthen bilateral relations between the 15 beneficiary states and the donor states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway). The programme is administered by the consortium of the Civil Society Development Foundation, the Romanian Environmental Partnership Foundation, the Resource Center for Roma Communities, the PACT Foundation and Frivillighet Norge, acting as the Fund Operator designated by the FMO - the Financial Mechanism Office of the EEA and Norway Grants. Active Citizens Fund Romania aims to strengthen civil society and active citizenship and to build the capacity of vulnerable groups. With a total allocation of €46,000,000, the programme seeks the long-term development of the sustainability and capacity of the civil-society sector, strengthening its role in promoting democratic participation, active citizenship and human rights, while strengthening bilateral relations with the donor states Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. For more information about Active Citizens Fund in Romania, please visit www.activecitizensfund.ro. For more information about the EEA and Norway Grants, visit www.eeagrants.ro.

For further information: irad@activeyourope.ro

“Organizational development” course

From 15 to 19 April we held the “Organizational development” course, attended by members and volunteers of the Active Yourope Association. The sessions included discussions on an NGO’s strategic framework, debates about the role and power of NGOs in the community; we also reviewed the association’s mission and vision and discussed the organization’s principles. The aim of the training activity was to develop the internal capacity of the Active Yourope Association to provide support to its members by applying organizational self-assessment tools and reviewing its strategy and action plan.

This activity was organised as part of the IRAD project, “Get involved responsibly, act and decide!”, run by the Active Yourope Association in partnership with the Icelandic Human Rights Centre, with financial support from Active Citizens Fund Romania, a programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The project’s aim is to increase civic involvement and voter participation among young people, by providing access to correct and truthful information online and by simulating and carrying out civic activities for the development of the local community.

Developing the association’s internal capacity to support its members by developing an organizational self-assessment tool and reviewing its strategy and action plan was the course’s final objective. Participants learned the tools and stages needed to run a strategic-planning process in their organization, in order to develop effective and lasting strategies that meet the needs of the organization’s beneficiaries.

Over the three days, the basic stages of drawing up a Strategic Plan were discussed, analysed and put into practice. An organizational diagnosis was the starting point; on completing it, participants gained a clear picture of the stage of development their organization is at. All theoretical materials were combined with practical exercises, making the training more accessible and illustrative.

After discussions and exercises in working groups, the organizational-development priorities and main directions of action were outlined. The three days of workshops were rich in interaction, and at the end the Active Yourope Association team, following an evaluation of strengths and weaknesses, began updating the association’s organizational-development strategy and producing the 5-year strategic plan to allow sustainable growth in organizational development over the next five years.

These days full of networking and intensive, applied work represent an important stage in the organizational-development process of the Active Yourope Association.

Project run by the Active Yourope Association in partnership with the Icelandic Human Rights Centre, with financial support from Active Citizens Fund Romania, a programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The content of this material does not necessarily reflect the official position of the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021; for more information visit www.eeagrants.org.

“Working together for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe”

Seminars with teachers to multiply the information, methods and tools acquired in the course on human rights and civic education, and workshops with students to inform children about civic involvement and human rights.

“Human rights and civic participation in schools” course

We all need more knowledge about how the society we live in works and about our role as citizens of a democratic state. The earlier we learn civics, the easier it is to absorb theoretical concepts and develop the skills and attitudes of an informed and engaged citizen.

13 representatives of the target high schools - “Ștefan Anghel” Technological High School Băilești, “Mihai Viteazul” Theoretical High School Băilești and “Horia Vintilă” Technological High School Segarcea - and 4 members of the Active Yourope Association took part in the “Human rights and civic participation in schools” training course, held from 2 to 5 June 2022 in Sinaia.

This course took place within the IRAD project, “Get involved responsibly, act and decide!”, run by the Active Yourope Association in partnership with the Icelandic Human Rights Centre, with financial support from Active Citizens Fund Romania, a programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The project’s aim is to increase civic involvement and voter participation among young people, by providing access to correct and truthful information online and by simulating and carrying out civic activities for the development of the local community.

The training course aimed to encourage critical thinking and active citizenship in local communities by supporting teachers and civil-society members in their efforts to learn and understand how to use non-formal tools to teach concepts of democratic culture and the rule of law and, at the same time, to work with local authorities.

