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Lietuvos Seimo rinkimų stebėsena
Start date: Aug 1, 2016, End date: May 31, 2017 PROJECT  FINISHED 

Only half of Lithuanian residents vote at national elections and even fewer participate at local or European Parliament elections. Young people represent the most passive public group in elections, just a third of them cast their vote there. The major cause of the youth inactivity is a weak relationship, or even the absence of it, between them and the politicians not only at European, but also at local and national levels.In April 2014 a virtual platform www.zinaukarenku.lt was launched to watchdog the elections of Lithuanian politicians to the European Parliament as well as Presidential elections in Lithuania. Upon receiving Erasmus+ grant in 2015, the initiative expanded attracting around 100 volunteers from various Lithuanian regions and watchdogged the elections to the local councils and the posts of the mayors. Around 600 young people from several Lithuanian regions participated in different project activities, including the trainings, debates with politicians and social actions. As the initiative aims at a long-term youth involvement in politics, it is planned to continue the watchdogging of the implementation of agendas of Lithuanian MEPs as well as the programs of local councils.The objectives of this project are as follows: to enhance conscious participation of Lithuanian voters, and especially the young ones, in national politics, in particular the parliamentary elections due in 2016 and continue watchdogging the implementation of electoral promises made by politicians after they are elected.While engaging young people in public life through the dialogue with politicians at both local and national levels, we aim to ensure effective and permanent Structural Dialogue which would enable young people to raise relevant questions as well as contribute to the joint solutions.The initiative is open to all Lithuanian young people and intends to expand with by involving young people from all around Lithuania. Upon receiving the training, most active participants will become local coordinators and undertake local communication and organisation of meetings with politicians as well as involvement of their peers in these activities.With the help of project partner Radviliškis Technology and Business Study Centre young people with special needs will be involved in activities of the project as well.While organizing seminars employees of the project partner Institute for Civil Society will enhance civic and political competences of young participants that will help them shape their independent political views. Main activities envisaged in the project are as follows:A1. National trainings for regional coordinators to increase youth activity and consciousness at Parliamentary elections and the observation of electoral process – 3 seminars with 25 participants each. A2. Local seminars for the youth to facilitate their conscious and justified voting – 6 trainings with 20 participants each. A3. Meetings with candidates to the national parliament – 15 events with 20 participants each. A4. National trainings for regional coordinators to follow-up the implementation of electoral promises and programs of national MPs– 3 trainings with 25 participants each. A5. Local seminars for the youth to enhance their capacities of monitoring and evaluating activities of elected politicians – 7 trainings with 20 participants each. A6. Meetings with local politicians – 5 meetings with 15 participants each.Alongside the methodology and the virtual map will be developed to monitor publicly the activities of the elected MPs.A variety of interactive activities of the project – seminars, meetings, work online – where young people will be involved from the beginning will strengthen their organizational ant teamwork skills, enhance their political literacy and consciousness as well as raise their civic self-awareness and social responsibility. The activities will also enable young people to present their opinion and contribute to the solutions of local, national and European problems.The contribution of the experts will strengthen the political and civic competences of young participants. Moreover, they will gain career competencies such as time management, preparation of documents, organization of events, information dissemination and public communication. Young people will establish relationships with public figures, experts, journalists, members of other NGOs that will encourage their further participation in public life.It is planned to issue Youth passes in order to recognize and confirm learning achievements of the participants.
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