Through the Youth Fund of the Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe, We are supporting regional projects that will contribute to the improvement of youth activism, participation and policy making skills at the local and national level. We are increasing the political participation of women, empowering young people for changes in the community, for dialogue, fostering peace and integration, advocating for a green future and the Youth Guarantees.
Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE is funded by European Union.
PROJECT: Voice & Impact: Empowering Youth Councils for Community Change
Organization: BBA – Beyond Barriers Association (Shoqata Pertej Barrierave), Albania.
Project: Voice & Impact: Empowering Youth Councils for Community Change.
Voice & Impact: Empowering Youth Councils for Community Change Project aims to strengthen participatory democracy by enhancing the operational effectiveness and influence of Local Youth Councils in Albania in the cities of Maliq, Saranda, Tepelena, and Gjirokastra. This project focus on participatory democracy ensuring that young people are not only numbersin their respective youth councils, but that their voices are heard, and they are active citizens in shaping and implementing local policies that directly affect their lives and wellbeing.
Key results achieved:
Strengthened the capacities of 53 Youth Council members in Albania in policy analysis, youth-related policy advocacy and negotiation, communication, leadership and public speaking, strategic thinking, and influencing local decision-making processes, through Leadership and Advocacy Trainings and ACTIvate Bootcamp using simulation exercises, case studies, and role-playing activities;
Enhanced the structural dialogue between youth and local decision-makers by actively engaging 200 young people and institutional representatives in the development of local youth policies in Albania through Consultative workshops and Advocacy and Public Forums;
Developed four Local Youth Action Plans in the municipalities of Erseka, Saranda, Tepelena & Gjirokastra through an inclusive process involving more than 100 youth and policy makers;
The Beyond Barriers has signed Memorandums of Understanding with four Albanian municipalities – Erseka, Saranda, Tepelena, and Gjirokastra. These agreements mark an important step toward institutionalizing cooperation between local authorities, CSOs and youth councils, creating a stronger framework for youth participation in decision-making processes at the local level.
Enhanced cooperation and held a meeting with the Minister for Youth and Children of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Bora Muzhagi
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The Youth Fund „Local Youth Initiatives“
The Youth Fund „Local Youth Initiatives“ is a FSTP (financial support to third parties) i.e. sub-granting activity of the three-year regional project „Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe“ (RYDE), funded by the European Union in the period 2023-2026 through EU Civil Society Facility and Media Programme in favour of the Western Balkans and Turkey for 2021-2023 (IPA III). The RYDE project is being implemented by the Center for Democracy Foundation from Serbia as a lead partner in cooperation with the partnering civil society organizations from the Western Balkans: Academy of European Integrations and Negotiations (Albania), Youth Act Center (Albania), Kosovar Stability Initiative (Kosovo*), Network of Progressive Initiatives (Bosnia and Herzegovina), NGO Info Center Foundation (North Macedonia) and Regional Academy for Democratic Development (Serbia).
Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE
