As part of the event "Covid-19: local and regional authorities on the front line" organised by the Congress, youth delegates briefed Congress members and participants on the projects they had carried out in their respective communities. Through video messages and contributions they spoke about the pandemic and its impact on young people, and also about the commitments given and the activities conducted by their local representatives. They suggested solutions, guided by the principles of the revised Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life.
“During these difficult times, we must build as many bridges as possible between nations,” said Vitalii Yaremchuk, the Ukrainian youth delegate behind an international forum entitled “Youth against COVID-19", co-organised by the Chernivtsi Youth Centre and the National Youth Council of Ukraine. This platform brought together about ten speakers from 10 countries who shared information on initiatives to fight the spread of the pandemic. Among them were youth delegates Evgenia Chamilou from Cyprus and Graça Soares from Portugal. “Above and beyond the obvious repercussions on health, the environment and the economy, COVID-19 has serious ramifications for the rule of law, democracy and human rights, in particular the rights of women, children and refugees," said Evgenia Chamilou who also presented her project.
The youth delegates from Serbia and Germany, Staša Vasilić and Alina Wenger, developed a joint project designed to connect Youth Council members in both countries, so that they could discuss the issues involved in political participation within the framework of intercultural dialogue.
Another youth delegate, Lamija Balta, from Bosnia and Herzegovina, decided to bring together five students from Bosnia and Herzegovina who had studied abroad during the crisis between March and July 2020 to learn about their experiences. Participants shared their views on the subject and explained that they felt isolated due to the lack of government support. They put together a set of recommendations and tips for looking after students while they were abroad.
Due to the exceptional circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the youth delegates received virtual assistance from the Congress in developing their projects and participated throughout the year in a series of webinars to give them an insight into what the Congress is doing to promote local democracy.
The Congress initiative "Rejuvenating Politics" has sought, since 2014, to promote the participation of young people in public life and in the decision-making process at local and regional level. Young people selected for the programme are invited to participate in Congress committee meetings and sessions, give their views during debates and converse with Congress members. Within this framework, youth delegates are assisted by two trainers who enable them to develop their projects via coaching sessions.
*** "COVID-19: Local and regional authorities on the front line" event - 7 December 2020 ***
Dossier - Agenda - Photo - Video