The two trainers, Romanian and Icelandic, covered topics such as: the principles of the rule of law, participatory democracy, public participation and decision-making transparency, active citizenship, leadership and community development, young people’s civic involvement, non-formal methods of teaching civic competences, and examples of active citizenship from Iceland.

These were 3 inspiring days in which we discovered and experienced the learning methods specific to non-formal education, which uses play and a diversity of stimuli to create the right setting for experiential learning. Participants learned about leadership, what qualities a leader should have and the role of a leader; they defined community and experimented with voting in Parliament using methods such as learning by doing, the thermometer line and forum theatre.

Our Icelandic expert Íris Ósk Ingadóttir also shared good practices that are ready to apply! The tested human-rights education methods and activities were included in a guide to non-formal activities that can also be used by other actors in the field of education, contributing to developing young people’s skills to become human-rights advocates.

Project run by the Active Yourope Association in partnership with the Icelandic Human Rights Centre, with financial support from Active Citizens Fund Romania, a programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The content of this material does not necessarily reflect the official position of the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021; for more information visit www.eeagrants.org.

“Working together for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe”

Information and awareness campaign on civic activism

From June 2022, the Active Yourope Association launched an information and awareness campaign on civic activism in Segarcea and Băilești. The main aim of the campaign was to educate and inform community members about citizens’ rights, freedoms and duties.

This activity was organised as part of the IRAD project, “Get involved responsibly, act and decide!”, run by the Active Yourope Association in partnership with the Icelandic Human Rights Centre, with financial support from Active Citizens Fund Romania, a programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The project’s aim is to increase civic involvement and voter participation among young people, by providing access to correct and truthful information online and by simulating and carrying out civic activities for the development of the local community.

People need to understand the reasoning behind the fact that a strong participatory attitude allows citizens to exercise their rights and obligations towards one another and gives them the opportunity to recognise and respect differences. We also sought to make clear to students that democratic participation does not happen only through voting at elections, but above all through involvement in the decisions of our everyday lives.

By organizing seminars attended by teachers, students, parents and residents of the two towns, citizens in Segarcea and Băilești became familiar with various democratic practices, learned about their rights and their role as responsible citizens, and were informed about ways to take part actively in the civic process.

The shift to the digital age and the digital agenda not only open new opportunities for active citizenship and online democratic participation, but also entail risks and dangers related to incorrect information and disinformation.

Therefore, the information leaflets “What civic involvement means / How I can be an active citizen” and “How to recognise fake news” were used to spark discussion on this topic and to multiply the campaign’s key messages.

Under the slogan “Be an active citizen too!”, the meeting organizers held interactive discussions to raise voters’ awareness and their involvement as active citizens through voting, to develop civic commitment and ways of expressing personal opinions, and to form a moral and emotional attitude towards the community and a sense of belonging to a social group.

Project run by the Active Yourope Association in partnership with the Icelandic Human Rights Centre, with financial support from Active Citizens Fund Romania, a programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The content of this material does not necessarily reflect the official position of the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021; for more information visit www.eeagrants.org.

“Working together for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe”

The Media Literacy and fake-news campaign

In June and July, we ran the Media Literacy and fake-news campaign in Băilești and Segarcea.

This activity was organised as part of the IRAD project, “Get involved responsibly, act and decide!”, run by the Active Yourope Association in partnership with the Icelandic Human Rights Centre, with financial support from Active Citizens Fund Romania, a programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The project’s aim is to increase civic involvement and voter participation among young people, by providing access to correct and truthful information online and by simulating and carrying out civic activities for the development of the local community.

The aim of this campaign was to help students understand and correctly analyse information from virtual sources, helping them understand how the online environment works and urging them to analyse what they have seen or heard, especially on social media. Thus, through workshops, we guided the media consumer through the mazes of disinformation, falsehood and manipulation in the press, to help them tell these apart, understand them, not promote them, and so contribute to a healthier information society.

In the first part of the workshop we introduced students to the topic and discussed the problems young people face as a result of a lack of media literacy, such as manipulation, stereotypes, fake news and cyberbullying, continuing with practical exercises in identifying a fake news story. Students practised spotting false information, deconstructed manipulative messages and discovered the tools at hand to protect themselves from disinformation on social media during this period. The information was presented as a PowerPoint presentation accompanied by an information leaflet on identifying fake news.

