Youth action for sustainable development
2020/04/29
Project duration
01.03.2020 – 31.10.2021
Background information
To achieve Agenda 2030 and make sure that we leave no one behind, everyone needs to get involved in the work towards a more sustainable world. Youth has continuously been named as an important actor in this work and therefore Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Lithuania is launching the project Youth Action for Sustainable Development this spring.
Project purpose and goals
The project’s aim is to foster youth action for sustainable development and selected youth d together with interested civil servants will become leaders and ambassadors for sustainable development in their local communities and municipalities. Project activities are focused on providing methods, tools, and skills for youth to become youth leaders and implement initiatives addressing local issues the young people themselves have identified. Civil servants will also gain skills and tools regarding youth and citizen engagement and Agenda 2030 to become ambassadors for sustainability and citizen involvement in their respective municipalities and support youth in their implementation work.
The selected target group is youth and civil servants from Klaipėda region, Taurage municipality and Torsås municipality in Sweden. Klaipeda Region has been picked as the focus region due to Klaipeda city’s status as European Youth Capital in 2021 and the correlating positive space for new youth-led action. The project will be implemented throughout the next 1,5 years in collaboration with Klaipeda Youth Round Table.
Project partners
Lead partners:
- Nordic Council of Ministers office in Lithuania
- Association of Youth NGOs in Klaipėda “Round Table” (KLAS)
The project is being implemented in collaboration with Nordic partners from Denmark, Sweden and Lithuania:
- Torsås municipality, Sweden
- We Do Democracy, Denmark
- The World’s Best News (Verdens Bedste Nyheder) / The Global Goal Academy, Denmark
- Tillitsverket, Sweden
- Regeneration 2030
- Klaipėda city municipality
- Taurage municipality
- LIJOT
Key events
Online onboarding
The SDG Academy Online Onboarding was the first micro-education setting focused on the Sustainable Development Goals and training the mindset and skills required to make the SDGs drive the future development of the region. The online onboarding events were introduced as a response to the pandemic and corresponding limitations to live events.
During four online training sessions, held in May-September 2020 both young people and municipal actors were trained and equipped with the tools to spot new opportunities that SDGs can open up to improve their municipality, region and country; build bridges between institutions and citizens to collaborate on the SDGs at the local level; and initiate new projects and initiatives inspired by the SDGs.
A virtual hackathon “Unlock SDGs”
The “Unlock SDGs” hackathon was be held virtually in May 20-21st 2021 and was a part of Klaipeda European Youth Capital events. During the 2-day hackathon, participants had to find innovative ways to increase awareness of 1 or all of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and offer solutions to achieve the selected goal. In the morning of the 20th, introductory presentations and panel discussions about the significance of SDGs, effective communication and best practices to increase awareness and engagement were held. This was followed by intense team work to turn the SDGs from abstract goals and mysterious combination of letters into action. The primary target audience of the event was young people (14-29 years old).
Event recordings:
The opening and introduction to the SDGs
Two-day training for youth and civil servants “SDG Academy”, Lithuania
Building upon the previous online onboarding and other project activities, a two-day training was held in May 28th-29th 2021. Main goal of the SDG Academy, was to encourage cooperation between youth and civil servants and to start implementation of Sustainable development goals. Participants worked in groups and teams, performed practical tasks, learnt about Sustainable development goals and created SDG initiatives which later they will implement in their communities. Hybrid learning tools were included during the training, to include inspirational presentations and knowledge exchange with Nordic youth and public sector representatives.
Training for Youth Affairs coordinators and Youth workers
On 8th of July an international gathering of Youth affair‘s coordinators and youth workers will be held. As part of that, to further increase awarenes of the significance of SDGs, we are going to organize trainings for Youth affair‘s coordinators and Youth workers on the interconnectednes of SDGs and youth participation.
Youth Summer Camp and SDG Olympics
From 18th to 20th of August a Youth Summer Camp in Klaipėda district will be held. A variety of discussions, trainings, educational programs, physical activities are included in this event. Youth learns while working in groups with profesionals. Part of this event will be focused on SDG‘s and awareness raising.
