Youth policy

Each social group requires a specific and individual approach from the state. Different social groups build up our community and country. The state development is governed by its citizens. Each social group is unique and subjected by different external factors. Several processes (including integration, social dialogue, etc.) are the result of social interaction between groups. These processes can contribute to national prosperity, or the opposite – to prevent it.

On the 12th of October, 2006, Liepaja City Council accepted “Youth Policy Action program from 2006 till 2010”, prepared by young people of Liepaja. The program highlights five areas: non-formal education, leisure time, health, participation and awareness.

Work on the Liepaja City Youth Policy Action Program was undertaken by committee of Youth Affairs in 2002. Active team of young people from committee of Youth Affairs, youth organizations, higher schools, schools, and other institutions were formed.

Liepaja City Youth Policy Action Program is the first municipal-level planning document done by young people in Latvia. This document recommends involving the youth in decision-making process over all levels of responsibility. This approach is consistent with The European Commission issued „White Paper- A new Impetus for European Youth”, recommending a process of involving youth in the decision-making processes at all levels of responsibility .

The objectives of Liepaja City Youth Policy Action Program:
1.to define the targets in youth issues at the level of municipality, as well as to determine priorities for youth;
2.to establish a framework for youth financial planning in municipality;
3.to create the basis for mobilizing additional resources from State institutions, European Union structures, as well as the various funds, for solving the youth issues in Liepaja city;
4.to develop the planning of youth issues and the youth policy traditions as well as a “good practice” in Latvia and Europe

Pāvels Jurs, the head of the Institution “Liepaja Youth Centre”, considers: „despite the negative trends in the economy, youth NGOs and Liepaja Youth centre are able to attract more and more European Union funding. We are happy to involve young people in various activities, organized by Liepaja Youth Centre. Liepaja City Youth Policy has been made by young people, who are innovative, creative, and informed about the current processes in our society. Since accepting Youth Action program (2006), the youth policy has been implemented more targeted. We are monitoring the youth issues and providing an assessment of this sector policy. Our centre is going to start working on the new strategy and present our vision of the future of youth development. I wish to express my gratitude and thanks to all youth organizations for their support.”