They were also taught to tell the difference between real and false information and to learn to choose the form of media they can trust, and to develop, among other things, critical thinking and the ability to distinguish credible sources of information from propaganda and fake news.

Project run by the Active Yourope Association in partnership with the Icelandic Human Rights Centre, with financial support from Active Citizens Fund Romania, a programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The content of this material does not necessarily reflect the official position of the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021; for more information visit www.eeagrants.org.

“Working together for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe”

Civic education through non-formal workshops for young people

Because civic education benefits from a cross-sectoral approach and from mutual cooperation between formal, non-formal and informal education, in September IRAD activities continued in the three partner schools with a series of non-formal civic-education workshops.

This activity was organised as part of the IRAD project, “Get involved responsibly, act and decide!”, run by the Active Yourope Association in partnership with the Icelandic Human Rights Centre, with financial support from Active Citizens Fund Romania, a programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The project’s aim is to increase civic involvement and voter participation among young people, by providing access to correct and truthful information online and by simulating and carrying out civic activities for the development of the local community.

Through non-formal methods, participants learned to better understand behaviours they see around them and what it means to be a responsible citizen. Through play, they opened a conversation, got involved and took turns playing roles in short scenes about situations they have seen in everyday life. They discussed how they react and why, realised where they go wrong and what they could do in future.

In an interactive way, basic concepts of law, how the state works, democracy, rights and freedoms, and civic rights were addressed, and the students in Segarcea and Băilești were taught to think critically, to get involved in the communities where they will come to live and to contribute to the changes that are needed. The students enriched their vocabulary and skills while also overcoming their shyness with the help of methods specific to non-formal education, and learned what volunteering and civic spirit mean.

The non-formal workshops were an innovative and engaging way for young people to explore and learn about the principles and practices of civic education. These workshops provided a creative and interactive setting in which young people developed critical skills and gained essential knowledge to become informed and engaged citizens in society.

Project run by the Active Yourope Association in partnership with the Icelandic Human Rights Centre, with financial support from Active Citizens Fund Romania, a programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The content of this material does not necessarily reflect the official position of the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021; for more information visit www.eeagrants.org.

“Working together for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe”

Seminar on project visibility and progress

On 30 September 2022 we organised, on Google Meet, a seminar on the visibility and progress of the project “Get involved responsibly, act and decide!”.

The IRAD project, “Get involved responsibly, act and decide!”, is run by the Active Yourope Association in partnership with the Icelandic Human Rights Centre, with financial support from Active Citizens Fund Romania, a programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The project’s aim is to increase civic involvement and voter participation among young people, by providing access to correct and truthful information online and by simulating and carrying out civic activities for the development of the local community.

Through this activity we sought to ensure broad visibility and to communicate the project’s results and achievements, as well as to highlight the support provided by the donor states, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

The activity-dissemination seminar was a significant opportunity to bring together educators, community leaders and others involved in promoting civic education. By exchanging knowledge and experience, participants contributed to developing a stronger framework for educating responsible and active citizens in society.

The seminar presented the results achieved in the project’s first 7 months, the activities carried out in the high schools in Băilești and Segarcea, the activities carried out in the community, and the learning materials produced within the project, to help develop effective methods of teaching civic education. Participants, coming from diverse backgrounds including formal and non-formal education, were encouraged to share their experiences and strategies for teaching civic education.

The seminar was an opportunity to discuss the importance of civic education and to present a number of good practices in this field. Participants gained new knowledge, shared inspiring experiences and acquired practical skills they can apply in their own work settings. They were also encouraged to think creatively and to explore innovative ways of approaching civic education, adapting to the needs and the specific context of their students or community.

Project run by the Active Yourope Association in partnership with the Icelandic Human Rights Centre, with financial support from Active Citizens Fund Romania, a programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The content of this material does not necessarily reflect the official position of the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021; for more information visit www.eeagrants.org.

“Working together for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe”

From 25 to 27 October, representatives of the local public administration in Băilești and Segarcea, of the three target high schools - “Ștefan Anghel” High School, “Mihai Viteazul” Theoretical High School and “Horia Vintilă” Technological High School - together with members of the Active Yourope Association, took part in a study visit to the Icelandic partner, the “Icelandic Human Rights Centre”, an umbrella institute that coordinates the work of over 15 national NGOs and periodically produces research and public-policy proposals to improve the lives of various disadvantaged social groups.

