Twenty-three young people who work as volunteers at five youth organizations will develop local projects to inform and encourage the young people to take part in elections within the project “Young people decide on democracy. Participation of young people in the electoral process”. Each of the projects will be supported financially with €1,500, but the young people hope the local authorities will also provide support.

Before implementing the local projects, the young people within six months had been taught the structure of the political system of Moldova, what civil society and civic commitment are and analyzed the people’s attitude to volunteering,” project coordinator Claudia Danii has told IPN.

After completing these courses, the young people will have to develop by a project in their settlements to influence other people of their age to more actively take part in political and social activities. “The young people can bring about changes by mentality and new attitudes,” said Marco Davor, trainer from Bosnia and Herzegovina. “Moldova is not indifferent to this category of people. But this attention is not materialized by laws and programs.”

Zinaida Bria, representative of the Cahul-based association “Perspectiva”, who takes part in the project, said she managed to develop skills for analyzing documents and political parties’ strategies. “We learned to formulate public messages and to develop capacities for critical thinking as regards the election of political representatives,” she stated.

Iulian Gasan, participant from Soroca, said the organization he represents counts on the local administration’s assistance in initiating local projects that are aimed at informing young people mainly from rural areas.

The project “Young people decide on democracy. Participation of young people in the electoral process” is implemented by the National Youth Resource Center of Moldova, in partnership with the Institute for Youth Development KULT of Bosnia and Herzegovina.