1.   Rationale

Achievement of these goals requires using a range of creative approaches appropriate for difficult context of Azerbaijan (ex: gender problems; moral authority depending on age; social passivity) to influence practices to ensure conducive environment for sustainable development of youth:

1. Working with young people not only in formal education (schools) and through mobilisation around campaigns but also use potentiality of informal education to increase understanding of the economic, social, political and environmental forces which shape their lives;
2. Develop skills, attitudes and values which would enable them to work together to bring about change and take control of their own lives, to participate more fully in an increasingly knowledge-based society, to get to know other young people from all over Azerbaijan, replicate ‘’success stories’’ (‘’two things may change people: books they read, and people they meet’’).
3. The human resource that youth represents is left so far unused by the municipalities, the first interface to represent PLIP. The youth is left outside the participation process in the life of the community. There is no space and mechanism of formation of new leaders in the community. Therefore, one of the major tasks of the project to identify young activists with leadership characteristics and facilitate their activity on creation of the space and process for youth development. To ensure sustainability, youth centers will be institutionally incorporated into the municipalities.  

 
In case of success of the project, the follow up phase will have the goal to strengthen three Youth Centers to turn them to our major partners in the work with youth in the project area; ensure that young people and municipalities are better equipped to enhance the opportunities for youth.

2.   Project Plan

1. What are the project activities?

Activity 1. Youth Summer Camp within ‘’Future is what you do now!’’ campaign  (60 persons)

Activity 2.  Town-hall meetings (50 persons)

Activity 3.  Holding discussion Forums and Cinema Clubs

Activity 4. Campaigning, holidays, occasional events

Activity 5.  Trainings on five topics for the local youth (60 persons)

Activity 6. Capacity building trainings for Youth Center’s activists (20 people) to write Strategy papers

The topics of the trainings will cover Project management, Networking, advocacy, Civil engagement, social action; Strategy paper development. The major job of the youth Centers will include:

1. organising sports, arts and other activities
2. mentoring and supporting young people
3. offering counseling
4. working with specific groups,
5. developing and running projects that tackle issues like health, bullying, crime or drugs
6. managing volunteers and part-time workers
7. keeping records and controlling budgets
8. bidding for grants and funding
9. networking with other professionals including social workers, teachers, probation officers

Activity 7. Conduct  trainings on the topics of civil engagement to identify local youth facilitators/moderators

1. What is the timescale for these activities?

July 1 2008 - April 30, 2009