Current status

Submitted

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Contributor(s)

First contributor: Asociatia Nationala a Femilor din Mediul Rural Romania

Summary

An activity on local democracy: youth involvement in village administration. A local partnership: Local Council, Local schools, NGOs. There were organized “local elections” for the teenagers (14-18years old) to understand the main aspects of election steps, authorities’ responsibilities, and local participation.

Administrative level

Local (Domnesti village, Arges county)

Year of implementation

2012

Policy area(s)

(Local) Development and Planning
Education, culture, and sport
Youth

Further details

Comunitatea Montana Iezer Muscel

Civil society organisation

Contact info

Tipology of involvement in the initiative

Organising
Funding
Participating with a direct involvement

ANFMR

Civil society organisation

Contact info

Tipology of involvement in the initiative

Initiating (i.e., advocating for and starting the process)
Organising
Participating with a direct involvement

Ministry of Education and Culture

Public Authority

Contact info

Tipology of involvement in the initiative

Indirectly impacted by the process

ANFMR

Civil society organisation

Contact info

Tipology of involvement in the initiative

Initiating (i.e., advocating for and starting the process)
Organising
Participating with a direct involvement

Domnesti, Arges Local Council and Mayor

Public Authority

Contact info

Tipology of involvement in the initiative

Organising
Participating with a direct involvement

Level of Participation

Information
Dialogue
Partnership

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By level of participation we refer to the type of involvement in the decision-making process. The levels are identified by the intensity of participation: going from “information” to “consultation” to ” dialogue” to “partnership”. Do you want to learn more – click here

Developed practice(s)

Valuable information regarding local administration process, starting with the most democratic step: local election. An opportunity of dialogue explaining and understanding what local policy means; how can you be a good citizen taking active part at local elections.

A fruitful partnership: local authorities, NGOs, and students in understanding the democratic process of elections and responsibilities involved the later decision-making process/strategy.

A lesson of democracy, transparency on behalf of the local authorities; social responsibilities proved by teachers and students’ social engagement.

Step(s) of the political decision-making process at which the practice was implemented

Inputs/Incentive ideas for policy
Drafting of policy
Decision – making on policy

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There are six different steps of the political decision-making process: agenda setting, drafting of policy, decision-making, implementation of policy, monitoring and reformulation of policy. Each step offer opportunities for CSOs and public authorities to interact. Do you want to learn more – click here

How the initiative was implemented

Situation

Teachers at the local high school identified the teenagers target group. The mayor and local councils accepted to explain them the steps and rules of local elections. Together with Iezer Muscel Mountain Community and ANFMR, the steps of local elections were implemented – simulated by students. They elected their mayor and local councillors and discussed the local development strategy. Each step was supported by the mayor and councillors’ advice. Interesting debates and initiatives were proposed. The youths realized how difficult is to solve the inhabitants’ problems and what local administration means.

A very successful experience that may be implemented in other villages.

Activities performed

Simulation of local elections organised by the local students.
All steps of local elections were simulated.

Tools and mechanisms applied

Identify the electing people: students at the local school (14-18 years old).
Logistics and strategies support on behalf of the LC.
Simulation of the elections at the Town Hall.
Logistics offered by the LC to organize and register the election results.
NGOs involvement in administration activities.
Transparency, responsibility, marketing, and communication.

Goals of the civil participation initiative

At community level

To experience a democratic right

From Civil society organisation’s perspective

People involvement in local community policy

From Public Authority’s Perspective

Youths’ initiation in local problems

Results expected prior to the implementation

To understand the role of elections
To make youth aware of their rights and duties as well
To promote social involvement

Immediate results achieved after implementation

Youths’ mayor and LC election
A democratic exercise meant to involve youths in local community life
Understanding the means of democracy, responsibility, and participation

Long-term impact

Stimulate the youths’ interest in village public administration and policy
Encourage local participation to relevant village activities

Practice lessons learnt (obstacles and solutions)

Agency (i.e., political conditions/power structures)	Obstacles	Shyness, lack of democratic exercise
Agency (i.e., political conditions/power structures)	Solutions	Informing campaigns on major problems of the local community
Legislative	Obstacles	/
Legislative	Solutions	/
Administrative	Obstacles	/
Administrative	Solutions	Very cooperative local administration
Socio-cultural	Obstacles	Low interest in local administration
Socio-cultural	Solutions	Elections simulated to involve youth in village administration
Economic	Obstacles	Identifying financing sources
Economic	Solutions	Mayor’s involvement and examples of good practice
Human capital	Obstacles	/
Human capital	Solutions	Very cooperative teenagers
Other	Obstacles	/
Other	Solutions	/

Further information

Self-assessment

The self-assessment presents the opinion of the contributor about on what extent the following principles for Civil Participation have been reflected in the implementation of the initiative/practice/case-study, ranging from 1 (min) to 4 (max) (N/A: not applicable, do not know)

Openness	3
Explanation	Openness is a tool for local administration to implement its policy.
Trust	3
Explanation	Openness leads to trust.
Independence	4
Explanation	Most of Romanian NGOs are independent bodies.
Participation	4
Explanation	NOGs may support local authorities in encouraging people/inhabitants’ participation.
Transparency	3
Explanation	Local administrations have to work with this respect.
Accessibility	3
Explanation	Too much bureaucracy-difficult to be understood by rural population.
Non-discrimination	3
Explanation	NGOs support non-discrimination.
Inclusiveness	4
Explanation	NGOs encourage participation and inclusiveness.
Accountability	3
Explanation	/

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Decision-making on policy, Dialogue, Drafting of policy, Education culture and sport, Information, Input/Incentive ideas for policy, (Local) Development and Planning, Partnership and Youth