This project aims to build the capacities of young people for lobbying and advocacy, but also to encourage young people to raise their voices and contribute to the fight for clean air at the local level. The project will ensure the active engagement of young people and their contribution to decision-making processes, simultaneously empowering them to actively monitor the implementation of measures from the plans and the way of creating and adopting clean air policies at the local level.
In order to successfully involve young people in identifying and solving air quality problems in their municipalities, in the period from February to July 2024, we will realize:
5 workshops that will all focus on improving the knowledge of young people in the area of air quality, but also the legal framework for citizen participation in decision-making;
15 Speak-UP forums dedicated to joint discussion and planning activities for youth participation;
1 three-day camp that will enable the formation of a network for joint action with the aim of solving air pollution problems, initiating activities to reduce air pollution at the local level and strengthening youth participation.
The municipalities of Kavadarci, Kumanovo, Veles, Gostivar and City of Skopje will be included in the project.
Key objectives
- Raising awareness of air quality problems in various municipalities and increasing public support for initiatives to improve air quality;
- Creating space and platforms for youth participation in decision-making processes related to air quality;
- Developing action plans to mitigate air quality problems in their communities;
- Networking of youth activists and encouragement of inter-municipal cooperation and knowledge sharing.
Why youth?
- To obtain valuable knowledge about air quality problems that affect young people and their municipality;
- Cooperation with people from the same age group;
- Contribution to ideas and initiatives for real impact on the community;
- Networking and cooperation with experts in the field of air pollution and civil participation.
Youth participation is key to the success of this initiative and we believe that the interest and enthusiasm of young people will greatly contribute to the overall success of the Youth Action for Clean Air project.
The project is implemented in partnership with UNICEF, and is financed by the Government of Sweden, and is implemented by the Center for Climate Change.