Creating EU Villages in Hungary – roundtable discussions are two meeting with representatives of local municipalities, student decision-making bodies, youth organisations and local youth policymakers. The roundtable discussions are part of the Creating EU Villages small-scale Erasmus+ partnership for youth project. The programme consist of two roundtable meetings and individual interviews. The aim of the roundtable discussions was to connect and give opportunities to stakeholders and young people to debate and discuss challenges and obstacles which especially rural youth face when they want to gather and organise local activities. Young people presented their needs for youth clubs and info desks and together they were seeking for ways for cooperation and creation of info desks and youth spaces at local level. The activities of the events include presentations, discussions and Q&A sessions to support participants expressing their needs and share their ideas. The events also serve as a networking opportunity and a first step for further cooperation between decision-makers and newly created civil society organisations focusing on youth in Hungary. Roundtable discussion in Miskolc In cooperation with Miskolc City Government the IACR organised a meeting with city council members along with the president and members of the Miskolc Student Council and Célpont Community Space Public Foundation. The aim of the roundtable meeting was to discuss about local youth policy development, ongoing youth projects and opportunities available for young people in the Miskolc metropolitan area. The talk also focused on local youth policy, representation of youth in decision-making bodies and the relations between the municipality, the local youth council and civil society organisations. The outcomes of the event included a productive exchange of information regarding the financing mechanisms that support youth activities. One notable example is the Célpont Community Space Public Foundation, a public foundation that serves as a successful model in this context. This foundation actively supports the Miskolc student council, which is a voluntary and informal group dedicated to implementing youth activities within the local community. Célpont Public Foundation operates in the eastern part of Hungary, with a particular focus on the counties of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg, Hajdú-Bihar, and Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok. Within these regions, the foundation provides essential legal and financial backing for student councils operating at the county level. Moreover, in cities like Karcag and Miskolc, the foundation extends its support to the city level, ensuring that youth-led initiatives have the necessary resources to thrive. The Miskolc student council, which is made up of student members, operates on a volunteer basis, with its board members elected annually. These members, who do not receive any financial compensation for their efforts, are motivated by the opportunity to participate in various mobility activities and other enriching opportunities. The board takes on the responsibility of organizing local events that target the youth population, as well as engaging in fundraising efforts and representing the interests of young people living in the Miskolc metropolitan area. The student council organizes a wide array of programs designed for young people, including roundtable discussions, debates, festivals, and cultural events. Their activities are not confined to the local level; they are actively involved in national and international youth projects and exchanges that cover a broad range of topics. The council also participates in international grant schemes, such as Erasmus+ and the Visegrad Grant, to further enhance their reach and impact. In addition to the support provided by the Célpont Public Foundation, the Miskolc City Government also plays a crucial role by providing venues and assistance to this informal group. Local enterprises contribute to their efforts as well. The student council’s office is conveniently located in the city mall, making it accessible to the public. The student council has established partnerships with youth organizations in Slovakia, Romania, and the Czech Republic, and they remain open to new collaborations with youth-led organizations across the broader Central European region and beyond. This openness to international cooperation underscores their commitment to fostering connections and sharing best practices with other youth organizations worldwide. Date: 28 August 2024, 11am – 2pm | Venue: Miskolc City Government’s Participation Office Participants included the representatives of Miskolc City Government, Student Council of Miskolc, Foundation for Consciousness and Environment, EMINA Career Guidance Foundation and the International Alliance for Cultural Relations. Interview with Denes Szarka (Miskolc) In cooperation with Miskolc City Government the IACR organised an online interview with Dénes Szarka, a local government representative from Miskolc, about the city’s youth strategy and the urban and regional opportunities affecting young people. During the interview, it became clear that Miskolc does not have an official youth strategy. Over the past few years, there have been attempts to create such a strategy, but these efforts did not yield results before the end of the mandate. Initiatives included organizing a youth community assembly, but the plan could not be realized due to limited resources and lack of time. Looking back at the city’s history, it can be said that youth policy has not been a priority, leading to an increased exodus of young people over the past decades. After 2019, the local government attempted to revive the youth community system. The student council was re-established, creating its own organisational and operational regulations. Additionally, a youth council was formed, although its role in decision-making preparation did not fully develop. The city’s youth cabinet held regular meetings, and efforts were made to involve young people in discussing all issues that concerned them. For example, through this forum, students had a say in decisions regarding city catering. Although the system functioned, its formalisation would have been part of the unrealised youth strategy. In terms of cultural programs, the local government also ensured active participation for young people. A representative of the cultural center participated in the youth cabinet, and young people had the opportunity to contribute their ideas and organisational efforts to various events, such as the Pont-ott Party or the student ball. The local government also provided financial support for these events when needed. Additionally, the city government worked on providing a community space for young people, which was partly realised through the reform of the Célpont Public Foundation. Currently, local grant opportunities are not yet available, as there are not enough youth organisations in the city to generate demand for them. However, the student government collaborated with the Central Youth Association, through which they participated in both national and international grant projects. The city remains open to collaboration with civil organisations and responds positively to any requests, even on an occasional basis. The government’s goal is to support and involve young people in the local community and cultural life. Date: 5 September 2024, 10am – 11am | Venue: onine Participants included the representatives of Miskolc City Government, Foundation for Consciousness and Environment, EMINA Career Guidance Foundation and the International Alliance for Cultural Relations.
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