The aim of the visit was to observe human-rights good practices first-hand.

In the first part of the meeting, all participants presented the mission and the domestic work of the institutions they represent, thereby encouraging the exchange of good practice. The project partner, the “Icelandic Human Rights Centre”, also presented its published materials.

The agenda also included a visit to a high school in Mosfellsbær where the main emphasis is on project-based learning. Flexibility and innovative teaching methods are guiding elements of the building’s internal design. The design recognises each child as a unique individual with unique needs and wishes regarding their environment. The school’s philosophy and teaching methods are characterised by students being active participants in their own learning, gaining independence and controlling their learning pace under the guidance of teachers and school counsellors. A variety of project-based teaching methods and continuous assessment based on guided-learning ideas are the school’s distinctive features.

We also had the opportunity to take part in the Gender Equality Forum held on 26 October in Reykjavik. Supporters of gender equality, EU and national policymakers and experts shared their expertise and exchanged views on the most pressing issues affecting progress on gender equality.

The visit to the Faculty of Education at the University of Reykjavik gave us the chance to learn more about the Icelandic education system and about the role of non-formal education in young people’s development.

Last but not least, we identified good practices in social assistance run by the Reykjavik municipality following a visit to a social centre.

In the end, our visit was extremely productive, pleasant and effective, as we discovered several valuable lessons and examples of good practice in promoting human rights, and we managed to lay the foundations for a collaborative relationship in which to use these results as a reference for a future joint project. Not least, we enjoyed the culture and charm of Reykjavik, as well as the wonderful, otherworldly landscape of the country rightly called the land of ice and fire!

In the last part of the meeting, participants brainstormed different possibilities for future cooperation, proposing projects in both human rights and participatory democracy.

Project run by the Active Yourope Association in partnership with the Icelandic Human Rights Centre, with financial support from Active Citizens Fund Romania, a programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The content of this material does not necessarily reflect the official position of the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021; for more information visit www.eeagrants.org.

“Working together for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe”

“Citizenship and democratic practices. The right to vote and be elected”

Collective wellbeing depends directly on the individual involvement of each person in society. When we turn 18, we are granted the right to choose those who represent our interests, but this is not the only way we can contribute to society’s wellbeing. The low number of young people who vote, for example, is partly due to the fact that they do not have enough civic and political education and do not know the political system and regime of the country they live in, nor their relevance in society. A vote is the formal expression of your support for an idea, a candidate or a party. By voting in local elections, you exercise your democratic right to take part in decisions about your future and, at the same time, give the elected parties the legitimacy they need to carry out their tasks.

To inform the teenagers from the three high schools in Segarcea and Băilești, we ran the seminar “Citizenship and democratic practices. The right to vote and be elected”, aimed at raising students’ awareness of citizens’ rights, transparency and the accountability of the administration.

This activity was organised as part of the IRAD project, “Get involved responsibly, act and decide!”, run by the Active Yourope Association in partnership with the Icelandic Human Rights Centre, with financial support from Active Citizens Fund Romania, a programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The project’s aim is to increase civic involvement and voter participation among young people, by providing access to correct and truthful information online and by simulating and carrying out civic activities for the development of the local community.

In this seminar, students obtained information about how the political system works in the country and beyond, what political pluralism is, and discussed the characteristics of voting and the functions of a mayor and a president, as well as ways in which each of us can contribute to society’s wellbeing. We also sought to encourage young people, including those voting for the first time, to take a more active part in future elections.

A few notions about law, rights, obligations, transparency and how to inform oneself correctly were also addressed.

We also discussed elections and how a public decision (whether local, national or European) has a major impact at community level - even if we do not realise it immediately. We need to internalise and understand that public decisions affect our list of needs and the changes we want in the community.

Project run by the Active Yourope Association in partnership with the Icelandic Human Rights Centre, with financial support from Active Citizens Fund Romania, a programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The content of this material does not necessarily reflect the official position of the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021; for more information visit www.eeagrants.org.

“Working together for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe”

Study visit to a Local Council meeting

The active involvement of young people in political life and local decision-making is an essential step in developing a sustainable and prosperous community.

At the start of this school year we began activities to educate young people in Băilești and Segarcea about civic involvement and participatory democracy. Young people are taught what the rights and obligations of a citizen are, how representatives in local public administration are elected and, above all, how they can get involved in their communities for a sustainable future. The theoretical part was followed by a practical one: in November we took the first step towards action with 30 of the young people - we visited a truly inspiring place for our project’s theme, namely the town hall.

This activity was organised as part of the IRAD project, “Get involved responsibly, act and decide!”, run by the Active Yourope Association in partnership with the Icelandic Human Rights Centre, with financial support from Active Citizens Fund Romania, a programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The project’s aim is to increase civic involvement and voter participation among young people, by providing access to correct and truthful information online and by simulating and carrying out civic activities for the development of the local community.

To see how the town hall and the Local Council work, students from the two high schools in Băilești and from the high school in Segarcea made a study visit to local elected officials, attending a meeting of Băilești Local Council and of Segarcea Local Council respectively.

This visit was an excellent way to learn more about how local government works. Young people had the opportunity to learn from the representatives of the public authorities in Băilești and Segarcea about the role they take on in educating the community for sustainability and about the towns’ future plans. Young people were also given essential information about their active involvement in the decision-making apparatus of the local administration. They learned about the council’s various commissions and committees, as well as the roles and responsibilities of local councillors.

The study visit gave the young people who will simulate the mayoral elections and implement their own civic initiatives locally an excellent way to learn more about local government, to make their voice heard and to get involved in their community. Attending the local council meeting aimed to encourage young people to become active and responsible citizens, to understand political processes and to develop their civic spirit.

The active participation of young people in local council meetings in a small town can add significant value to local decision-making. By bringing their voice into the political dialogue, young people can contribute to a more equitable and sustainable development of their community. Encouraging young people’s involvement in local political life is essential to building a society that is more representative and more connected to the needs and wishes of all its members.

Project run by the Active Yourope Association in partnership with the Icelandic Human Rights Centre, with financial support from Active Citizens Fund Romania, a programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The content of this material does not necessarily reflect the official position of the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021; for more information visit www.eeagrants.org.

“Working together for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe”

Electoral-campaign simulation and mayoral election

In November and December, students from “Horia Vintilă” Technological High School Segarcea, “Ștefan Anghel” Theoretical High School Băilești and “Mihai Viteazul” Theoretical High School Băilești simulated electoral campaigns for the election of the mayor and the Local Council.

The campaign was organised by social-involvement mentors, coordinated by the civic-participation expert, and aimed to familiarise students with the electoral process and the role citizens play in a democracy. The aim of the activity: to simulate students’ participation in the life of the community they live in and their involvement in decisions that directly affect them.

This activity was organised as part of the IRAD project, “Get involved responsibly, act and decide!”, run by the Active Yourope Association in partnership with the Icelandic Human Rights Centre, with financial support from Active Citizens Fund Romania, a programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The project’s aim is to increase civic involvement and voter participation among young people, by providing access to correct and truthful information online and by simulating and carrying out civic activities for the development of the local community.

The campaign participants were divided into several groups: candidates and voters, as well as the electoral commission of the respective polling station. The candidates had the task of creating their own electoral programme and promoting it among the voters. The voters had the task of voting for the candidate who convinced them the most.

Thus, each team developed a series of communication materials for its own campaign, such as a logo / a representative image or a political speech to draw attention to the campaign. And, since it is important to have an action plan for launching the electoral campaign, the teams clarified their roles and developed an estimated calendar of actions.

The campaign was a success, and the young people learned many things about the electoral process. They learned how to develop a political speech, how to manage their time and how to work as a team.

The electoral campaign organised by the young people of Băilești and Segarcea is an example of civic involvement. The young people understood that it is important to get involved in community life and to exercise their right to vote. They also learned that it is important to be informed about the community’s problems and to choose their candidates knowingly.

Project run by the Active Yourope Association in partnership with the Icelandic Human Rights Centre, with financial support from Active Citizens Fund Romania, a programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The content of this material does not necessarily reflect the official position of the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021; for more information visit www.eeagrants.org.

“Working together for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe”